Tuesday 26 January 2021

Heads - Moai of Easter Island - Olmec - Sri Lanka





Moai statues found on Rapa Nui on Easter Island


Olmec Heads







Olmec People lived between 1200 and 400 B.C (so between 3,300 and 2500 years ago) along Mexico’s Gulf Coast

Carved Buddah Figures Sri Lanka







Reclining and Seated Buddah Carvings Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka

Temple Lion Carvings from Sri Lanka





interesting Doors and Doorways - Barcelona - on buildings designed by Antoni Gaudi

 Antoni Gaudi was an Architect who was born and lived in Barcelona in Spain. He designed a number of buildings around Barcelona including the amazing Sagrada Familia.

He was inspired by nature and natural forms and his buildings and details on his buildings are pretty unique. Here are some doors and windows









Wednesday 20 January 2021

Medieval Book Illustrations and Manuscript Illustrations Animals and Mythical Creatures

 


The camel in a medieval bestiary (England 2nd quarter of the 13th century)


The amphivena


Detail of a basilisk killing a man with its gaze and being attacked by a weasel 12th Century


Basilisk wearing a crown





The leucrota is somewhat confusingly described as having the rear parts of a stag, and the chest and legs of a lion, but with cloven hooves. Its most distinctive characteristic is its charming wide-mouthed grin, which stretches across its head. Its teeth are single, continuous pieces of bone, and it is capable of imitating the sound of a human voice.

Bestiary and Lapidary ('the Rochester Bestiary') 12th - 14th Century


Detail of a hell-mouth with three beasts, a devil and many souls inside


Tapestry 





https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/medieval-bestiary-allegories


A Bonnacon, from Kongelige Bibliotek

Early drawing of a Crocodile




https://forwardtopast.wordpress.com/2016/10/21/10-weird-medieval-beasts/

http://facsimilium.blogspot.com/2014/07/creatures-from-medieval-bestiaries-12th_3007.html


Luttrell Psalter, 14th century.


https://www.messynessychic.com/2019/03/28/the-unexpected-relevance-of-medieval-monsters/



Wednesday 13 January 2021

Japanese Prints and Woodcuts of Dragons and Mythical Creatures

 


Utagawa Toyokuni, Black and Green Dragon
Woodcut Print on Paper 
Japanese, Edo period, 1615–1868.


Woodblock print by Hajime Namiki, Blue Dragon 2012


Woodblock print by Hajime Namiki, Blue Dragon 2012


Dragon no8 Woodblock print by Hajime Namiki, 2007


European Woodcut Dragon 15th Century


Tamatori escaping from the Dragon King 
wood block print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi 1853



UTAGAWA-KUNIYOSHI-1798-1861
WARRIORS 1850 woodblock print


Samurai Warrior in a Dragon Robe by Kuniyoshi Utagawa 
 Japanese Woodblock Print 19th Century


Keisai Eisen (1790-1848)

Woodcut 1825


Dragon And Tiger

Utagawa Sadahide,  (1807-1873)


Yoshitsuya (1822 – 1866) 
Fire Breathing Demon
 approx 1860



Utagawa Yoshitsuya, Earth Spider, c. 1847–1852, triptych, woodblock print, 


Sukioka Yoshitoshi, Moon of Musashi Plain, from the series One Hundred Aspects of the Moon, 1892, woodblock print



New Year's Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Ōji


see also





Original Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864) Japanese Woodblock Print
Ne Brigade, Ninth Group, Nekomatabashi (Monster Cat Bridge)


Kitsune Woodcut Print date and Artist unknown