Insular art, also known as Hiberno-Saxon art, was produced in the post-Roman era of Great Britain and Ireland. The term derives from insula, the Latin term for "island"; in this period Britain and Ireland shared a largely common … See more

Unlike contemporary Byzantine art, and that of most major periods, Insular art does not come from a society where common stylistic influences … See more

Cathach of St. Columba. An Irish Latin psalter of the early 7th century, this is perhaps the oldest known Irish manuscript of any sort. It contains only decorated letters, at the beginning of each Psalm, but these already show distinctive traits. Not just the initial, but … See more

The designation as Insular derives from the phrase Insular script, first cited by the OED in 1908, and is also used by linguists for the See more

The Insular style is most famous for its highly dense, intricate and imaginative decoration, which takes elements from several earlier styles. Late Iron Age Celtic art or "Ultimate See more

Christianity discouraged the burial of grave goods so that, at least from the Anglo-Saxons, we have a larger number of pre-Christian survivals … See more

Large stone high crosses, usually erected outside monasteries or churches, first appear in the 8th century in Ireland, perhaps at See more