The EIGHT-CIRCLE CROSS was the artist’s second page done on vellum, and his first purely decorative “carpet page” containing no calligraphy whatsoever. The ancient monks designed such carpet pages to accompany the opening words of each gospel in their illuminated manuscripts. Based on but not copied from the famous Eight Circled Cross in the Book of Kells, Michael's new version radically alters the original design yet remains true to its overall look and color palette.

There is much hidden Early Christian symbolism within the panels. Spiral circles make up the four arms of the traditional cross which terminate in abstract spiral groups, plus four additional arms which contain the symbols of the Four Evangelists: the Man of St. Matthew, the Calf of St. Luke, the Lion of St. Mark and the Eagle of St. John. All of the Celts’ Seven Forms of Created Life (humans, animals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, and plants) are present, as well as the twelve Apostles who face towards the cross in the outer lunettes.

The Celtic “Tree of Life” motif appears several times, often with eucharistic vine imagery. The knotwork panels are made up of one continuous line representing Eternity, and the spiral groups can be seen as a microcosm of the universe itself . . . whirling, changing and regrouping, all in motion revolving around the one unmoving central point, which is the Creator.

The EIGHT-CIRCLE CROSS took the artist over a year to complete. The design stage, from rough sketch to finished ink drawing, required over 100 hours; the transfer to vellum and painting stages required an additional 120 hours in the studio. The design was laid out using the ancient tools: ruler, compass, and T-square; and the finished page inked and painted entirely with brush and goose quill pen.

Each full-color lithograph is printed at actual size using the highest-quality lightfast inks on 100% acid-free heavyweight paper, and is hand signed and numbered by the artist. 

Original Artwork created in the style of the Book of Kells
Limited Edition Lithograph of 2200
Numbered and signed by the artist