Wonders of the Sea

Oh, the lovely and frightening monsters of the sea.  Just what kinds of creatures might we find lurking underneath the dark waters? Even though modern scientists have found very unusual critters underwater, the imaginations of those before us gave us fanciful, if sometimes nightmarish, images and descriptions of beasts. Brief sightings of sailors in the deep sea stirred bizarre compilations of real and misunderstood sea creatures.

How I love this Strange Science website I've bumped into.  It's feeding all the crazy monster images that I can't get enough of right now. These folks have put lots of effort into compiling great stories and pictures.  I suppose this time of year, with Halloween nearing, has got me loving these odd, whimsical, spectacular things.

 Thank you, strangescience.net for the following fun:

Year: 1662
Scientist: Caspar Schott
Originally published in: Physica Curiosa
Now appears in: Visual Cultures of Science edited by Luc Pauwels
Caspar (also known as Gaspar or Kaspar) Schott was a one-time student and long-time collaborator of the German Jesuit polymath Athanasius Kircher. Besides editing and defending Kircher's works, Schott published some of his own. This page from the second volume of his Physica Curiosa shows a motley assortment of sea monsters, including a fish resembling a monk (upper left), a marine monster looking suspiciously like a bishop (lower right), and two chimerical creatures with long, fishy tails. Similar depictions appeared in numerous works in the 16th and 17th centuries. Religious tensions of the time might have contributed to the strong resemblance between alleged monsters and clerical figures.

Year: 1558
Scientist: Conrad Gesner
Originally published in: De Piscium & Aquatilium Animantum Natura
Now appears in: "Monk Seals in Post-Classical History" by William Johnson in Mededelingen No. 39 and Curious Woodcuts of Fanciful and Real Beasts by Conrad Gesner
Gesner reproduced this picture of a Sea Devil (also called Triton marinus, Dæmon marinus, Satyrus marinus or Pan marinus) because the artist sending him the picture "had seen the monster alive." Gesner noted that one such creature had been captured in Norway and another in Rome. The Roman Sea Devil, he pointed out, didn't have horns. Gesner was such a prolific natural historian thanks largely to a wide network of associates. Unfortunately, many of them were superstitious mariners. This improbable creature is probably based on the monk seal. Once common in the Mediterranean, the species was decimated by human hunting. Fishermen considered the seals a smelly nuisance. So, apparently, did farmers. As Aristotle had a millennium earlier, both Gesner and fellow naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi passed along accounts of seals raiding orchards.

Year: 1558

Scientist: Conrad Gesner

Originally published in: De Piscium & Aquatilium Animantum Natura
Now appears in: Curious Woodcuts of Fanciful and Real Beasts by Conrad Gesner and The Book of Fabulous Beasts by Joseph Nigg
This "bearded whale" was originally reported by Olaus Magnus, who described a horned whale looking like "a tree rooted up by the roots." This fanciful depiction might have been inspired by a partial or fleeting view of a real animal, perhaps a giant squid.

Year: 1573-1585 Scientist: Ambroise Paré Originally published in: Des Monstres Now appears in: Similar depictions appear in Monsters of the Sea by Richard Ellis and On Monsters and Marvels by Ambroise Paré, translated by Janis Pallister Called a both sea eagle and a flying fish, this was probably a "Jenny Haniver," a forgery made by mutilating a ray to resemble a winged sea monster with a human head. The trick worked, and Ambroise Paré recounted a second-hand tale of how a live specimen was presented to the lords of the city of Quioze. The origin of the name "Jenny Haniver" is unknown, but the first known illustration of one dates from the 16th century.

Jacques Callot

OK, OK. So I've got a theme going here. And it's a little dark, and a little weird, but I can't help myself.  Maybe it's because Halloween is coming soon.

