monks doodled on the margins of eternity and accidentally invented irish visual identity.
means an ornately illuminated manuscript of the four gospels, made around 800 CE by celtic monks who took calligraphy and decided it needed way more spirals.
from produced by columban monks, likely at the monastery of iona then finished at kells in ireland after viking raids forced a relocation, its scribes spent years hand-illustrating latin gospel text with insanely intricate celtic knotwork, hiding animals and faces in the letters.
trinity college dublin — has housed and displayed it since the 1660s
chi rho page — folio 34r, most famous single page in irish art
book of durrow — earlier, plainer manuscript that influenced its style
lindisfarne gospels — english cousin manuscript, rival in illumination fame