LDV Cloudburst (part 10)

Leonardo Da Vinci’s, A cloudburst of material possessions c1506 -12 

Black chalk pen and ink (part 10)

Ken Burns and others including members of his family produced a well advertised, (on YouTube) excellent detailed documentary for the PBS channel. The documentary aired in America and Canada 18 -19th November 2024.   It is also available on the PBS app and BBC iPlayer.

I watched the BBC iPlayer version and noted with interest a description via an actor covering Leonardo’s voice in the second part, (37 minutes in). It seems that the description could potentially also be linked to some elements of a sketch such as this cloudburst in representational form.

Numerous adverts such as Arts, Science and the Human experience  leading up to the airing the documentary are available on YouTube too.

Various coloured brolly fabric have been e–processed and made semi-transparent on the upper section of the sketch. Further information on each part can be found on the earlier posts.

Link to:  Part One , Part Two, Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5 , Part 6 , Part 7 , Part 8, Part 9

Happy Christmas

 

The gold shaded background was processed from a piece of yellow umbrella fabric.

Advent 2024

  Advent Season

Over the centuries, the Advent wreath featuring five candles has come to represent variations of similar themes.  In some churches, one candle is lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas day.

1. The Patriarchs in faith -  Hope  
2. The Prophets - Faith
3. John the Baptist / Gaudete - Joy  
(also for those who are fasting over the period, refreshment day)
4. Mary and Joseph / Annunciation - Love
5. Christmas Day Candle / White 

In the arrangement shown above, the background and outer candles are created from brolly fabric and the central one from a piece of cardboard.   As I do not have any holly in the garden, I have used the rosemary herb for the circular effect.  Furthermore I find rosemary easier to work with as it:

 - has a pleasant scent
-  is not prickly like the holly
-  can be washed and used in teas / cooking / cosmetics afterwards!

Advent song: Christmas is Coming

Another Advent explanation

LDV Water Studies

Adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s, Studies of Water

Leonardo observed and analysed the movement of water for his civil engineering works, scientific studies as well as his artistic landscapes.  Most of his water sketches that features the movement of water can be found in his notebooks and what was called the ‘Codex Leicester’  in 1717.

My adaptation of one of Leonardo’s water sketches is illustrated below on pink brolly fabric.

Tenth Anniversary

Tenth Anniversary

Now ten years have elapsed since I started this blog. A wide range of topics have been covered including using the broken umbrella (brolly) for a variety of applications.  Below are some examples over the years.

To see what else was posted in that year simply click on the year listed below. You can also scroll to the right in 'Web Version' mode to access the list of years on the blog.

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Renaissance and Beyond

Some art from the renaissance and beyond

Umbrella / Brolly fabric used as a background in the art work shown below. 

Black History Month

Black History Month

Some paintings from the renaissance and beyond

Lapis lazuli, an expensive mineral in bygone days was used to form the Tutankhamun mask's eyebrows and  makeup surrounding the eyes.  The mineral came from the mountains of Badakhshan in Afghanistan. 

In some paintings of the renaissance era, Lapis Lazuli mineral was grounded and used to make a blue hue.  Not lapis, however, the blue brolly fabric is synthetic and similar in colour used as a background to some of the paintings below. 

LDV eyes in oil paintings

Review of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Eyes in his oil paintings

Mona Lisa: As Leonardo Da Vinci kept this version till his death, it would seem that this is a relative, perhaps a later version of his mother who he was taken from as a child.  Her iris is brown as most people would have been in that era (and still are today!).

Apart from her facial features looking well vexed, Ginevra’s eye colouring is hazel. Less than 6% of the world’s population have hazel coloured iris.

The angels with their grey iris are synonymous with people originating in cooler regions of the world e.g Northern Europe.  The frontispiece for ‘Girl with the Pearl Earring’,  (historical fiction set in the Netherlands), novel is also painted with grey iris.  Less than 5% of the world’s population have grey coloured iris.

The cropped paintings have been placed on former black umbrella fabric

Leonardo Da Vinci’s, Three Emblems c1508 - 10 

Pen and ink, blue body colour, wash of ground red chalk (?)

“Each of these three emblems has the theme of constancy.