Today, I want to look at works by Jacques Callot, a 17th century French baroque printmaker.  He worked under the patronage of the Medici family, and was even collected by Rembrandt. He created intricately detailed etchings, depicting military and religious themes as well other tragedies, horrors, festivities and characters of his time and place. His most famous prints are probably "The Miseries and Misfortunes of War" series.  These are scary and dark, but not at all in a fun way.

Of course, the Callot prints I love the best are the "Grotesque Dwarves". Callot created these images to inspire Derby porcelain to create the ceramic figures, "Grotesque Dwarves" or "Mansion House Dwarves", named for a father and son paid to walk around the Mansion House in London in huge hats with advertisements pinned to them. I am only assuming that by the title, they were a short-statured family.

A pair of 18th century Derby porcelain
Mansion House Dwarfs

 

History of Monsters

Today's art comes from Ulisse Aldrovandi's (1522 - 1605) woodcut monsters.


I'm reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman right now (a favorite author - I have no idea why I haven't read this one yet). But if you've read it, these images reminded me of the carousel scene where Shadow meets a dozen or so of the gods.

Two sites have turned up some interesting information on Aldrovandi as well as some amazing images.

http://www.strangescience.net/aldrovandi.htm

http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/2011/07/monstrorum-historia.html

It's been a long day, but this is one topic I plan on revisiting.  Here's a peek.

Capreolus Polyceros

Gallus Indicus auritus tridactylus

Pseudophyseter

William Blake

Artists Richard Selesnick and Nicholas Kahn spoke at Brenau University last night, and their exhibit is on view in the galleries there. In their lecture, they referred to William Blake several times as a source of inspiration. So, in honor of National Arts and Humanities Month, Blake is today's daily art focus. A poet, painter, and printmaker, he is the perfect artist to kick off NAHM.

To Autumn
by William Blake

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou mayst rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

"The narrow bud opens her beauties to
The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and
Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,
Till clust'ring Summer breaks forth into singing,
And feather'd clouds strew flowers round her head.

"The spirits of the air live on the smells
Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees."
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat;
Then rose, girded himself, and o'er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

 William Blake, The Ghost of a Flea, 1819-1820, tempera heightened with gold leaf on mahogany panel

 William Blake, Hecate, The Night of Enitharmon's Joy, 1795, watercolor tint

October is National Art and Humanities Month

DeeDee’s Daily Art

I’m starting this new blog about art and art history, and what a great time to begin:

October is National Arts and Humanities Month!  There are events all over the US celebrating the arts in tons of ways. 

What can you do to join in? Americans for the Arts gives us some ideas:

Ideas for Community Events

• Host a Creative Conversation in your community
• Ask local businesses, libraries and schools to host special NAHM events, such as open mic nights, poetry readings or talent shows.  
• Suggest that local art venues, such as museums and theatres, give “behind-the-scenes” tours and interviews for families and students.
• Organize a parade, art festival, “battle of the bands,” talent show or art auction that showcases local talent. You can even raffle off local art, literature or tickets at the big event!
• Conduct a series of training workshops for local artists on marketing, portfolio development and publicity. 
• Develop and present an award for the outstanding arts organization in your community.
• Create a community photo album. Invite local residents to donate old photographs and take new ones throughout the month.
• Invite local government officials to any events that you plan.

Ways Individuals Can Celebrate

• Attend local arts events like museum exhibits, local plays, festivals or outdoor concerts.  If you have kids, make it a family outing!
• Take a class in creative writing, dance, painting or whatever strikes your fancy.
• Perform publically and/or donate your artwork, literature and/or teaching skills to a community center.
• Use your blog or website to post NAHM Web stickers or posts about your favorite art experiences.
• Unveil a new project, product or service during NAHM.
• Make a video about what the arts mean to you and post it on YouTube (and send us the link).
• Enjoy the arts with your family and friends. Sing, play music, read a book, dance or draw together.
• Be an advocate. Write to your Member of Congress, letting him/her how important arts and arts education funding is to you, your family and your community.

Have fun!

Cheers,

DeeDee