Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Arms of Santiago de Compostela


Arms of Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compestela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.

The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St, James, or El Camino.

Santiago is the local Galician evolution of Vulgar Latin Sanctu Iacobu " Saint James". As for Compostela, folk etymology presumes it proceeds from the Latin Campus Stellae (i.e. "Field of the Star"), but more probable etymologies relate the word with Latin compositum, and local Vulgar Latin Composita Tella meaning "burial ground" as a euphemism, or simply with the hypocoristic compositellam, "the well composed" .

According to a tradition that can be traced back at least to the 12th century, when it was recorded in the recently stolen Codex Calixtinus, Saint James decided to return to the Holy Land after preaching in Galicia. There he was beheaded, but his disciples managed to get his body to Jaffa, where they found a marvelous stone ship, which miraculously conduced the apostle's body and the disciples to Iria Flavia, back in Galicia. There, the disciples asked for permission to earthen the body to the local pagan queen, Lupa ('She-wolf'); she, annoyed with the newcomers, decided to the deceive them, sending them to pick a pair of oxes she allegedly had by the Pico Sacro, a local sacred mountain where a dragon dwelt, hoping that the dragon would kill the Christians., but at the sign of the cross, the dragon exploded. Then, the disciples marched to pick the oxes, which were really raging bulls which the queen used to punish her enemies; but at the sign of the cross the bulls calmed down, and subjected to a yoke, carried the apostle's body to what now is Compostela. The legend was again referred in the 15th century by the Czech traveler Jaroslav Lev.

The relics were said to have been later rediscovered in the 9th century by a hermit named Pelagius, who after observing strange lights in a local forest, went for help after the local bishop, Theodemar of Iria Flavia, in the west of Galicia. Theodemar was then guided to the spot by a star, the legend affirmed, drawing upon a familiar myth-element, hence "Compostela" was given an etymology as a corruption of Campus Stellae, "Field of Stars."

The Coat-of-Arms for the city show the star shining bright above the Apostle's Tomb. The scallop shell beside the shield is the symbol of St James, probably because mendicant pilgrims carried them to beg for small alms and food, and as a symbol of their peregrination. It is also useful for scooping water from streams &c. without disturbing much sediment and dirt.

In Whitstable children traditionally make crotters, piles of cemented oyster shells. The tradition has its origins in ancient Catholicism where small Grottos were made to honour St James (Patron saint of oyster fishermen) around 25 July, the saint's feast day.

Ink Sketch - 30 Jan 2012


Ink Sketch - 30 Jan 2012

Still clearing out the cob-webs of my mind, and unblocking the spring, restoring flow, after the seasonal January doldrums. Next year, I think I'll take a leaf out of my friend Ben's book - to take pain-in-the-janus January off to recoup and spend my days beside pub hearthsides reading, supping ale and thinking soft thoughts. It would suit my nature better.

Here is another page of dip-pen and ink scribblings that I did last night, full o' the things that fill my brain these days - bone-yards & Death, words and letterforms, Dickens, Mother Shipton, ladies of the night, bird-faced fools and burly bearded men! The usual then...

Click on the Image to Enlarge

Monday, January 30, 2012

Twitter Ye Not - The Yalta Agreement


Twitter Ye Not - The Yalta Agreement

A regular piece for the Daily Mail Weekend magazine about how figures in history might have twittered or tweeted or whatever, had they the chance, inclination and technology.

On the 11th February 1945, Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin signed the Yalta Agreement, which dictated how Europe would be ruled after the defeat of nazi Germany. Even at its signing, critics were already sceptical about Stalin's motives and his willingness to comply with Yalta's stipulations, as a Twitter feed from that time would no doubt have reflected.

I've shown old and sickly FDR of the USA on one side, Joseph Stalin of the USSR on the other. Uncle Joe is crossing his fingers, as he doesn't plan on keeping his word...

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Ink Sketch - 26 Jan 2012


Ink Sketch - 26 Jan 2012

I am feeling a bit stuck in a rut workwise/ creatively at the moment. That's not too unsual for this somewhat 'flat' stretch of the year, it happens (shit happens) from time to time and will usually, eventually, hopefully, with a bit of luck and some perserverence, lead to a re-charging of the spirit and fresh inspiration.

