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"This aquamanile, inspired by textile designs from the Near East, is perhaps the earliest surviving Western example. It is both beautiful and witty, as water- rather than fire-poured from the dragon's mouth."
This piece is from a special exhibit, "Medieval and Renaissance Treasures from the Victoria and Albert Museum -
May 20, 2008–August 17, 2008". The London museum is undergoing renovations, hence we are very lucky Stateside to see some of their finest treasures that are rarely lent.
Friday, June 13, 2008 A
"Movement"
7:20am
The Photo Friday theme is "Movement". I thought of all the irritating times my camera moved when trying to take a picture. The scene of people exiting the Met museum shows hints of vibration, I could not hold the camera still because of all the movement around me. Or possibly because I just didn't hold the camera still. Nevertheless, the photo shows movement:
I played with the brightness and contrast, and got a pleasingly weird result:
It's now 7:26am, time to get MOVING and get ready for work...
Friday, June 13, 2008 B
"Russert Tells a Funny Story"
10:24pm
The news tonight was all full of it, honoring their fallen comrade Tim Russert who died unexpectedly of a heart attack at only fifty eight. So I hunted up online news, which features a slide show of the "Managing Editor and Moderator of "Meet the Press" and political analyst for "NBC Nightly News" and the "TODAY" program. He anchored "The Tim Russert Show," a weekly interview program on MSNBC. Russert also served as senior vice president and Washington bureau chief of NBC News."
He was very well liked. I found the photo slideshow interesting and paused at one of Russert telling a funny story which made Jay Leno laugh:
(I made an attempt at Leno, but he didn't turn out so good...)
Saturday, June 14, 2008
"Additions and a New Drawing"
14:02pm
I woke early with a simple resolution to tackle the wash I've neglected for two weeks. Never again! It is not twice as much work, it's four times as much work, for I had to make so many trips to the laundry room. The rolling basket can only hold two loads, and I didn't bring enough quarters and...
...It's done now, except for the pieces air drying which should be dry by now. In between all of that, I finalized some plans and got caught up with some necessary payments. Suffice to say, I had to let go of some things I wanted to do, but have chosen other things which should be rewarding. (I of course wanted to do it all...)
I sent for two new books, one featuring highlights from the Oriental Institute's Egyptian collection, that was relatively inexpensive. The other wasn't, but I suspect I might find some Set sightings in it:
Hieroglyphic Texts from Egyptian Stelae in the British Museum Part XII
edited by M. L. Bierbrier
"Part 12 of the British Museum's Hieroglyphic Texts series is devoted to
a further selection of inscribed objects dating to the New Kingdom, in
this case almost entirely to the Ramesside Period. The material,
amounting to nearly 80 individual pieces and of mixed provenance,
consists mostly of stelae but also includes architectural pieces,
foundation deposits, naoi, statues, a headrest, a monumental scarab and
various other fragments. Each is published in photograph with
accompanying line drawings. "32p with 103 plates. (British Museum Press
1993)
Hardback. Publishers price US $171.00, DBBC Price US $49.98
I don't know if I'll ever make it to the British Museum, so this is next best thing. And I learned of another lovely thing regarding the British Museum. They are now putting their collection online so obsessive researchers like me can study them. It's just beginning, so not all those lovely results I got for searching "Seth" had accompanying photos, but many did. I already have added several to my Gallery of Ancient Images, and there's still a few more to add. (And I'm not sure I'm finished with recent trip photos...). It's just a growing, glowing thing.
One bookscan photo is now up there, along with one of the new sightings:
Seth animal protecting a king
Nineteenth to Twentieth Dynasty
Cairo Museum, CG42993
Scanned from _Reading Egyptian Art_, by Richard H. Wilkinson
I tried to imagine what this and the other piece would look like without damage:
Wooden amuletic figure of a seated Seth animal, Ramesside Period
Width: 2.02 centimetres, Height: 5.82 centimetres, Depth: 3.93 centimetres
Registration number: 1899,0314.12
BM/Big number: 30460
The one with Set protecting a king led me to attempt my own version:
Yes, she turned out to be a queen, prehaps rather like Hatshepsut who honored Set. Perhaps this is just my first attempt, (Actually the third attempt, but the first two don't count!). His left arm looks like it's extended too far away, and other things could be refined further. (But if I move the arm closer in, his hands would have to overlap, and I like the clear 'embrace' hieroglyph. Or maybe overlapping hands wouldn't make that unclear? Also, I could move her more forward, to get rid of the awkward space, but then I'd have to have Set looking more outwards and away. I don't think I want to do that...)
I like this version much better...
...and always, coloring it would improve it.
Sunday, June 15, 2008 A
"Colorful Set Protecting a Queen"
11:36am
I colored the line drawing with water color pencils, and then digitally refined it
Actually, I used the description Wilkinson used, it's actually "Set Embracing a Queen"
Yes, I will put it in the print gallery.
Sunday, June 15, 2008 B
"Yes, Prints!"
7:45pm
I got the new Set piece up in the print gallery, along with quite a few others, all sized to print at 8x10:
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