Wow, this is so cool!! I love the artful way you redrew and presented the patterns. It called to mind a lovely day spent making little watercolors of the tiles at the Alhambra (not the same, but similarly engrossing patterns to focus on).
Very cool design. Unfortunate naming, perhaps, but it's not the only phenomenon out there to "suffer" from that. Beautiful examples too. Perhaps this is a typical guy observation, but I dig the guy shaking the huge scorpions. :D (is he a Mongol?)
I think he may be intended to be. This is Mars, ruler of Scorpio, and the "lesser malefic" – so using a Mongol-looking soldier for the iconography would be spot on, given the terror they inspired. When on his own he's represented holding up a freshly severed head.
This is so excellent, as always, thankyou. It has sent me back to a book of European illuminated manuscripts to look for the same.
On another note, what / who are the figures holding up large circular frames that enlarge their faces, on image no 2? I have a Chinese bowl with figures drawn exactly like this, and have always wondered what they are.
Wow, this is so cool!! I love the artful way you redrew and presented the patterns. It called to mind a lovely day spent making little watercolors of the tiles at the Alhambra (not the same, but similarly engrossing patterns to focus on).
Oh the Alhambra! ❤️ You will see posts about that at some point!
Oooo! I look forward to that!
So interesting! Thanks. May I inquire about the title of this piece? I don’t quite get it...
Sure, it means "fear of empty space" and is used to describe artwork where every bit of surface is covered in detail.
Very cool design. Unfortunate naming, perhaps, but it's not the only phenomenon out there to "suffer" from that. Beautiful examples too. Perhaps this is a typical guy observation, but I dig the guy shaking the huge scorpions. :D (is he a Mongol?)
I think he may be intended to be. This is Mars, ruler of Scorpio, and the "lesser malefic" – so using a Mongol-looking soldier for the iconography would be spot on, given the terror they inspired. When on his own he's represented holding up a freshly severed head.
This is so excellent, as always, thankyou. It has sent me back to a book of European illuminated manuscripts to look for the same.
On another note, what / who are the figures holding up large circular frames that enlarge their faces, on image no 2? I have a Chinese bowl with figures drawn exactly like this, and have always wondered what they are.
They are the Sun and Moon! Are there other figures on your bowl? Because they could be the other planets.
Ah! Yes! Thanks. I will next see that bowl in 6 weeks when back from the states. I will photograph it for you and see what you can see.