Book of Durrow

illuminated manuscript

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June 25, 2026

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The Book of Durrow is a significant illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels, written in Irish script around 700 CE. It is a prime example of Hiberno-Saxon art, a style that flourished in monasteries in Ireland and Northumbria. This style is characterized by intricate interlace patterns, vibrant colors, and zoomorphic (animal) forms, drawing from Celtic traditions, Anglo-Saxon metalwork, and Mediterranean art.123

The manuscript is known for its elaborate decoration, including "carpet pages" filled with complex designs and large initial letters that serve as visual interpretations of the text. The Book of Durrow is now housed at Trinity College, Dublin.341

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Anglo-Saxon art
…Gospels (early 8th century), the Book of Durrow (7th century), and the Book of Kells (c. 800). The Hiberno-Saxon style (q.v.), eventually imported to the European continent, exercised great influence on the art of the Carolingian empire.
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…Gospels (early 8th century), the Book of Durrow (7th century), and the Book of Kells (c. 800). The Hiberno-Saxon style (q.v.), eventually imported to the European continent, exercised great influence on the art of the Carolingian empire.
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Ireland
Learning and art
…earliest surviving illuminated manuscript, the Book of Durrow, was probably made about a century earlier.
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…earliest surviving illuminated manuscript, the Book of Durrow, was probably made about a century earlier.
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