The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-08-04
Finest Examples of Ornament In
Civilized Countries.
STYLE IS DIsTlNCTlyELY NATIONAL
What an English Critic Says Of
the Book of Kells.

| In recent lecture at Sydney, N. S.
w., on "Ancient Irish Art" Rev. DR..
O'Donnell said in part:
"When nation develops an original
and distinct type of art, it is sure sign
that it has already made considerable
progress in civilization; and if no other
proofs had come down to us than the
marvellous relics we possess of ancient
Irish art, they alone would constitute
overwhelming evidence that Ireland
once led the van of nations in the pur-
suit of humanizing studies. 1t is only
within comparatively recent period
that early Irish art has received the at
tention it deserves; and this is strange
when it is remembered that the Irish
style of art was carried to an almost
miraculous degree of excellence. In
deed, the best works that remain of this
style, are for inventive power, sound
principle and mastery execution, the
finest examples of ornament that ever
were executed; and the style is in it
self as distinctively national as that OF
Greece, Assyria, Egypt, or any other
country that has ever been distinguished
in art.
THE influence of ancient Irish art
was by no means confined to ireland.
MIR. w. ]. Lotus, an English writer,
says in his Lessons on the Art of H.
luminating,' There can be no doubt that
the Irish missionaries brought with
them to Iona and Lindisfarnc the ira
ditions and grace OF art, and that they
taught it with Christianity to the heath
ems OF England might add that not
only did the Irish system of ornamental
ton extend throughout the British
| Isles, but throughout civilized Europe,
from the Baltic to the Mediterranean,
and some of the most celebrated illum-
mated works in the various libraries
OF Europe are now known to have
emanated from the ancient Irish school.
l need only mention St. Boniface's
Book of the Gospels, which is still pre-
served as a relic at Fulda, in Germany;
the Books of St. Kilian, still preserved
at Wurtzburg; those of St. Gall, in the
public library of St. Gall in Switzerland; {;
and those of St. Columbanus, who
founded Bobbio, in Ita1y-the principal
portion of which is now to be seen in
the Ambrosian library at Milan. The
popularity of the style consists, speak
ing roughly, in the most artistic and
ingenious dispositions of Interviewing
threads, bands, or ribbons, varied by
the introduction of extremely attenuated
lizard-like reptiles, or sometimes birds,
dogs and other animals similarly inter-
laced. In three main forms have speci-
mems of the ancient Irish art been pre-
served to the present day. (1) On vel
lum in the form of manuscript illumina-
tions of the gospels and psalms. This
is the Oldest form, and dates back to
the sixth century. (2) On stone, in the
form of Celtic sculpture, as on crosses,
baptismal fonts, church doorways, etc.
Cd On metal, as in the case of gold
smiths and silversmiths' handiwork.
The specimens of the last two forms
date from the beginning of the tenth
to the middle of the twelfth century.
Taking first ancient Irish art as ex-
emplified on vellum, for it is not only
the Oldest form in which it has come
down to us, but also because it is the
most exquisite in elaboration and finish,
the language of eulogy fails every au-
thor who has attempted to do justice
to these old manuscripts. Digby Wyatt
says: In delicacy of handling and mi
mute but faultless execution, the whole
range of photography offers nothing
comparable to these early Irish manu-
scripts. When in Dublin some years
ago I had the opportunity of studying
very carefully the most marvellous OF
all, the Book of Kells. I attempted to
copy some of the ornaments, but broke
down in utter despair Westwood says:
ireland may justly be proud OF the
Book of Kells. 1t is unqucstonably the
most elaborately illustrated manuscript
OF early art now in existence. I have
examined the pages of the Book OF
Kells with a magnifying glass without
| detecting false line or irregular inter
lacement, and when it is considered that
many OF these details consist OF spiral
lines, and are so minute as to have been
| impossible to have been executed with