The design and decoration of Insular gospel-books and other liturgical manuscripts,c. 600 –c. 900
Nancy Netzer|Richard Gameson
Gospel-books produced in Ireland, Britain and Insular centres on the Continent constitute an important phase history of medieval book design. These books were elaborately decorated written formal script, impressive witnesses to sacred authoritative nature Christ's words actions. manuscripts display greater variety their layouts, scripts decorations than Mediterranean counterparts which served as immediate or ultimate exemplars. In Codex Usserianus Primus, projecting semi-circles corners red dots surrounding monogram are only elements that presage later developments decoration. Although Kells' gospel text was copied carelessly, one instance a page twice, aesthetic qualities script decoration appear have been highest concern those producing book. The presence more 2,000 decorative motifs within text, however, distinguishes Kells from other gospel-books.
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