Treasures of early Irish art, 1500 B.C. to 1500 A.D: From the collections of the National Museum of Ireland, Royal Irish Academy, Trinity College, Dublin

228 Pages·1977·57.33 MB·English

by  New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

1500B.C.t01500A.D.

TREASURES
of EARLY

IRISH ART
1500BC.101500A.D

[rom the collections of the
Natimal Museum of lreland
Royal Irish Acaclemy

Trinity College, Dublin

exhibited at
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
M, 11. de Young Memorial Museum

Museum of Art,
Carnegie Institue, Pittsburgh

Musexm of Fine Arts, Boston

Philacel}

nia Museum of Art

photography by Lee Boltin
vecept as ohervete cveclited

The nublest share of earth isthe lar westera wortd
W hose sane is sritéen Sentiain the ancient bouks
Rickn goods, in sitver jewels, elath, end geld,
Bensigirto the body ina ned melon sil
Win bores and wath mith lore Ireland sta
Wirhsilkand arms, chundant frit, with

3p plains,
tend taen.

Worthy are the Irish tu dwell in this their Land,
A sace oj mon renowned in wet, in peace, in jaith,

Donatus, Bishop of Fitole, widainth oonusy.

Translated by Lin ce Pao
Credits

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Taatist Roatd { Pigh 13.13, 18,31: snl ord eco. ctesp ol Hercecs
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£20: rsproduced by peoaion of Fe BeiishTbrary Baars Pig, 42. Tri
‘Toor! Boor Tochekod x she wuloezepruchatiow wis geucrausy give by
George Brule, az, pmblisher of Cite end Ag Saxn Paleting, 1977

diced sad pric by Polls Con
Desired 9y Abin Grosetun

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preset ‘ag Fork Tepe wit Ca, ie New We,

rings in Toy ly Atel Mn iter, Verona

Published by The Moueolian seu vf At, 197 lights reserve
Seon preg, 1978: 2,000 eps

{Library of Conpress Caraoning
(Gain ecery under te
Treaantes fal Tisha, 1500 a. ¢.¥0 15002,

Publication Data

iblingcaphe: p,
1:1, Fes Eshisitims. 2. Art, Peaistade-=
lreland—Extibidiens. 3st, Auceat—relond—
Exkibitions, 4, An. Medieeal—Treland Tahibidoss.
T.fielein, Le. 11 Dublin. Natiousl Meseum of Trelard
THT. Roya! Tigh Acaderay, Deblin, TV. Dnlin, Lrver
siry, Wi New For’ (Citg]_ Mer elias Mustun of Art
NOTS2 TA 709'-415'974013 77-8692
SBN O79 161-7
Timeline

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Contents

Poreword titi
Jit Wilson, Thomas Having

Preface ix
G, Prank Mitchell

Introduction — 10
G. Frank Mitchell

1 The Bronze Age B
Peter Heshivon
Ubutratime LIB _ oo .
DE oraga Influences and the Beginnings of Christian Art 54
G. Frank Mitchell
Uustrations 14300
3 The Christian Trinmph: The Galden Age 93
Liam de Paor
Ubwstrations 31-45

4 The Viking Impact — 144

Mire de Paor
Ulustrationt 46-59

5 Irish Art in the Romanesque and Gothic Periods 187
Roger A. Stalley
Illustrations 61-69

Selected bibliography 221
Catalogue entries by G. Frank Mitchell
Foreword

‘The ovesiun ofthis eshivition, whic flows che Hicen
tennil celebrations 3 Atrasiva, remind us of he nasa
fnfluenve tha couuly lias Jad on He convae af Te
towy, For nya ended yoats the Bish pevple nave nain
Isited Cove ies with heponply of Jac Uniend Stars. and
in iswith a view to the deepening of eustel endesetand
‘ng aut they now send thelr mes prcclos sreasmes 10 2
seties of musouns aosess the Amserican continent. The
feshibivion demonstrates tke intersstional standing. oF
carly Ich at andthe universality of ll gveut anise ex
pression. La deeply protef-{ to all he ducetienn Lends
of Tielan! who kaye wade Treaseres of Bavly fish Att,
1500. ¢.14.1509 3.0, possible

Jeu WZ
‘Minister fr Ecucacon,Treland

‘The paimocy vf the exauondteaty ish eiyaron ln
bhsea made wvluble sos in ts eatinety for this ei
Hon, The pratowad [edings that she propls of Teclané
Jaws fr Ueie ensures is something hat we all vue
stand, and thsi fanny thebe prelous nosiessina 15 36
Te arrexcveding’y genezuss act. I righe never ave arin
apired, bie “Treand . is Wke na orher race node
eave” George Berna Slaw sae Tal rhe impassible

ind was um uvervday cccumrense, The iupurible,
therefore, has happened and is vay walears,

‘This significant eibiinn yea erento by an cxtrane
Alivary group of peunfe, Edivédoals un hoch siden uf the
<Atlonic have labored with casq-aled éadicaton to make
ic happen. ‘Thanks must go to <2 many, vise and ine
ible Fureranet: Professor @. Frank Bite, Weexideat of
the Raga Trish Aeotomy, all his esueieres Peter Br,
“ibrar of Tvinity College, Dublin, axe Brotessor Tid
Gacces, Tnatcure af Adestced Stedise, Dubin, Jes
Woice, Dicetor of the Nesioral Geller of Ireland, jou

saved supgonter. At the Menepatitan, Kael Kars, Chai
‘map for Special Precis Ckutlee Lie Asssutnt Cursor
oF Modoes’ Avr; ard Ponelapa K. Baréel, Associate
Counsel, werk: with colleagues wih Uae Mus
a the four participaring, musenrs eo ineste chaz che
exhilioa becenneu ceiy

“Thanks alin go ro Watzer J. Celey, trmer Arnbassador
ft the Usived Stes to Leclind; Prime Binister 0 Le
land, John Leach: ths torner Msiser for Edncation,
Rishase Baz. kis successor, Peter Davy, aa le pugeent
‘Minister, Tohn P. Wilson: John G. Molloy, Arahassads
Irom Tiel t9zle¢ United Sites; Passos: Kennedy, dn
‘ysidor to the Lite Nations Goma Trees Gencuid
‘Claigh. Coxsal Gensral of elands Pacrick Collins, Dep

Carol Geastt Fae Supt, Hist Scere acy of he
Limhersyof Traland; Dr. FS, lees, Progat ot Frietsy

Gules, Debling Dr, D. LD. Eiswie, Vice Prowos: uf the
College! D-. A. T. Teas, Horm Director of he Natinnal

hes wall a
vuad Ni! We
‘Tarr Kenedy in New Yurk, and 20 Patrile Lace’ for his
counsel, Speci asiance cama from the Cults Rela
nag Caremies, Depas moet af hewrign Afi, Tecan,

(Our grecitude suait ako go ov the SOM Corporation
and its Caan’ of che Board, Mf, Pal Tce
pews ing this extibicin in New Verk,

Flnndy, to al the contsibutors te she cataoyne go cur
pruivced appreciation.

Asin the Book of Kets, dese ate inienes nd subile
Fovcutes that wre unseen, They are there, a2 af Phe vin
prrster mimes of countless iadividcals wince ellotts
Inroughe cis shows eo Amevica

‘Teamae ing,

Dinector, Ths Meerapalitn Nanect’ An