The Art of the Picts: Sculpture and Metalwork in Early Medieval Scotland - Softcover

'It is a work of immense and generous scholarship' - History Scotland 'Fascinating ... in-depth and intelligent ... a beautiful book, and would make a wonderful gift for someone interested in the Picts' - CuriousBookFans.co.uk 'The best set of portraits ever made of Pictish art ... a benchmark in Pictish studies' - Antiquaries Journal 'It is certainly the most important publication on its subject, and is moreover a huge pleasure to read: erudite, engaging, a beautifully written celebration of Pictish art' - Times Literary Supplement

The Picts, who occupied north-eastern Scotland between the sixth and ninth centuries, are perhaps the least well-known of the Celtic peoples. The only real traces of their society are a large series of stone cross slabs, and some silverwork, all engraved with symbols which nobody has ever properly deciphered (despite many attempts). This book locates this work within the ‘Insular’ style – seen throughout the British Isles at this time and marvellously expressed in such works as the Book of Kells. Not only is it the most comprehensive survey of Pictish art in recent memory, it is the first scholarly book to address the art-historical aspects of work formerly only treated by archaeologists.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Criticism of Pictish Art: from ‘insular’ to Insular · 1. Diagnostic Features on Insular Art: A General Review · 2. Pictish Participation in Insular Art · 3. The Pictishness of Pictish Art · 4. Reassessing Pictish Metalwork · 5. Pictish Figurative Art · 6. Form and Function of Pictish Sculpture · 7. Form and Function of Pictish Sculpture II · 8. Losses