At the top is a plough with the motto Hostinato rigore (Obstinate Rigour). At the centre is a compass mounted on a shaft geared in a very Leonardesque manner to a water wheel; the wheel is being turned by the water flowing below, But though this rotates the body of the compass, the needle points steadily at the sun.  Beneath is the motto Destinato rigore, roughly ‘determined rigour’…Below, a candle at the centre of a lamp is blown by the eight winds and yet remains upright.”

Leonardo D Vinci A Life in Drawing, Martin Clayton

For me, the upper part of columns in the lamp looks to be in the style of doric or ionic.

I have superimposed a yellow brolly fabric in the candle section of the lamp.

 

Dog Days of Summer

‘Dog Days’  -  3rd July to 11th August 2024

In her Nature Notes 1905 and 1906 (The Country Diary of An Edwardian Lady), Edith writes: 3 July – Dog Days Begin.  I have previously wondered what the ‘Dog Days’ were about.  In short it is a weather-related term:

‘the dog days or dog days of summer are the hot, sultry days of summer.’

Then there is the Dog Star, Sirius which is the brightest star much studied by ancient astronomers.

The sky scene was created and adapted from brolly fabric with annotations added.

Top of the Blog

LDV Cloudburst (part 9)

Leonardo Da Vinci’s, A cloudburst of material possessions c1506 -12 

Black chalk pen and ink (part 9)

The upper right area

On the upper right of this sketch, I can see what looks like…

• An adult face, with a crooked expression
• A face with a gaping look about it
• Something that resembles a helmet or even an skull
• Some pin points.  The lower part of one seems to have a coil / or screw type markings
• A bearded head in a hidey hole.

Can you see them too?

Blue, green  and yellow Brolly fabric have been superimposed and made semi-transparent on the expanded section.

Link to:  Part One , Part Two, Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5 , Part 6 , Part 7 , Part 8

LDV Cloudburst (part 8)

Leonardo Da Vinci’s, A cloudburst of material possessions c1506 - 12 

Black chalk pen and ink (part 8)

Back to the upper Left area

What looks like the hind leg of the lion, has also been identified by someone as part of the head of a Jurassic / serpent creature making a meal of something.

Please see parts 1 – 7 for information on the rest of the sketch.

Perhaps the overall upper area represents a timeline of sorts. 

What can you see?

Red and yellow Brolly fabric has been superimposed and made semi-transparent on this section.

Link to:  Part One , Part Two, Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5 , Part 6 , Part 7

Some Anniversaries

 Edith Holden and her Nature Notes Anniversaries

I covered some adapted works in the years 2019 - 2022 on this blog, such as the Iris below.

If you are part of a local community group, consider marking the occasion with:

  * Having a wildflower patch in your own / community garden.

  * An Edwardian Tea Party

  * An Edwardian Fancy Dress

  * An Art Exhibition (invite members of the community to bring and show their     flora / fauna art work.

   * A Talk / Discussion with members within your group.

You can find summary information about Edith and her Natures Notes online.

LDV cloudburst (part 7)

Leonardo Da Vinci’s, A cloudburst of material possessions c1506 -12 

Black chalk pen and ink (part 7)

Still in the upper centre area

Below the funnel at the top of the sketch and to the left of what looks like ‘Adam and Eve’ (please see parts 1 and 4), seems to be a number of items.  I can see:

• An archway
• A dog’s head, (looks like a greyhound) with it’s mouth open
• A jar or jug with light shadow on the right
• Some steps

What can you see?

Blue and yellow umbrella fabric have been superimposed and made semi-transparent on this section.

Link to:  Part One , Part Two, Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5 , Part 6

LDV cloudburst (part 6)

Leonardo Da Vinci’s, A cloudburst of material possessions c1506 -12 

Black chalk pen and ink (part 6)

 The Creatures in the upper centre area

Below the funnel at the top of the sketch and to the right of what looks like ‘Adam and Eve’, seems to be a number creatures.  Some maybe even be mythical.  Nonetheless I can see:

• An elephant
• A rhino’s tusk
• Lamb’s head facing right, (with a puncture, leaching liquid on the left side)
• A comical creature facing left with it’s mouth wide open
• Variation of a face similar to Edvard Munch ‘The Scream’ 

What can you see?

Yellow and green Brolly fabric have been superimposed and made semi-transparent on this section.

