David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :
'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)
(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.
Ending this weekend at the National Gallery of Victoria is the current showing from their collection of works by William Blake. Not to be missed!
William BLAKE
Antaeus setting down Dante and Virgil in the Last Circle of Hell (1824-1827)
illustration for The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (Inferno XXXI, 112-143)
pen and ink and watercolour over pencil and black chalk, with sponging and scratching out
52.6 x 37.4 cm (sheet)
Butlin 812.63; Butlin & Gott 27
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1920
1012-3
Not half so famous as Blake, but much appreciated at bLOGOS/HA HA, is Albert Guillaume (1873-1942). Here, from The Debt Collection, is his vision of Dante and Virgil at Denfert Station as they update their hell realms tour.
click image to enlarge
And, on the other side, the good wishes of the artist.
click image to enlarge
detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...
LOGOS/HA HA
