Romanesque 2 Chirhoiota page Book of Kells from

Romanesque 2

Chi-rho-iota page Book of Kells from Iona, Scotland 8 th - 9 th centuries tempera on vellum 13 x 9 1/2 in.

Book of Kells • Greatest achievement of Hiberno-Saxton era • Many full-page illuminations • Opening page of the gospel of Matthew – Initial letters of Christ in Greek (XPI) – 2 other words appear at the lower right – Together they read, “Now this is how the birth of Christ came about. ” – Literally makes the words of God look beautiful

Evangelists symbols page Book of Kells from Iona, Scotland 8 th - 9 th centuries tempera on vellum 13 x 9 1/2 in.

Review • Representations of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – Matthew = Human Angel – Mark = Lion – Luke = Ox – John = Eagle

The Vision of Hildegard of Bingen Detail of facsimile of a lost folio in the Scivias by Hildegard of Bingen from Trier or Bingen, Germany ca. 1050 -1079

Hildegard of Bingen Most prominent nun of the 12 th century Began to have visions at a very early age Visions were ruled to be authentic Pope Eugenius III authorized that she publish all that she had learned • Kings, popes, barons, etc. sought her counsel • •

The Vision • Hildegard sits within a monastery experiencing a divine vision • 5 tongues of fire rest on her head while she writes • She writes what she learns on a wax tablet • A nearby monk copies into a book all she has written