Link to:  Part One , Part Two, Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5

LDV cloudburst (part 5)

Leonardo Da Vinci’s, A cloudburst of material possessions c1506 -12 

Black chalk pen and ink (part 5)

What Alphabet / Lettering system?
From the given description, there is a lion prowling in the clouds at top left, its head in two positions, and the note above, ‘on this side Adam, on that, Eve’ (see part 1).

Looking at those letters, it seems odd that the letter ‘N’   looks regular and not mirrored.  Could this be a Greek or Latin version of N?

There also seems to be some lettering around the ‘lion’s’ face.  So looking from it’s left ear and both eyes, there appears to be the letter ‘w’.

Blended  in with the w is what looks like the letter ‘k’. 

Then to the right, parallel to the ground, is what looks like a ‘v’.

Place (left side of illustration)

Some people believe that Leonardo went to Egypt. The lady’s face to the right seems to have horns behind her head. Could this be the ancient Bull / Apis mountain?

Furthermore, the right side of the lion’s face seems to have a nemes headdress. The lion’s left cheek appears to be broken into five pieces. Could the head be a representation of the Sphinx?

Link to:  Part One , Part Two, Part 3 , Part 4

St George's day

 

Happy St George's Day

Regarding John Gerard’s ‘The Herball’ 1597 Frontispiece

Some people think that the person holding the Fritillary plant (bottom right), is a representation of William Shakespeare, who is also remembered on 23rd April.  Whilst he would have been around in that time period, the plants being held by the person indicates that there were some geographical implications i.e. the sweetcorn in his left hand originated from the Americas and the Fritillary flower possibly from Asia.
John Gerard used the term ‘Of Turkie’ in his description for both the sweetcorn and the flower.  

Then there is the weird poem preceded by the reference to; ‘Martial seemeth to call Fritillas Abacus, or the Tables whereon men play at Dice, in the fifth booke of his Epigrams, writing to Galla.

The sad Boy now his nuts cast by,
Is call’d to Schoole by Masters cry:
And the drunke Dicer now betray’d
By Flattering Tables as he play’d,
Is from his secret tipling house drawne out,
Although the Officer he much besought,
&c.’

I have included a sketch of the Fritillary also known as: “Turkey-hen, Ginny-hen floure, Chequered Daffodill and Fritillarie, according to the Latine'. All of the fabric is made from a broken brolly (umbrella). 

LDV 'A cloudburst' ...part 4

Leonardo Da Vinci’s, A cloudburst of material possessions c1506-12 

Black chalk pen and ink (part 4)

There is a lion prowling in the clouds at top left, its head in two positions, and the note above, ‘on this side Adam, on that, Eve’ (see part 2).

I was only able to see the second face (Eve, on the right), by superimposing yellow Brolly fabric (and lightening the saturation) on this area.  I have now done the same to what looks like two other facial features.

The facial features on the right side seem to include three blended elements:

• A Lady’s head facing to the left.
• A Man’ head facing to the right eyes looking down
• Part of the Lady’s face doubles as a heart shape and the man’s beard

What a genius!

Perhaps this is the Adam and Eve reference intended rather than the images on the left side of the sketch (see part 1)

Yellow brolly fabric have been superimposed and made semi-transparent on this section.

Link to:  Part One , Part Two, Part 3

Easter 2024

Happy Easter Season 

A Resurrection Bible reading

“1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre,bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

8 And they remembered his words,

9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.”

Gospel of Luke KJV c24 v1-12

The illustration has been composed on black umbrella fabric.

LDV 'A cloudburst' ...part 3

Leonardo Da Vinci’s, A cloudburst of material possessions c1506 -12 

Black chalk pen and ink (part 3)

There is a lion prowling in the clouds at the top left, its head in two positions, and the note above, ‘on this side Adam, on that, Eve’ (see part 2).

I was only able to see the second face (Eve, on the right), by superimposing yellow Brolly fabric (and lightening the saturation) on this section.  I have now done the same to what looks like two other facial features on the right.

The upper right side of the drawing seems to include rock like structures too.  Some say that Leonardo spent time in a cave in his youth, perhaps for contemplative moments and more. Maybe this sketch has multiple dimensions to it.

Link to Part One , Part Two