Etsy Pick: Illuminated Letters

Posted by Caley on February 2nd, 2009 at 05:53am

I might have mentioned that I attended Trinity College here in Dublin for my Master’s in literature. As the college was founded in 1592, the old Trinity library houses countless old books of exceptional value. You can walk through the main, vaulted hall of the library and gasp at the shelves stacked to the ceiling with famous words and inhale that musty, paper smell of really old books. The old library houses the famous Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript created by Celtic monks around 800 of unbelievable intricacy and beauty. It’s very well-preserved and considered by many to be Ireland’s greatest treasure.

Page from the Book of Kells

You have to admire the loving dedication that went into the creation of this book. While we have lost the tradition of such richly decorated letters for the most part, I still see instances of this kind of art. The artist Lora L. Barnhiser creates “Illuminated Letters” of her own, among other intensely interesting drawings.

Illuminated Letter from Art Flair

The inner-intricacy of her drawings really reminds me of the Book of Kells. Check out her Etsy shop here.

Illuminated N from Art Flair

Tags: drawing, letters, print

Under Etsy Picks Tags: drawing, letters, print