WINTER 2010
INCARNATION
The Incarnation Initial (The Book of Kells)
Virgin and child (The Book of Kells)
Carpet page (The Book of Kells)
Mark as the lion (The Book of Kells)
The resurrection (Piero della Francesca)
The history of the true cross (Piero della Francesca)
The flagellation of Christ (Piero della Francesca)
The baptism of Christ (Piero della Francesca)
Madonna della Misericordia (Piero della Francesca)
Madonna del Parto (Piero della Francesca)
WINTER 2010
THE INCARNATION INITIAL
The Incarnation Initial (Chi and Rho which are the first two letters of the word Christ in Greek). The Book of Kells. Trinity College, Dublin. ca. 800 AD.
"Examine it carefully, and you will penetrate to the very shrine of art. You will make out intricacies so delicate and subtle, so concise and compact, so full of knots and links, with colors so fresh and vivid, that you might think all this was the work of an angel, not a man."
12th C. commentary on The Book of Kells.The Gospel of Matthew begins with the genealogy of Christ. Insular illumination often treated the opening words of Matthew in a highly decorative manner, out of reverence for the first words of the four Gospels. The Chi Rho [also known as the incarnation initial, The Book of Kells] is one of the most elaborate examples of this practice.
