245 



shewing his disciple, Ailbeus, an altar of beautiful workmanship, hav- 

 ing a glass chalice at each of its four angles.* 



The art of painting also appears to have been much cultivated at 

 this period; Cogitosus, in his description of Kildare, it will be remem- 

 bered, extols-f" " pictis tabulis," " parietibus tabulatis," *' paries ima- 

 ginibus depictus," &c., and other similar evidences could be multi- 

 plied here if necessary. The Irish MSS. too, of the greatest antiquity, 

 are adorned with highly finished and coloured illustrations, such as 

 the heads, beaks, and talons of birds, quadrupeds, &c., and the most 

 striking evidence of all, is that relative to the Book of Kildare, 

 wrung from Giraldus Cambrensis, who had seen it frequently. He calls 

 it a wonderful book, presenting as many figures as pages, and each 

 distinguished by different shades of colour. " Here," says he, "you 

 might behold a countenance of majesty divinely executed; there 

 mystic delineations of the evangelists ; in other places, eagles, calves, 

 lions, human faces, and other figures multiplied to infinity. And 

 if you inspect the minute secrets of its workmanship, the intricacy of 

 the ornaments, so exquisitely delicate, so proportioned yet so crouded,so 

 grouped and blending together, and withal illumined with such a, fresh- 

 ness of colouring, you would rather swear it was the work of an angel's 

 diligence, than of any human application. The more frequently and 

 attentively I inspect it, the more am I struck with its new attractions, 

 and more and more am I riveted in the contemplation of its won- 

 ders."J Lhuid also eulogises the paintings and skilful wreathings of 



• " Altare mirandi opens, liabens in quatuor angulis quatuor calices vilreos, &c." — ^Joce- 

 lin. Vita Patric. c. 105, 



t Vita S. Brigidae,c. 35, 



t " Liber mirand us * * * * ubi quot paginae fere sunt, tot figurae diversae variisque 

 coloribus distinctissimae. Hie majestatis vultum videas divinitus impressum, hinc mysticas 

 eyangelistarum formas nunc senas nunc quatemas nunc binas alas habentes, hinc aquilam. 



