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.
Speaking previously of poignant images, or rather of recognising our projections of poignant regard, this image and its title, from the September auction list at Joels, summoned that again.
Jeffrey Bren
Hospital Waiting Room IV
oil on canvas
91 x 121.5cm
Jeffrey Bren (1944-2007) : a student of John Brack, and an artist we once followed seriously. Lost track of. Trial by Hospital Waiting Rooms. Click here to read his obituary in The Age.
Jeffrey Bren
Theatre of the Actors of Regard :
Trial by Auction Room
ESTIMATE : $800 - $1,20o
detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...
LOGOS/HA HA
