First off I have to admit that I have always been fascinated with ancient text and their artwork, especially the Book of Kells, so this was definitely an easy pick to examine. The page that I chose to examine is Plate XII. The Evangelical Symbols, this is a great example of all four elements of design that we have been studying this week. The first impression that I get from the works, and what I would consider art, is the symmetry and the artwork that was put into the pages. First there is the contrast between the intricately intertwined knots and pictures and the blank spaces on the page, next there is the repetitive designs and symbolism, such as the knots, flowers, and shapes. Next is the alignment of the pictures, the one that I am analyzing has four definite boxes located in the four corners of the page, each with a circle inside that box. Proximity of these designs is very important, with the “important” part of the pictures being located inside and immediately surrounding the circles, that are inside the squares, that are in the four corners of the picture. Although the actual artist of the manuscripts is unknown, it is safe to say that this was a work of love and dedication, not only to their religion, but to art itself.
Sullivan, E. (n.d.). In The Book Of Kells. Retrieved November 20, 2010, from http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/bok/bok16.htm
