Thursday, January 31, 2013

Stefan Lochner

One of my favorite prayer books is the Stefan Lochner Prayer Book. I completed a Golden Maple Leaf scroll based on his most public page, known as The Flight to Egypt, about ten years ago.

Darmstadt, Hessische Landesbibliothek
Golden Maple Leaf - Konrad von Krixen, A.S. 37 photo konradmapleleaf.jpg
Golden Maple Leaf Scroll, 2003

Stefan Lochner's organic sweeping movement captured my heart immediately.  I found this particular piece within the pages of Codices Illustres, easily one of my favorite source books.

I was thrilled when many years later I found a few more pages from the Stefan Lochner Prayer Book, and based another piece on one one of them (scanner bed cut off the edges!)

Laurel for Annys of Pengwyrn photo Annys_Laurel.jpg
Laurel Scroll, 2009
Sadly, the file in which I found this source image is lost, and I can't find it.  I think it's saved on my laptop which is now no better than a large paperweight (May it rest in peace).

I just found out, however, that there was a facsimile book printed, and I WANT IT. *flail*  Rare book though. Also, it turns out there was a school attributed to Stefan Lochner, and there are manuscripts done in his style, painted by Franz von Retz (1343-1427).  I smell some new inspiration coming on...

Do you have a favorite inspirational artist or style?

Friday, January 25, 2013

Codex Gigas

My amazing husband, who is far more scholarly than I could ever hope to be, sent me a link to some images of the Codex Gigas aka "The Devil's Bible" the other day.  Codex Gigas, Latin for "Large book" lives up to its name being 890 mm tall by 490 mm wide, (35.04 Inches by 19.29 inches) and 310 parchment leaves thick.  That's nearly 3 feet tall by 1.5 feet wide.  Closed!  Just imagine how huge this thing is when open.  It is probably the biggest European Medieval manuscript to have survived.

There are many interesting stories about it, since it is said to have been created by one single man.  There is a legend that it was a monk who sold his soul to the devil and created this piece in one night after doing so.  Much of this has to do with the huge page donning an image of the devil.



It's an utterly fascinating book.  I urge you to watch this National Geographic piece on it if you are at all interested in manuscript arts.  You can also browse images of the manuscript at the National Library of Sweden.


Monday, January 14, 2013

Studio

Hey look, I've made some progress!


I have about six boxes left to unpack, so things are moving along pretty well.  My dear hubby bought me a serger... it was technically for my birthday, though I just got it this week.  We were packing up to move on my birthday, so it made no sense to buy something else I'd have to leave in the box and move.  Now I just need to secure my new sewing desk, and I'll be pretty set.

Interestingly enough, in the corner of this picture you'll see a cedar chest with pictures of kittens on it.  I was given that chest when I was 10 or 11 years old.  It's got all my old dance trophies, dance shoes, and other ancient memorabilia from my childhood.  I've hauled it around my whole life and only once every five years or so I open it up and peek inside.

Do any of you have a box of old memories you keep around?