History of Celtic Art


	A Brief History of Celtic Art in the Book of Kells
	The Book of Kells is an illuminated Bible manuscript created by the monks of the Irish monastery of Kells around 1000AD. The knotwork and animal shapes used by the monks were developed long before by the Celtic people. The interlacing designs were carved on weapons, monuments, armor, and jewelry. Because of the relative isolation of the Irish Catholic church from Rome, the Irish monks used their own native styles of decoration rather than copying what was used in other European churches. The major churches in Ireland and Britain each produced their own copies of Biblical manuscripts in their distinctive style of decoration. Eventually, Rome acknowledged the superior quality of these manuscripts and sent books to be copied by the monks. Over time, the interlacing art style was combined with other illustration styles from Byzantine, Coptic, and other sources, finally culminating in the style of the Book of Kells. This manuscript is often considered the triumph of Irish illumination, though there are many other books, such as the Book of Durrow, that are just as detailed.
			Though there is no one accepted view of the meaning of the knots in Celtic art, it is often said they symbolize eternity because the line never ends, but forms a closed design. They can also symbolize a journey, with the crossings of the lines representing paths crossing along the way. Knots are often used to represent unity, eternal love, or life's journey. Whatever these designs mean, their intricacy and beauty does seem to represent the eternal.