Understanding Interlace

Half-Day Workshop

Michael Brennan

Trinity Irish Art Research Centre (TRIARC)

Trinity College, Dublin

 Free, but booking essential - Places limited (first come, first served)

The University of Glasgow’s Centre for Scottish and Celtic Studies is delighted to welcome Dr Michael Brennan, the leading expert on interlace (‘knotwork’) in Insular art. Interlace - the weaving of ribbons alternately over and under in complex patterns - is popularly thought of as the definitive motif of ‘Celtic’ art, but in fact it was introduced to these islands firstly by the Romans, then via Christian decorative art and finally in Germanic or Frankish contexts. It proved to be the most long-lasting of all European art motifs. Its grip on early medieval art saw it contribute to the eighth century ‘Golden Age’ of Insular art (Lindisfarne Gospels, Tara brooch, Book of Kells, etc.), before it declined somewhat in the face of eighth and ninth century Continental styles. It had a second high point in late eleventh/early twelfth century Hiberno-Scandinavian styles (Cross of Cong, etc.) but declined once more with the advent of Romanesque art. It never fully disappeared, clinging on through the Middle Ages to embellish  some official documents and scribal works, until it was adopted by the Scottish and Irish ‘Celtic’ Revival movements in the nineteenth century. It remains a feature of contemporary revival art.