Trinity is to loan one of its most important manuscripts, the Book of Durrow, to the British Library for an exhibition that will run from October 19th, 2018, until February 19th, 2019.
The exhibition, “Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War”, will explore the riches of art, culture and ideas covering the six centuries of the Anglo-Saxon period up to the Norman conquest.
The manuscript on loan from Trinity is one of the earliest surviving decorated gospel books in Western Europe.
As one of the most famous manuscripts held in Trinity’s Library – the largest library in Ireland – the Book of Durrow is known as a precursor to the Book of Kells. The 1,300 year-old book will join major manuscripts from around the world, such as the Codex Amiatinus, the oldest complete manuscript of the Bible in Latin, which is on loan from the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana in Florence.
Coinciding with the British Library exhibition, the manuscript has been digitised by Trinity College Dublin and will appear online for the first time.
In a press statement, Trinity’s librarian and College archivist, Helen Shenton, said: “The Book of Durrow is at the heart of Ireland’s cultural heritage. The manuscript’s exquisite ornamentation and history continues to inspire and enthral. Through this partnership with the British Library, people will be able to see it alongside major manuscripts from across Europe and the USA.”
“The Book of Durrow plays a crucial role in telling the story of the Anglo-Saxon period and how it influenced early Christian art; the story simply can’t be told without it. In a Brexit and post Brexit era it is so important that our cultural institutions continue to collaborate in such significant partnerships”, she said.
In the press statement, Dr Claire Breay, the exhibition’s lead curator, said she is “thrilled that Trinity College Dublin has generously agreed to loan the Book of Durrow to the British Library’s exhibition, ‘Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War’. The exhibition offers an exciting opportunity for new audiences to see this exceptional manuscript in London”.
Breay added: “The display of the Book of Durrow together with contemporary decorated manuscripts will allow exhibition visitors to engage with the great artistic creativity of the period and to explore the strong cultural links between Ireland and Northumbria in the late 7th and early 8th centuries.”
Provost Patrick Prendergast said: “This 1,300 year-old manuscript has transcended borders throughout the ages and continues to teach us about the great value of educational and cultural collaborations.”
“Trinity is delighted to give people an opportunity to view the Book of Durrow in an exhibition of this scale and global importance. As a university this is something that we want to facilitate and be part of”, he concluded.
Yesterday, The University Times learned that the Book of Kells, the most famous medieval manuscript in the world, has been temporarily replaced by an exact replica, due to “technical issues”. The museum is still open, with discounted tickets being offered to visitors.
