Rain

Torii Kotondo, Rain, 1929

After Vespers

After Vespers, Frederic Leighton

Book of Durrow

The beginning of the Gospel of Mark from the Book of Durrow.
Source: Wikipedia

There is a sense of space in the design of all the pages of the Book of Durrow. Open vellum balances intensely decorated areas.

I'm a sucker for illuminated manuscripts, especially Bibles. I'd love so much to have an illustrated Bible, old school.

I'm also a sucker for good use of space and not feeling one has to fill every bit of the page up. And for stylized animals as parts of capital letters.

So this scores on several fronts.

X

X
by Karin Jurick

A glass ceiling projecting patterns and shadows on the floor while a young woman sketches in the Sculpture Gallery of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

La Tour Eiffel

Robert Delaunay, Tour Eiffel, 1926

Truly gorgeous. And colorful for a wet, gray, cold day.

Worrying Rama, comforted by his brother

A depiction of Rama in the Ramayana. Worried about his wife Sita,
he is consoled by his brother Lakshmana.

I happen to know the story of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana (not to mention Hanuman and Ravana). It is depicted in numerous Hindi movies and often serves as a subtext which many Indians know like the back of their hand. I was looking for an image of someone worrying and loved when this popped up. He has reason to worry, by the way. Sita was his wife who had been kidnapped by the ten-headed demon Ravana. Don't worry it turns out ok in the end.

Don Quixote in the Study

Don Quixote in the Study, Gustav Dore

 Since our quote today is about reading. The link below the photo goes to a post that has lots of paintings of people reading. A lot of fun to look at.

The Plunge

The Plunge, Remo Savisaar

Remo tells us:

The kingfisher, having carefully spotted the exact location of its prey and waited for the perfect moment, suddenly tucks its belly in. This makes it look slimmer, but the purpose is to pull its feathers close to its body, leaving as little air as possible. In an instant, it propels itself into the air and plunges like a dart into the water. Splash! Just a second later, it emerges with a fish in its beak. It all happens incredibly fast! In my experience, the kingfisher almost always catches its prey — very rarely does it leave the water without a catch. After all, the kingfisher!

Go to the link to see the photo larger.

Two Young Girls at the Piano

Two Young Girls at the Piano, Auguste Renoir

Since today's quote was about playing the piano (or fingers at any rate), this seemed like a good picture.

Snow Magic

Snow Magic, Edward B. Gordon

Edward B. Gordon says:

How the snowfall completely transforms and enchants our usual perspective. Suddenly, no explanation is needed, only wonder-filled observation. Every time, I feel almost as if I have the eyes of a child again.

Agreed! This painting perfectly captures that wonder.

Hawaiian Fisherman

Hawaiian Fisherman by Charles William Bartlett,
color woodblock print, 1916. Via J.R.'s Art Place.

I don't usually like wood prints. However, this is in the style of several book covers that my grandparets had. They were my father's old childhood books and when I was a kid I didn't really read them — but I liked the covers. It takes me back to those days.

Second Dream of St. Joseph

Today's quote was a lovely contemplation of Mary. Let's pair that with a look at St. Joseph as he isn't often seen.

Second Dream of St. Joseph
by Daniel Mitsui

It's no secret that I really love illustrations of Biblical scenes done in Asian style. It's also no secret that I really love Daniel Mitsui's work in general. And it should also be no secret that I'm a real fan of St. Joseph.

I shared this way back in 2014 but we need to enjoy it again. After you have enjoyed the work at first glance, see what the artist tells us is included that you might have missed.

It depicts, in a Japanese style, the second dream of St. Joseph, in which an angel (traditionally identified as St. Gabriel) warns him to flee into Egypt with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. In this work, I especially imitated the style of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, a late ukiyo-e master. I referenced his series of woodblock prints 100 Aspects of the Moon for many parts of my drawing.

St. Gabriel holds a fan containing a vision of the Flight into Egypt and the Miracle of the Cherry Tree. I attempted to convey a sense of otherworldly urgency by having the angel’s robes and hair blown by a strong wind that affects nothing else in the picture. St. Joseph sleeps in the stable of Bethlehem, next to the gifts of the Magi (in antique Chinese vessels). The text is from Emile Raguet’s Classical Japanese New Testament translation of 1910, and says Gabriel and Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.

The Large Cat

The Large Cat by Cornelis Visscher, 1657.
via J.R.'s Art Place

I like cat pictures. And this is a great one.

The Japanese Scroll

 

The Japanese Scroll by James Tissot

This is via Lines and Colors where it is pointed out how skillfully Tissot suggests the upside down and backwards contents of the Japanese scroll the woman is admiring. I'd never have noticed that in a thousand years. But I love it!

After Christmas

After Christmas” by Fritz von Uhde
via J.R.'s Art Place

Return of the Holy Family from Egypt

Giovanni Baglione, Return of the Holy Family from Egypt

Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Luc-Olivier Merson, Rest on the Flight into Egypt

I love this imaginative flight. It never would have occurred to me to put the Holy Family together with the Sphinx.

Flight Into Egypt - Icon

Flight into Egypt (detail of the icon Nativity, Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai)

Three Magi

The Three Magi, Byzantine mosaic c. 565,
Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy;(restored during the 18th century).
As we see here Byzantine art usually depicts the Magi in Persian clothing
which includes breeches, capes, and Phrygian caps.

Good Housekeeping and Milk for Kitten

Good Housekeeping cover, 1920
Jessie Willcox Smith, artist

It's the absorbed attention on both sides that makes this so adorable.