Early Christian Celtic Art.

Early Christian art started about 400 AD, Celtic art became more uniform, human shapes more recognisable also knotwork interlace which begins to take form in the end of this period. Early Christian art started when St.Patrick arrived in the 5th century CE and conversion to Christianity took place, this made monasteries the centre of Celtic art. Christian art used traditional Celtic art and took inspirations from foreign art. The most common work being produced where stone crosses decorated with interlacing designs, chalices, reliquaries, shrines and illuminated manuscripts. The most famous art at that time where the illuminated manuscripts which had decorative borders with intricate lettering and complex geometric designs. Early Celtic art was shared by Anglo-Saxons and Celtic speaking people because of this scholars refer to this period as Insular which means island in Latin referring to the British Isles. This style is made up of patterns which fill up the whole space and have an abstract design or the portrayal of animals and people. In all there are four main types of patterns which are interlace patterns which are made up of ribbons which interweave into a complicated design. The second type of pattern is called the zoomorphic which is made up of animals and also ribbon patterns are interlaced into the art. The third patterns are spirals which are made up with a number of coiling lines which are connected with motifs. The fourth patterns are key patterns which are made up of lines which form square designs and look somewhat like square spirals. 

This is a page taken from the Book of Kells, which is an Irish manuscript containing the Four Gospels.  The book is still in a good state although some pages are missing. The book is still unfinished as some parts of the book have just an outline, also the book was done on a calfskin which would be prepared properly creating a smooth surface to write on. The book is a masterpiece some pages alone used 10 different colours and the amount of fine detailed was astonishing, some in which you need to look trough a magnifying glass to see properly, even then the art is perfect  and without mistakes. 

This Chalice is called the Ardagh chalice it was found by two man named Jimmy Quin and Paddy Flanagan who where growing potatoes  in 1868.  The chalice was later to sold to the Bishop of Limerick and then sold again to the Royal Irish Academy. The Ardagh chalice dates back to the 8th Century and is one of the finest works of art in metal. Found with the chalice was a wooden cross, a smaller bronze chalice and four ornate brooches.  The cross had an engraved date which are 727, this date 1727 was the time when Ireland was under Penal Law and the objects found could have been used to hold a secret mass. Another theory is that an enemy was approaching and the objects where buried to conceal them.

 Celtic Spiral Pattern.

Celtic  Zoomorphic Pattern.

Celtic Interlace Patterns.

Celtic Key Patterns.

Bibliography. 

Ardagh Chalice. 2013. Ardagh Chalice. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.celtic-weddingrings.com/ardagh-chalice.aspx. [Accessed 17 May 2013].

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Book of Kells. 2013. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Book of Kells. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08614b.htm. [Accessed 17 May 2013].

Celtic Designs and Symbols. 2013. Celtic Designs and Symbols. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.cauldronliving.com/deities-history/7257-celtic-designs-symbols.html. [Accessed 17 May 2013].