It will come as a surprise to many that a wealth of Gothic art and architecture can still be found in Ireland. This groundbreaking book examines for the first time the most westerly expression of Gothic—on the edge of Europe—and traces its development from the beginning of the thirteenth century to the Reformation. Colum Hourihane offers new insights into Gothic Irish art, and he presents a revised view of art in Ireland in the Middle Ages.

Brought to Ireland by the Anglo-Normans and religious reform movements, the style was adopted and adapted locally, first appearing in monastic architecture and subsequently in the other arts. The book looks at what survives of Gothic art in Ireland, examines previously unknown material, and discusses such wide-ranging topics as the historiography of the style, its metalwork, iconography, and forms.


Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art