The Prayer Book for Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg

I've been working in the art studio with a six-month goal of finishing two pieces each week. I'm working on completing old projects (some of them I started ten years ago!) as well as newer, encaustic pieces that use my bird photographs.\

The deeper I get into the bird work, the more I think about the symbolism of classical painting. This week, I'm thinking a lot about that, and just happened upon this image from a 16th century prayer book over at the Getty Museum.

It so happens I have a work-in-progress with a similar, rose colored circle. In my piece, the circle frames the head of a baby bird and cherubs look down at the baby bird in consolation, and an oval laurel wreath (a grave rubbing from Butte, Montana) frames the scene.A coincidence. But I love the colors in this piece so much, I might try to manipulate the similarities even more.

The classical work you are looking at is called The Worship of the Five Wounds, and was created by Simon Bening, a Flemish artist, between 1525 and 1530 A.D. Bening used tempura paints and gold leaf on parchment paper.This image is part of a prayer book for Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg. Because it was part of a major exhibit mounted by the Getty called Imagining Christ, you can see the Prayer Book in its entirety right here.

Comments

[Debra]

Great idea to manipulate the similarities. The Worship of the Five Wounds. Pretty Amazing. Thanks for sharing it. I look forward to seeing your artwork.