Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Prospero Fontana (1512–1597) ... Symbolic Questions... 1574





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Prospero Fontana's designs are often obscure in their iconography, their significance as reflections of quattrocento symbols and hieroglyphics have been analysed by Edgar Wind in several sections of Pagan Mysteries in the Renaissance. These striking illustrations have been shown to have influenced Blake and Samuel Palmer after two centuries of neglect.


Achille Bocchi's Symbolicarum Quaestionum, the full book of wonders
with more of Fontanas illustrations  here





R Delvaux...etching...1800's



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Saturday, June 4, 2011

W Blecher... print ...1967



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The Albatross

Often, to amuse themselves, the men of the crew
Catch those great birds of the seas, the albatrosses,
lazy companions of the voyage, who follow
The ship that slips through bitter gulfs.

Hardly have they put them on the deck,
Than these kings of the skies, awkward and ashamed,
Piteously let their great white wings
Draggle like oars beside them.

This winged traveler, how weak he becomes and slack!
He who of late was so beautiful, how comical and ugly!
Someone teases his beak with a branding iron,
Another mimics, limping, the crippled flyer!

The Poet is like the prince of the clouds,
Haunting the tempest and laughing at the archer;
Exiled on earth amongst the shouting people,
His giant's wings hinder him from walking.
 
Flowers of Evil - Charles Baudelaire 1857




Saturday, May 28, 2011

Persian Miniture...erotica





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Rolf Schott (1891-1977)... illustration...



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LOVER IN ALL SHAPES.

To be like a fish,
Brisk and quick, is my wish;
If thou cam'st with thy line.
Thou wouldst soon make me thine.
To be like a fish,
Brisk and quick, is my wish. 

Oh, were I a steed!
Thou wouldst love me indeed.
Oh, were I a car
Fit to bear thee afar!
Oh, were I a steed!
Thou wouldst love me indeed. 

I would I were gold
That thy fingers might hold!
If thou boughtest aught then,
I'd return soon again.
I would I were gold
That thy fingers might hold! 

I would I were true,
And my sweetheart still new!
To be faithful I'd swear,
And would go away ne'er.
I would I were true,
And my sweetheart still new! 

I would I were old,
And wrinkled and cold,
So that if thou said'st No,
I could stand such a blow!
I would I were old,
And wrinkled and cold. 

An ape I would be,
Full of mischievous glee;
If aught came to vex thee,
I'd plague and perplex thee.
An ape I would be,
Full of mischievous glee

As a lamb I'd behave,
As a lion be brave,
As a lynx clearly see,
As a fox cunning be.
As a lamb I'd behave,
As a lion be brave.

Whatever I were,
All on thee I'd confer;
With the gifts of a prince
My affection evince.
Whatever I were,
All on thee I'd confer. 

As nought diff'rent can make me,
As I am thou must take me!
If I'm not good enough,
Thou must cut thine own stuff.
As nought diff'rent can make me,
As I am thou must take me!
                                
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1815.*