Movement guide

Insular art

7th–9th century

Representative Insular art artwork — Representative work from the Explainary collection.

Detail from a Insular art artwork — Detail crop for texture and technique.

A style from Ireland and Britain known for intricate interlace and illuminated manuscripts.

What defines it

Interlacing patterns and dense ornament
Abstracted forms and rhythmic geometry
Devotional manuscript culture

Techniques and innovations

Fusion of Celtic and Christian imagery
Manuscripts as immersive visual objects

Key artists

Key works in Explainary