Timeline of Irish Art

Early Medieval Art AD 40 0 —AD 12 0 0 Iron Age Art 3 0 0 BC—AD 4 0 0 During the 5th and 6th centuries Irish metalworkers develop new Decoration on Iron Age objects is characterised by curvilinear motifs techniques and decorative styles. Craftsmen continue to use Celtic La in the so-called La Tène style, an art style known throughout Iron Tène motifs and combine these with new types of ornament, to decorate Age Europe. The style is characterised by its curvilinear nature. Vegetal new object forms. External sources of inspiration include the Roman designs, such as stylized palm trees, lotus blossoms, vines and tendrils world, Anglo­Saxon England and the Germanic cultures of Europe. are seen, as well as human masks, stylized animals and bird heads. Non­representational motifs include trumpet­ and lyre­shapes, spirals The Golden Age of Irish Art AD 700—AD 850 and S­shaped scrolls. Various techniques include casting, hammering The Golden Age is defined by unsurpassed skills seen in the and engraving. Red enamel is used in stud settings or in fields to manufacture of fine metalwork and illuminated manuscripts, works that show exceptional quality in their ornamentation, highlight reserved decoration. especially in the fine detail.

AD 1111 Synod of Rath Breasail AD 406 Roman legions withdraw Church synods of the 12th century establish from Britain. diocesan centres in . This reform Contact with continental leads to competition between monasteries Europe. A sword hilt, AD 431 The missionary Palladius is sent to ‘the Irish believing in as they seek to be designated as the new dioceasan centres. Lavish church metalwork, found in Ballyshannon harbour, Christ’. Although Ireland is not conquered by the Romans, Roman AD 795 First recorded date of AD 800 The Faddan More Psalter is such as croziers and shrines is produced to First evidence of La Tène Co. Donegal, is probably an influence is traced in artefacts dating from this period. The most Viking raid on Ireland. produced, probably in a midlands import from southern France. strengthen their claims. art in Ireland. Birth of Christ Contact with Roman world. enduring influence of all is the introduction of Christianity. monastery.

300 BC 200 100 0 100 AD 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 AD

Two ribbon torcs The Broighter Collar The Lambay Collar The Monasterevin Disc Votive offerings of The Balline Hoard Enamelled bronze brooch The Ballinderry Brooch The Ardagh Chalice The Derrynaflan Chalice The Ballyspellan Brooch near Belfast Concentric arcs drawn by Found in a grave on Lambay This hammered bronze disc Roman disc-brooches This hoard may be the result of This form of brooch is based on Cast decoration, enamel and Polychrome studs with inset The exclusive use of amber for Large quantities of silver come The presence of torcs compass highlight raised Island. This necklet is of a type displays peltae and spiral Newgrange, Co. Meath. an Irish raid on Roman Britain. Roman prototypes. Triskeles, millefiori decorate this brooch. silver grilles are made to imitate studs and the coarser nature into circulation through new seems to indicate a continuity decoration of S­shaped scrolls, known from northern England motifs characteristic of La These disc­brooches are spirals and bird­headed motifs, Its form is derived from Roman the appearance of continental of the indicate that the trade routes opened up by of tradition with Bronze Age trumpet shapes and lentoids. and lowland Scotland. Tène decoration. imports from Roman Britain. and the use of red enamel, traditions. studs. Derrynaflan Chalice was made Viking traders. Metalwork of practices. however, show continuity with later than the Ardagh Chalice. the 10th to 12th centuries is Irish Iron Age craftsmanship. decorated using Scandinavian­ derived animal art but with a native Irish flavour. Cros Chonga Ogham stone Timpeall na bliana 1120 a Monataggart, Co. Cork dhéantar an tseoid mhór The development of dheireanach den Eaglais ogham may be a response Éireannach meánaoise chun to inscriptions on Roman blogh den Fhíor­Chros monumental sculpture. a choimeád ann. Mar ab amhlaidh sna tréimhsí ní ba luaithe, faightear léargas ó Chros Chonga ar an tuiscint a The Newry Armlet The Killamery Brooch bhí ag ceardaithe Éireannacha An import from eastern Heavy silver brooches are ar stíleanna nua ealaíne agus Scotland, this cast armlet produced in the 9th century. ar an leas a bhain siad astu features La Tène­type Many of these are gilt and have chun déantáin Éireannacha a lentoid bosses. recesses for applied decoration. mhaisiú.

The Cross of Cong The last of the great Irish medieval Church treasures The Moylough Belt Shrine is made around 1120 to hold The Toome Scabbard Tara Brooch Ultimate La Tène Decoration: Filigree: Fine work with gold Animal Art: Animals are Die­stamping: New decorative The Clonmacnoise Crozier a relic of the True Cross. La Tène motifs in the form This is a showcase of metal­ Spirals, S­shaped scrolls, and silver wire reaches its zenith depicted in cast and applied techniques such as die­ Scandinavian­derived As with the earlier periods, of stylised foliage shown in working skills of the 8th triskeles and lentoid shapes in the 8th century, and its best decoration. stamping are used, and new motifs are used to decorate the Cross of Cong shows repeated spirals and lentoid century. It combines native from the repertoire of the Iron expression is seen on the Tara motifs such as interlace are ecclesiastical objects. how Irish craftsmen understand forms decorate this scabbard and foreign art styles and Age metalworker are all used to Brooch, Ardagh Chalice, and commonly seen. In many cases, Interlaced animals in Ringerike and are influenced by new plate. techniques, and each element decorate artefacts in the early Derrynaflan Paten. a wide range of styles and style decorate this crozier. art styles, and use them to is produced to the highest medieval period. Fine engraved techniques are seen on a single decorate Irish objects. standard. decoration also becomes object. popular.

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