With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, I thought it was the perfect time to highlight the art of Ireland. Celtic or "Irish" art brings images of monastic calligraphy and illumination, such as the Book of Kells, or religious art to people's minds. Although Celtic art has long depended on nature and religion for inspiration, it has also long been used as the visual history of Ireland. It has been used to preserve every day life, the gentry, street life, military conflicts, folklore, the lives of literary figures and saints and the beautiful countryside.

Celtic art is considered the first great contribution to European art made by non-Mediterranean peoples. Its roots originated with the artisans of the Umfield culture and the Hallstatt culture (eighth-sixth centuries B.C.), at the beginning of the Iron Age. Traditional Celtic style is marked by its stylized plant motifs, usually of Greek origin, and fantastic animals - the human figure plays a secondary role. Other favorite motifs included elliptical curves and opposing curves, spirals and chevrons. These elements were combined in dynamic, yet balanced, intricate, geometrical patterns.

As Christianity took hold, traditional motifs were combined with Christian motifs. The most impressive Celtic Christian art was produced from the seventh to eighth centuries, both in Ireland and at Irish missions in Europe. Manuscripts of books of the Bible were illuminated with decorative borders and letters of astonishing intricacy and inventiveness. The masterpiece of this period is the Book of Kells which were produced in the eighth century and now housed at the Old Library at Trinity College, Dublin.

Celtic art had rapidly declined by the 12th century with increasing foreign influences such as the Viking raids of the ninth and 10th centuries. The Norman invasion of 1170 ended traditional Celtic art. At that point, Irish art tended to be a mere subcategory of English art - and often a weak imitation. It wasn't until the 18th century that Irish art regained its innovations and a tradition of its own. In Dublin, a native school of landscapists formed after 1800 with artists such as William Sadler and George Mulvany. In the 20th century, a  revival in painting was led by Jack Butler Yeats, whose exuberant, romantic paintings portray lively and colorful subjects such as Gypsies, clowns and fighters.

In celebrating our Celtic heritage, we look not only to the history and folklore of our roots but also to the poets, playwrights, musicians, artists, saints and scholars who have all contributed to the rich and varied tapestry of Irish tradition. These links will lead you to some of the traditional and modern Irish masterpieces, as well as tutorials to create your own Celtic art.

National Gallery of Ireland
Permanent collections of the National Gallery of Ireland including works by Jack Butler Yeats.

Gaelart 
Irish company dedicated to bringing international recognition to leading and emerging Irish artists.

Celtic Clip Art
A collection of free Celtic clip art including traditional knotwork, animals, mazes, and key patterns.