(9” circular gesso board)

This is a design in the Book of Kells, taken from folio 29R at the beginning of the Gospel of St. Matthew. I have enlarged it in order to appreciate the detail. The original would have been only a couple of inches in diameter. I have stayed true as possible to the original colour palette, including orpiment for the two intertwined snakes at the bottom, red earth and bone black for the outline.