Figure 25.20 (right) The lower panels on the west face of Muiredach’s Cross at
Monasterboice.
Christ’s ascension
Note the brooch on Christ’s cloak and the
clothes and hairstyles of the soldiers
Cats holding mice lie in front of the inscription
meaning ‘a prayer for Muiredach, who had (the cross) made’ (Fig. 25.19 and 25.20). This inscription, which gives the cross its name, does not help to clarify a date for the cross, as there were several abbots called Muiredach and the cross can’t be associated with one in particular.
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The north and south sides of the cross are decorated with interlace patterns on the shaft and figure scenes on the ends of the arms and at the top of the cross. The base is divided into panels that contain figure and animal scenes on the upper row and interlaced patterns along the bottom.
Note:
The style of the figure carving and the design of the scenes on Irish
high crosses predates versions in Romanesque sculpture by more than 100 years. Could it be that Irish pilgrim monks brought their sculptural designs to Europe as they had done with their book designs?
Christ’s crucifixion
Christ giving keys to St Peter and a book to St Paul
Christ with St Peter and St Paul
The Mocking of Christ
Create a modelled plaque in the style of a relief figure panel from a high cross. You may choose the more stylised figures, like those on Moone or Ahenny, or the more realistic figures found on the midland crosses. You can choose your own theme.
Manuscripts We have already seen how simple the buildings in an Irish monastery were and how few comforts were available for the monks. The beautifully decorated and elaborately laid out books of the 9th and 10th centuries seem to be in contrast with this simple life, but they are also an expression of the attempt by Irish monks to lead a spiritual and intellectual life free from worldliness. Beautiful Bibles had a value beyond the everyday – they were an expression of the commitment of the community to spiritual ideals.
The Book of Kells
Scholars now generally agree that the Book of Kells was written at the chief monastery of the Columban order on the island of Iona and then brought to Kells
362 NEW APPRECIATING ART IRELAND AND ITS PLACE IN THE WIDER WORLD
