Ctdtiiral and Artistic Antecedents : Tiron 337 



from about 1122. Two of these,^ by a master standing in close 

 relation to Wiligelmus, represent respectively two shoemakers at 

 work and a knife-grinder.^ The inscription on the border of the 

 first siiows the lozenge-shaped O with which we are familiar on the 

 Ruthwell Cross. ^ 



On the sundial, see pages 89, 90 ; on the chequers, pages 83—86 ; 

 on the knotwork, pages 86—89. 



On the pecuHar form of the Latin O, see pages 44, 45. 



For the use of runic characters on stone monuments in the British 

 Isles, see particularly pages 32 ff., 38 ff. 



The question as to what artists may have been available for such 

 sculpture as that of our crosses can best be approached by considering 

 what foreign schools of art were, or had been, represented in Scotland 

 (and incidentally in England) in the generation or so preceding 1150. 

 We may convenient^ begin with one of the most important in- 

 fluences, that of Tiron (properly Thiron), near Chartres. 



1. THE POSSIBLE INFLUENCE OF TIRON 



The abbey of Kelso was first established at Selkirk in 1113 by 

 monks from Tiron, and was transferred to Kelso in 1128. Kelso, 

 in turn, founded Lismahago (1144); and various other monasteries, 

 among them Kilwinning (1140),^ show the influence of Tiron. 



Anno MCXIII. nionachi Tiionenses in Angliani veneiunt, X. annos 

 antequam Savinienses venerunt in Angliam. Monachi Tironenses in 

 terra David regis Scotise apud Seleschirche [Selkirk] venerunt, et ibi 

 per annos XV. manserunt.^ 



Anno MCXXVIII. mutata est abbatia de Selechirche ad Kelchou 

 [Kelso] juxta Rochestura, et fundata est ecclesia sanctae Mariae prsedictis 

 monachis Tironensibus, ubi earn plus rex David magnis muneribus 

 ditavit, multis ornamentis ornavit, prsediis et possessionibus amplis 

 nobiliter dotavit.^ 



The monks of Tiron were notable in that age for the variety of 

 handicrafts — including architecture and sculpture — which they re- 

 presented. 



1 Venturi 3. 176-7. 2 cf. p. 145. ^ cf_ pp, 45^ 124. 



* Lawrie {Early Scottish Charters, p. 269) says that monks from Tiron 

 were brought to both Lismahago and Kilwinning. 



* Simeon of Durham, Hist. Regum (Rolls Series) 2. 247. 

 « Ihid. 2. 281. 



(125) 



