Lindisfarne Carpet Pages

Carpet pages like this one are characterized by geometric and colourful designs that take up an entire page as here.

Lindisfarne carpet pages.

Additional religious imagery can be found in the pictures of each of the four evangelists. It was made in the late 7th or early 8th centuries at lindisfarne a monastery in the north of england that was founded by irish missionaries and held control over a vast network of smaller monasteries in the region. The book includes five highly elaborate full page carpet pages so called because of their resemblance to carpets from the eastern mediterranean. Matthew folio 26 verso of the lindisfarne gospels from northumbria england c.

They are pages of mainly geometrical ornamentation which may include repeated animal forms typically placed at the beginning of each of the four gospels in gospel books. An exhibition held at the british library 16th may to 28th september 2003. Insular cross carpet pages were inspired by contemporary metalwork and oriental rugs. The book of lindisfarne opens with one of five elaborate full page decorative carpet pages cruciform geometric designs reminiscent of eastern hand made rugs.

Matthew mark luke and john the writers of the original gospel books. Lindisfarne gospels john cross carpet page f 210v british library the book is a spectacular example of insular or hiberno saxon art works produced in the british isles between 500 900 c e a time of devastating invasions and political upheavals. The lindisfarne gospels begins with a carpet page in the form of a cross and a major initial page introducing the letter of st. There are sixteen pages of arcaded canon tables where parallel passages of the four evangelists are laid out.

Carpet page posted on december 14 2015 by mrsbowman1 cross and carpet page for st. Jerome and pope damasus i. The carpet pages of the lindisfarne gospels. A carpet page from the lindisfarne gospels carpet pages are a characteristic feature of insular illuminated manuscripts.

Lindisfarne gospels cross carpet page. Four of the carpet pages appear alongside incipit pages that mark the beginning of each gospel. Carpet pages have been described as virtual prayer rugs intended to help create a contemplative state. The lindisfarne gospels is a manuscript that contains the gospels of the four evangelists mark john luke and matthew.

Similar pages can be found in coptic christian manuscripts and it is possible that this decorative tradition came to ireland with monks who came from or spent time in egypt.