Manuscript de Illumination

Here is my illuminated manuscript!

The reason I am drawn to these manuscripts is because of the strong storytelling elements that are found within them. I tried to duplicate this aspect by creating a visual depiction of the confusion that comes with the process of moving away from home. 

Medieval Devotion and Worship in Art

After learning about the Book of Hours and the medieval practice of creating elaborate books in order to promote reflection and encourage devotion to the common Christian rituals, I became interested in the idea of visual art being used as a form of worship and devotion to a higher power. 

Throughout various cultures and religions, the creation of art has been used in SO many unbelievably different ways to promote devotion to God, both in the artist and in the audience. For example, take stained glass windows. These are beautiful, ornate works of art intended to surround the worshipper and remind him or her of the narratives from Biblical scenes as well as to mimic the beauty and majesty of God. The focus on these works of art is less on the process of creation and more on the process of viewing the work as an outsider, and allowing the work to provoke thought within oneself.

 In a slightly different way, eastern religions tend to focus on the act of creation as a meditative activity that should be used to promote focus on God and truth. Tibetan Buddhist monks perform the art of mandala, during which they create exquisitely detailed drawings with chalk. Upon completion of these drawings, the monks then blow the sand away to symbolize the fleeting nature of life, and to serve as a reminder of the folly of chasing after material pleasures. 

Many artists have found the act of creation to be one of the most rewarding acts of worship. I myself view my sketchbook as my most valuable tool in meditation and prayer. When I flex my creative muscle, I allow God to speak through the gift and the passion he has given me for creation and appreciation of beauty. This is what fascinates me so much about art used in various forms of worship: our feeble human attempts to recreate the handiwork of the divine are what not only bring us to a place of meditation and worship, but also remind us of our place as finite beings in a world so much larger than we are. How's that for a philosophical thought? :) 

Kells

I want to go to Kells. 

After learning about the Book of Kells

and especially after watching The Secret of Kells,

I am pretty much enchanted. 

(Ignore the cliché, if you will). 

I loved this film because it literally brought to life many of the things we had been discussing in class. I felt like the filmmakers did an incredible job of honoring the traditions of Kells. 

Not only did they include Christian religious themes but they also incorporated several pagan themes, which I thought created a really intriguing element. It was lovely.

My favorite part was the illustration. 

The film was obviously paying tribute to the exquisitely beautiful illustrations found in the old insular manuscripts (like the book of Kells). They pulled it off, while updating the style to make it current and approachable. 

Another interesting fact that I discovered while researching this film (because yes, I did find it on Netflix and I did finish it and thoroughly enjoyed every last bit) was the background on the little kitty called Pangur Bán. Pretty interesting name? Yes, actually. Turns out that "Pangur Bán" is the name of an ancient poem written in around the 9th century by an Irish monk. The poem is about a cat, named Pangur Bán, of course, which translates as "white fuller." The anonymous poet uses the descriptions of his cat's daily routine as a metaphor for his own life. Interesting! I love finding little tidbits of information like this. Almost as much as I love little white kitties.

Insular Art...Will the British Isles Ever Get Over It?

The answer is no. I'm fairly certain that England and Scotland and Ireland will NEVER get over the Insular Manuscripts. And they shouldn't. The Insular Manuscripts, or pieces produced in the British Isles during the post-Roman era, are the epitome of British (and Irish and Scottish and Welsh) Art. Some famous examples include the Book of Durrow, The Book of Kells, and the Lindisfarne Gospels (seen below)

I feel like these pieces represent everything that is typical of the art from the British Isles. 

In fact, these pieces have had so much influence that it's hard to find any art or design that truly reflects a British or Irish style without incorporating a lot of elements seen here!

Jameson, a distinctly Irish whiskey company, reflects the style of the Insular manuscripts in its packaging design. Notice the decorative flourishes and regal color scheme.