Abstract

The most common figure representing musical performance in medieval religious iconography is King David, Old Testament prophet, musician, and author of the Psalms. His appearance in Insular art emerged in the eighth century as the scope of the iconographic programme was beginning to widen. At this time Eastern Christian influences were strongest, as witness, for example, the Book of Kells (8thlgth century, which may have been produced on Iona), and Mercian stone sculpture (see Henderson 1986: 101).