Monday, April 27, 2009

Edward Burne-Jones Medieval Sunflowers


Scenes from the Legend of St. Frideswide
This stained glass panel by Edward Burne-Jones graces the Latin Chapel of Christ Church in Oxford. As paraphrased from Flora Symbolica, in his use of sunflowers as a medieval motif, he exercised his “right to make them talk mottoes”. Among those - absente sole languesco (in the absence of the sun I perish) and usque ad reditum (until your return).

Look how cute the pigs are!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

More Medieval pretty


The caption on this postcard received from a friend reads
Penelope Writing Her Fifth Letter. French, c1496.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Medieval Women - at work and play


It seems hilarious that this woman is wearing an ornate crown while weaving.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

The Romance of the Rose



Perfection in wood inspired by the medieval epic, The Romance of the Rose. Note the gorgeous polychrome textile design on the figures' tunics! From the drawing room of the Tower House, London.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Edgar Maxence: Medieval + Mythical art




The Soul of the Forest.

Edgar Maxence studied under Gustav Moreau and you can see that influence in the last image. I was unable to find very many samples of his work online.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Merlin The Enchanter


Scanned from Celtic Mythology, this image is a piece of needlework/embroidery that depicts Vivien, The Lady of the Lake enclosing Merlin in an invisible circle, thus binding his powers.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Saint Catherine of Alexandria



Twenty or so years ago, I found this old book plate in a Raleigh, NC-area antique store. In the winter of 2004, mesmerized by the International Gothic Wing in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, I rounded a corner and saw the original oil on wood panel!