The Book of Kells online at http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/bok/index.htm offers a glimpse of the Gospel illustrated with Celtic motifs. This is accomplished through the use of scanned high resolution images. My first impression of the ninth century works illustrated here is how elaborate and colorful the works are. In viewing the many plates that combine the primary colors of blue, red and yellow to create various other hues, my eyes are quickly drawn to the elaborate designs on every plate. I have always loved the design in Celtic crosses, and such designs are seen throughout the Book of Kells.
The plates contain examples of all four principles of design. The contrasts can be seen between the figures of people depicted and the borders; the use of bold color on lighter backgrounds; and straight versus curved lines. Repetition is evident in the symmetry that is obvious in every plate. The artists offer the same designs on opposite sides and/or corners of the borders; colors are also repeated throughout all of the works. The combination of reds and blues to create purple is repeated in various examples, and yellow is consistently used as an outline in borders. Alignment is obvious in the symmetry that every example contains. The borders frame and center the images, and even when two people are portrayed, as The Virgin and Child, the balance is pleasing to the eye. Proximity is achieved as figures are contained within the elaborate borders, and identical figures are often visible on opposite sides or corners of the plates.
Techniques the artists employed to help us understand the importance of this amazing manuscript include symbolism, the use of color, elaborate design, continuity of design theme across different works, and most of all the portrayal of illustrations to accompany what many believe to be the greatest book ever written.
