Styles & Periods

Styles & Periods

Celtic Art/ Early Medieval Art

In the Middle Ages, the Irish cultivated a truly distinct artistic identity. The Romans never conquered Ireland, so when Christianity made its way to the island, the manifestations of religious art were uniquely unaffected by Mediterranean civilization. From 600 to 800 A.D. monasteries in Ireland began to produce copies of the Bible in relative volume. These centers of learning and the arts were responsible for the swift conversions of France, the Netherlands and Germany to Christianity. The task of reproducing the scriptures was not taken lightly by the scriptoria, and an entire art of illuminated book pages prevailed. The Book of Kells is considered one of the masterpieces of Medieval Art, featuring a complexity of color and composition that is unrivaled by other Insular texts. Following intricate rules for decorative embellishment, the monks created pages of intense geometric pattern. Besides monograms, four figurative images were often depicted by illuminators. The man, the lion, the eagle and the ox all correspond to the four evangelists, and were included in pages of the Gospels written by scribes. The work of the artists of Ireland paved the way for the work of Charlemagne and Carolingian Art.


Feeling inspired? Try out these fine products…

From $2.36

From $15.99

Modern Acrylic

by Walter Foster

A contemporary exploration of acrylic painting.

Up to 60% Off

Goldenedge Watercolor Brushes

by Grumbacher

Made with the professional artist in mind

From $4.29

Up to 40% Off

Creative Studio Getting Started Drawing & Sketching Set

by Faber-Castell

Premium drawing set to learn basic techniques

Up to 35% Off

Latest Product Reviews
This is the red we've all been waiting for! It is a deep, darker red, but not mahogany in color at all. Of all the reds I have in my collection, this is by far my favorite. One layer is perfect, but as you paint over it again, it remains true to its color, in a darker hue, of course. Thank you TH!
- JenG in Michigan
Good price, prompt delivery, and well protected for shipping. This is not a product that is used every day, but when I need it, it is one of the most important items in my studio.
- Joe Perez in Ocala, Florida
I have been painting on glass for 30 years. I found that some of the Vitrea 160 liners are dried up when I get them. Totally useless.When they do work, they work very well. As for the Vitrea 160 paints, I use them as accents. They streak when trying to use a brush so I use a small sponge brush and use the dabbing motion. Or I use my index finger. The colors are very nice.
- Jan C. in Florida
Free Download for Kids

Download free coloring book pages Download FREE coloring
book pages to color at
home or school.

View Pages »