31-03-2016, 08:28 PM
Diane,
There are several things happening in this discussion. First is pin a name on the VMs animal. This can be a bit difficult for some of us. I've changed my mind twice already.
But there is more to it, to the illustration as a whole, than just the creature itself. There are the lines! And finding that they are known as nebuly lines and seeing that the VMs illustration shows the very accurate application of blue paint in its version of a nebuly line only enhances the significance of how the lines participate in the holistic identification of the VMs illustration.
The Tubingen Ram seems to be the best / only illustration that contains both elements: Animal (above) and nebuly line (below). Are there other examples of anything similar? Any animal; any lines? - - Don't blame me, it was posted by MarcoP, and it started with another fellow on Bax's blog. But I do agree with the similarities, particularly with the nebuly lines and the way they are painted. And if my investigations have brought any recognition of heraldic lines into the general conversation, then so be it.
I think there is an improved interpretation of the VMs taking shape. Starting with the Oresme cosmos illustration. It implies the VMs artist had seen a representation of the Oresme illustration. And likewise an image of the Tubingen Ram or something similar. The elaborate replication of a blue and white cloud band in the central circle of the Nine Rosettes, demonstrates the VMs artist's affinity for this type of design. And Don of Tallahassee has shown some strong examples of these hyperbolic, cloud-like, little nebuly lines on steroids , not only in Oresme and de Pizan, but elsewhere as well. However, it seems to me that there is not yet enough information to say what happened after that or to clearly distinguish diffusion from reinvention, somehow leading to the VMs example.
Then if you consider the presence of heraldry-like patterns in the designs of the tubs in the first three pages of the VMs Zodiac, and particularly when it comes to a subtle but pictorially validated historical identification. And it is an identification based on an institutional tradition, a tradition that continues today. A choice than has lasted for centuries, but the origins of the tradition have become obscure to many in current times. Likewise, parts of heraldry have become obscure and are omitted from many references. That does not mean that the artist was not familiar with this sort of knowledge. Obviously, the VMs use of this information is historically retrospective by a century or more. The papelonny pun cures all doubt that the construction is accidental.
There are several things happening in this discussion. First is pin a name on the VMs animal. This can be a bit difficult for some of us. I've changed my mind twice already.
But there is more to it, to the illustration as a whole, than just the creature itself. There are the lines! And finding that they are known as nebuly lines and seeing that the VMs illustration shows the very accurate application of blue paint in its version of a nebuly line only enhances the significance of how the lines participate in the holistic identification of the VMs illustration.
The Tubingen Ram seems to be the best / only illustration that contains both elements: Animal (above) and nebuly line (below). Are there other examples of anything similar? Any animal; any lines? - - Don't blame me, it was posted by MarcoP, and it started with another fellow on Bax's blog. But I do agree with the similarities, particularly with the nebuly lines and the way they are painted. And if my investigations have brought any recognition of heraldic lines into the general conversation, then so be it.
I think there is an improved interpretation of the VMs taking shape. Starting with the Oresme cosmos illustration. It implies the VMs artist had seen a representation of the Oresme illustration. And likewise an image of the Tubingen Ram or something similar. The elaborate replication of a blue and white cloud band in the central circle of the Nine Rosettes, demonstrates the VMs artist's affinity for this type of design. And Don of Tallahassee has shown some strong examples of these hyperbolic, cloud-like, little nebuly lines on steroids , not only in Oresme and de Pizan, but elsewhere as well. However, it seems to me that there is not yet enough information to say what happened after that or to clearly distinguish diffusion from reinvention, somehow leading to the VMs example.
Then if you consider the presence of heraldry-like patterns in the designs of the tubs in the first three pages of the VMs Zodiac, and particularly when it comes to a subtle but pictorially validated historical identification. And it is an identification based on an institutional tradition, a tradition that continues today. A choice than has lasted for centuries, but the origins of the tradition have become obscure to many in current times. Likewise, parts of heraldry have become obscure and are omitted from many references. That does not mean that the artist was not familiar with this sort of knowledge. Obviously, the VMs use of this information is historically retrospective by a century or more. The papelonny pun cures all doubt that the construction is accidental.