Includes bibliographical references (pages 246-250) and index.
Contents
1: From Callanish to Maen Achwyfan -- Patterns in science and art -- The background story -- Origins and availability of early medieval art -- Recording and viewing early medieval art -- Understanding art and geometry -- 2: Panels and layout -- Importance of panels -- Laying out primary and secondary grids -- Geometric methods -- Matters of style -- 3: Panels and motifs -- Single panels -- Composite panel design: Lindisfarne gospels -- Composite panel design: Rosemarkie stone -- Composite panel design: Canon table St Petersburg Gospel book -- Initial letters: St Gall Gospel book and Book of Kells -- Composite panel design: Hunterston brooch -- 4: Rules and geometry -- A simple cross: Ulbster stone -- Symmetry and repetition: translation, rotation and reflection -- Key patterns -- Spiral patterns -- Interlacing patterns -- Zoomorphic and foliaceous or foliate patterns -- 5: Transparent complexity -- Rules and complexity -- Changes with scale -- Transparent complexity -- Embedded crosses -- 6: Interpretation and reconstruction -- Damage and deterioration -- Application of Allen and Anderson's approach to classification -- Reconstructing patterns on broken stones -- Zoomorphic interpretation and reconstruction: Nigg cross-slab -- Corroded manuscripts: Book of Durrow -- Fine-scale reproduction in manuscripts: Book of Kells -- 7: Distortions with time and breaking the rules -- Metamorphosis: interlacing and knots -- Metamorphosis: square key patterns -- Mixing motifs -- Viking innovations: Isle of Man and Cumbria -- Viking innovations: Maen Achwyfan -- 8: Art and geometry -- Construction methods revisited -- Outstanding challenges.