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.


22 October 2014

History of Emotions Lecture 2014


Tonight at the University of Queensland University
    
History of Emotions Lecture 2014  
A Privileged Profession: Artists and Melancholia

Laurinda S. Dixon
Professor of Art History : Syracuse University, New York
            
Promotions for this lecture have featured a 1674 Double self-portrait by Carlo Dolci :
    

   
We were not aware of Carlo Dolci, but this Double self-portrait  brought to mind the 1640 Salvatore Rosa self-portrait with text (Aut tace, Aut Loquere meliora silentio/ Do not speak unless your words are better than silence) in the National Gallery, London. A severe, favorite work.
         
A 1647 self-portrait by Rosa shows him (as Dolci will later picture himself, above) with pen in hand and another timely inscription :


After further research, we now believe this may be a later version of the 1647 painting. Possibly by Rosa or by one of his assistants. It may be better attributed as 'from the studio of Salvatore Rosa' or 'School of Salvatore Rosa'.
       
detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ... 

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