Anglo-Saxon, 8th century

Anglo-Saxon artists of the 8th century were anonymous craftsmen and illuminators working in early medieval England, producing extraordinary works of religious art during a period of remarkable cultural flourishing. Flourishing in monastic centers such as Lindisfarne, Canterbury, and Northumbria, these artists synthesized Celtic, Germanic, and Mediterranean influences into a distinctive insular style. Their masterworks include intricately decorated gospel books, metalwork, and carved stone crosses that represent some of the highest achievements of early medieval art.