Lindisfarne Carpet Pages

An exhibition held at the british library 16th may to 28th september 2003.

Lindisfarne carpet pages.

The world of the lindisfarne gospels. Carpet page posted on december 14 2015 by mrsbowman1 cross and carpet page for st. Lindisfarne gospels cross carpet page. Four of the carpet pages appear alongside incipit pages that mark the beginning of each gospel.

Jerome and pope damasus i. Matthew folio 26 verso of the lindisfarne gospels from northumbria england c. Additional religious imagery can be found in the pictures of each of the four evangelists. The book includes five highly elaborate full page carpet pages so called because of their resemblance to carpets from the eastern mediterranean.

It was made in the late 7th or early 8th centuries at lindisfarne a monastery in the north of england that was founded by irish missionaries and held control over a vast network of smaller monasteries in the region. There are sixteen pages of arcaded canon tables where parallel passages of the four evangelists are laid out. Lindisfarne gospels john cross carpet page f 210v british library the book is a spectacular example of insular or hiberno saxon art works produced in the british isles between 500 900 c e a time of devastating invasions and political upheavals. The copying and decoration of the lindisfarne gospels represent a remarkable artistic achievement.

Carpet pages have been described as virtual prayer rugs intended to help create a contemplative state. Matthew mark luke and john the writers of the original gospel books. Similar pages can be found in coptic christian manuscripts and it is possible that this decorative tradition came to ireland with monks who came from or spent time in egypt. The cross carpet pages are not the sole examples of christian iconography in the lindisfarne gospels.

Insular cross carpet pages were inspired by contemporary metalwork and oriental rugs. Carpet pages like this one are characterized by geometric and colourful designs that take up an entire page as here. A carpet page from the lindisfarne gospels carpet pages are a characteristic feature of insular illuminated manuscripts. The carpet pages of the lindisfarne gospels.

The lindisfarne gospels is a manuscript that contains the gospels of the four evangelists mark john luke and matthew.