Chi Rho Iota Page from The book of Kells (Blog 4)

This is Chi Rho Iota from The Book of Kells. The Greek Letters (XPI) abbreviated for the word Christ. So this piece is about Christ's first appearance in the gospel. There are word written in the bottom right, and it starts with Matthew 1:18 saying, "Now the Birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way." 

What I love about this piece is how detailed and tedious it is. There is so much going on, that your eyes get lost on what you are seeing. Round and organic shapes are popular in this piece. And also  groups of three (3) are shown quite often. Like in the letter "P" there are large circles with three medium circles in them. Then three smaller circles in the medium circles. It's just amazing to see that.

I also see some Celtic knotting in the "P" and the backwards "L". So this piece had to have been done in either Ireland or Scotland, because of those Celtic knots. 

Below the huge "P" looks like a smaller "P" and there seems to be a human head. I dont know what its there, thats kinda creepy. But for all I know it can be the artist putting in his signature with a picture of his face. I don't know. 

I really enjoyed learning and looking at this piece during class and for this blog. I seem to find something new every time I see this piece.    

Earth Drawing (Geoglyph) of Hummingbird (Blog 3)

We have all heard about the Nazca Lines located in the Nazca Dessert in Peru. They are these massive lines inserted into the dessert ground and the connected lines make a figure. But these figures can only be seen from the air! 

I recently watched a documentary about Ancient Aliens and through out the documentary they talked about the Nazca lines. They say the people could have done them, but would they have really known what they were drawing? They also say that aliens or extraterrestrials had them done for us to see from the air. So many theories go about how the Nazca lines got to Peru and why they are here for us...or for others out there watching us. 

I find the Nazca lines very interesting. This pictures or figures cover miles and miles of land. Some look like what its being represented and others dont quiet show what is mean to be shown. For example, I forever thought this was an insect of some kind. Until a few years ago my father said "It's a hummingbird." And when I looked at it again, the "hummingbird" image was there. On the right is a "Killer Whale." This one is my personal favorite. It looks like a whale when you first look at it. It's just amazing how these lines who ever made them possible, were able to make animals and other figures on a massive scale. I just adore the Nazca lines. They are just so fascinating to me. When a new documentary comes on, I watch it for new theories or ways it could have been done and why it has been done. 

Virgin of Vladimir

This piece "Virgin of Vladimir" really caught my eye. I love how the background is bright oranges and some yellows, as where the center focus of the painting is in dark tones like blacks and browns. I also like the authenticity of this piece. The chips and empty gaps of missing paint, I love it! 

Another reason this painting caught my eye was that Mary and Jesus is very iconic and I recognized right away. 
I really enjoy seeing a mother and child in a innocent, intimate moment in time. They are looking at each other and having that mother and child connection, it's just so beautiful to see in in early christian art.


There is also a lot of detail in the clothing that Mary and Jesus are wearing. You can see the possible beading and patterns on Mary's sleeves. The value from dark to like with just lines in Jesus garment. There is just so much detail for such a simple piece. 








Virgin of Vladimir 11th-12th century
Tempera Panel 31" 
Tretyakov Gallery Moscow 

Olpe (Pitcher)

Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba 
Sithi uhm ingonyama! 

When I first saw this pitcher, 

I immediately 

thought about 

the Disney Classic  

The Lion King. 

Within the registers, there are lions, 

panthers, boars 

and swans. In this 

piece, only like cream

color is used with black and a rusty

 red. I like how 

there are wild animals that would be 

found in Africa

are found on this pitcher during Ancient 

Greece.

I love how the heads of the lions 

almost look like the shishi dogs. 

(the chinese dogs that we see in chinese

restaurants) I will forever embrace this piece 

as the "Lion King" piece. Love it!

Corinth. 650-625 B.C. Ceramic with black-figure

decoration, height 12 7/8"

Art History Opening Statment

Hello everyone! I'm Lani and this is my Art History blog :) 

Vincent Van Gogh-Starry Night-1889