The times., 1901-05-05

ribbons of color in symmetrical designs
wera used to form the letters. and some
times covered the entire page. To these
We're added circular ornaments filed with
delicate spiral lines springing from a
centre. or wheels and eccentric conVolu-
tiOns OF Colored lines or ribbons Diago-
nal and straight lines were also occa-
Slonaily introduced, and the whole was
Stiil further Ornamented by the introduc-
tiOn of the figures of birds and animals
in lavish profUsion, coiled throughout the
interlacingS and convolutions in general
harmony with the design. The Book of
keilS. of the seventh century, preserved
al Trinity College. Dublin is d beautiful
specimen OF this style. the human figure
being also introduced in it. This method
of decoration was introduced by the Irish
missionaries into England, and thence
spread to the continent OF Europe The
first Improvement upon the Irish original
began in England in the tenth century,
whef the architectural designs of the
time, species of rude and angular foil
tuTN the English style became very eiab-
crate and splendid. During this and the
following century FURNISHED gold. scarlet,
and blue were largely used.
In the fourteenth century the plain gold
and heavy colored backgrounds We're
abandoned for rich Checkered patterns
ana the large masses of FURNISHED metal
were either broken into minute patterns
or superseded by variegated color The
foliage also used in the previous century
TO decorate the capital letters was com
oliNu INTO graceful NredtnS, which form
ed ornamental brackets, or encircled the
Whole page with charming border of
howers of every variety and delicate
color.
An exquisite specimen of this sort is
to be seen in the Richardson collection.
the border which enCircles the entire
page being composed of representations
of roses and other flowers, in which the
light purplish predecessor of the modern
carnatiOn is prominent
In the fifteenth century the style be-
came very gaudy, with flowers. fruit and
follage; the strictly symbolic forms were
abandoned for landscapes and figures
which were introduced abundantly into
the mipiatures, and the borders became
more regular, serving as a framework for
the central figure. The marginal orna-
mentS OF the specimens of this time are
square and regular. with a groundwork
Of gold covered with high-colored scrolls.
ana leaves of red. blue. and green To
the Italian examples this description APP
plies only TO limited extent for basing
It's style OF illumination upon that Of BY
zantium, it gradually infused into it.
without any marked period of transition
a national and more graceful style. The
following indications have been pointed
out. by which the age of manuscripts NAV
be determined:
In the fourth. fifth. and sixth centuries.
the ornamentatiOn was limited to red or
gilded letters belonging to the text: in the
seventh eighth, and ninth the introduc-
tion and perfection OF he irish style: in
the tenth. eleventh. and twelfth the pre-
VaienCe of architectural forms; i'm the
thirteenth. fourteenth. and fifteenth. foil
age. at first architectural. but gradually
more realistic; while in miniatures the
teenth OF checkered backgrounds. and
the fifteenth of landscape