Passages: The History of Jewish and Christian Manuscripts

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With artifacts from Africa (Ethiopia and the Northern section), the Middle East, every part of Europe (East, West, North, South), the United Kingdom, the United States, and some parts of Asia (Bits here and there), Passages makes for a fairly comprehensive history lesson.  I came across books I have never even heard about, such as The Imitation of Christ and The Golden Legend.  However, this traveling exhibition left me with mixed feelings.   My positive feelings?  I loved all the manuscripts on display.  Such gorgeous and varied work going from facsimiles of Jewish Scrolls to Johnny Cash’s Bible.

And yes, the exhibition goes somewhat in that order.

Albrecht Durer by Monty Python

Watching these lesser known sketches just lets me know how weird Monty Python were back in the seventies.

Albrecht Durer’s “Saint John Devouring the Book of the Apocalypse,”

Albrecht Durer’s “Adam and Eve,”

Albrecht Durer’s “Christ Carrying the Cross,”

Use Albrecht Durer when promoting your color pencils

A little ironic that they named a line of color pencils that offer a rich variety of color after a man famous for his dark and monochromatic prints.  I know Durer did paintings, but still…

The Virgin On The Crescent With A Crown Of Stars (Second State) by Albrecht Durer

News of purchases…

When I went to the Carolina Renaissance Festival, I purchased myself a copy of Albrecht Durer’s Beetle.  The vendor also had other prints by Durer framed.  Furthermore, I had a good time talking to him about the life of Durer and what he wanted to do with the artist’s prints.

Image via Terrastar and Photobucket

Art History’s Mysteries: Albrecht Durer and his portrait of a Black man

If you go through various websites, you will find that the Northern Renaissance artist etched, painted, and sketched mostly White people.  However, this 1508 portrait titled Head of a Negro (sorry), shows otherwise.  As one can see, this realistic portrait shows a man looking off to the side with a calm expression.  Since he made this portrait in 1508, we know he drew this in Nuremberg after his travels around Italy.  Regarding this artwork, I do have questions.

• Who was this man?
• How did Durer meet him?
• Did he draw this man after encountering him in Italy?
• What did Durer think about people of African descent?

Now, I am not fully educated in the state of race relations of Italy and Nuremberg, but I will find out more later.

ETA:  Due to real life hindering me, I have not studied more on this.  I do plan on it though.

On This Day in Art History: April 6

Architect and Painter Raphael Sanzio was born in 1483.