# Cross of Scriptures [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [PRE-ROMANESQUE SCULPTOR, Irish]() - Date: 0901-0950 - Technique: Stone ## Commentary Clonmacnois was one of the most celebrated Early Christian monasteries in Ireland, famed for its learning and artistic patronage and best known today for an outstanding collection of monuments and stone carvings. The monastery was founded by St Ciaran in 545 on a commanding site above a bend in the River Shannon. What started as a small religious community became the core of a monastic city, with much commercial activity and hundreds of lay inhabitants. The range and quality of stone carving to be found at Clonmacnois are unparalleled in Ireland. The sculpture falls into a number of categories. Over 400 incised grave slabs survive from the early monastic period \(7th–12th century\), decorated with various forms of cross. Many are inscribed with personal names. Standard designs using knotwork, spirals, and frets in a restrained manner were used over a long period. One of the most attractive is a Latin cross with expanded semicircular terminals. The 'Cross of the Scriptures', with its well-modelled, rounded figure sculpture, is a product of the Durrow–Monasterboice workshop. A worn inscription on the east side mentions the names of Abbot Colman \(d 926\) and King Flann \(d 916\) and has been the subject of much debate. The cross \(h. 3.38 m\) is made of two pieces of stone, with shaft, ring and cap all cut from a monolith. In contrast to other Irish crosses, the ring projects in front of the cross arms, which are tilted upwards. Some of the panels are difficult to interpret, but others can be identified easily \(Arrest of Christ, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Traditio clavium, and Last Judgement\). ## Related artworks - [Ahenny High Cross]() - [Ahenny High Crosses]() - [Ahenny High Crosses]() - [Cross of Scriptures]() - [Moone High Cross \(detail\)]() - [Moone High Cross \(detail\)]() - [Moone High Cross]() - [Moone High Cross]() - [Muiredach's High Cross]() - [Muiredach's High Cross]() - [North Cross]() - [North Cross]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()