An exhibition to mark the reopening of one of Scotland’s most important libraries will feature a magnificent medieval Psalter, dubbed Scotland’s Book of Kells — but it will go ahead without a new, rather more minimalist work commissioned from Douglas Gordon, the Turner Prize-winning artist.
The Celtic Psalter, a handwritten copy of the Psalms of King David, has been held in Edinburgh University library since the 17th century, but has not been on display for at least a generation. Dated to the 11th century, it is written in Latin and richly illustrated with images of dragons and beasts as well as Celtic and Pictish symbols.
It had been anticipated this 1,000-year-old relic would be given added lustre by its presence in the library close to a new work from Gordon, who won the Turner Prize in 1996. The artist had proposed to inscribe a wall of the library in gold lettering with the words: “Every time you turn a page, it dies a little.”
Instead, Gordon pulled out of the £20,000 project in disgust after his proposal was frowned upon for not being positive enough. Later, he was told that he would have to cover his own travel and accommodation expenses.
The artist said he felt humiliated by the university. “I will never again accept a public commission in my home country,” he said. “I felt I was being treated like a 16-year-old apprentice and not a professional. When it turned out that not only did I have to pay for everything myself ... it all became too much.”
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Gordon then wrote to the university, saying: “It has become impossible to work with the commissioning body. Many artists are treated disrespectfully by the institutions they are making commissions for. Most think they cannot afford to say no, but I can.”
Had Gordon completed the Edinburgh commission, the contrast with the pocket-sized Celtic Psalter could hardly have been more stark.
“This [Psalter] is our Book of Kells, only no one knew about it, until now,” Joseph Marshall, the university’s rare books librarian, said. “It has always been seen as one of the most precious items in the library and has not really been allowed out. We are really excited about it being seen by the Scottish public for the first time in memory.”
The origins of the Psalter are a mystery. It may, like the Book of Kells, have been made in the monastery of Iona, but it could have been commissioned by a member of the nobility, or even by Catherine, Queen of Scotland.
Commenting on Gordon’s work. Andrew Patrizio, a member of the university’s advisory panel, said: “Several people felt the wording was not celebratory enough, even though the artist had not been briefed to create a ‘positive’ commission.”
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A spokeswoman for Edinburgh University said: “Art always stimulates debate and that is something that as a university we absolutely welcome. However, it would be entirely inappropriate for us to elaborate on the private discussions we have with individuals or organisations when we seek to commission work from them.”