The Book of Durrow
This is an early handwritten and illuminated version of the Four Gospels. It predates the Book of Kells by about 100 years [126537]. The books of Durrow and Kells now reside ~ safely ~ in the custody of The Library of Trinity College, Dublin, where they are periodically put on display (under glass). The following pictures have been taken from various sources on the WWW ~ most originating from Trinity College. It is important to note that some of these images have been enhanced. The least contrasty ones are the more accurate representations. I have not yet captioned them sensibly....patience, please.
It is believed that the handwriting is the work of one person. The illustrations ~ especially the carpet pages ~ were made on separate sheets, and bound-in, later. The whole binding was ~ sensitively ~ renewed in the 1950s since it was felt that in earlier years some folios had become misplaced.
As with the Book of Kells [126537] ~ and others such as St Cuthbert's Gospel [117143] ~ and The Lindisfarne Gospel [112042] ~ there has been a great deal of scholarly study made, and recorded, on these and related subjects .