So to-day I thought I'd spend an hour or so playing about with inks and dip-pens and different lines and different ways of showing things. A bit of fun to loosen the old mind-forg'd manacles! There are the results...

Click on the Image to Enlarge.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Museum Journal - Part 20


Museum Journal - Part 20

Part 20 of the Director of the National Museum of Britsh History's Diary, for regular client Museum Journal (MJ).

This month our man describes a punishment and humiliation for those Museum Directors who fail to tow the party line - they are forced to sit naked in a barrel of manure!

As always with MJ the final print size is minute (3 or 4 cm across tops) so its crucial to keep the design very simple and the detail to a minimum.

Twitter Ye Not - Election of George Washington


Twitter Ye Not - Election of George Washington

A regular piece for the Daily Mail Weekend magazine about how figures in history might have twittered or tweeted or whatever, had they the chance, inclination and technology.

On the 4th February 1789, the Electoral Colleges of the United States of America unanimously elected George Washington as first president of their newly independent nation. Here. we imagine the Twitter reaction to that historic election.

I have shown President Washington on one side, holding his tricorn hat in his hand and looking on at an annoyed Uncle Sam, the personification of the US (Sam is annoyed as the president was NOT elected by the people, but a select few!). Washington rarely smiled in later life as he had ill-fitting false teeth, made from wood.

Between George and Sam is the stump of the apple tree that George infamously is said to have cut down as a child. When his father demanded to know who had commited this act of wanton malucide, honest Washington Jnr. immediately owned up 'It was I. I cannot tell a lie!'. What a champ!

Behind him is the Bald Eagle, symbol of the United States, and endangered species of that fair land.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Leopold Bloom sketch


Leopold Bloom sketch

Ulysses by James Joyce is one of my all-time favourite books. I've read it a few times, and struggled quite a bit in parts I freely admit. Its dense and foggy at times, but also hugely inventive, irreverent, comic, touching, beautiful and keenly observed. It is full of layers, illusions and conundrums. Joyce himself said that if Dublin (where the book is set, all on one day, 16 June 1904, and where I lived for 5 years) were wiped from the face of the earth the city could be re-built in intimate detail from Ulysses alone.

I have long wanted to illustrate the book, or create a series of prints based upon it. Perhaps this year, I shall!

This is a sketch of the novel's anti-hero Leopold Bloom from the 13th chapter, commonly known as Nausicaa (Ulysses is so-named because, although set upon one day in Edwardian Dublin, it mirrors Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, which tell of the decade-long travels of King Odysseus, or Ulysses in Latin, from the battlefield of Troy back to his home and family on the island of Ithaca. As a result the un-named chapters of Ulysses are usually known by the names of those in Homer). Bloom has just noticed that his fob-watch has stopped (actually at 4,30, not 4 as I've shown. Mea culpa!) and wonders if that was the moment when his unfaithful wife Molly and her lover Blazes Boylan climaxed sexually “Funny my watch stopped at half past four” he notes, then ponders “Was that just when he, she?"

Done in my sketchbook using a black biro. I love the smearing and ink-spatters, especially when blown up large, that a biro can give. I've a tendency to overwork (or over-egg as Nick puts it) images and to smooth out blemishes and imperfections. Good then to put the brakes on my OCD every now and again!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Guardian - Frenchman stereotype






Guardian - Frenchman stereotype

A pleasant surprise at the end of last week when the Guardian got in touch with me for the first time in ages. They said that the project they had in mind was for a colloboration between the Guardian and four other European newspapers - Germany's Der Spiegel, France's Le Monde, Spain's El Pais and Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza, whereby they would explore each other's stereotypes and preconceptions.

I was given France and the key-words the other four editors used to describe the french stereotype.

I attach two versions here, the original, annotated with the terms and adjectives used in the article, and an amended version without, as, in the end, the image was considered too busy by the Editor.

What do you think?
with significant contributions from Der Spiegel, Le Monde, El País and Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza
Der Spiegel, Le Monde, El País and Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza.
with significant contributions from Der Spiegel, Le Monde, El País and Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza
with significant contributions from Der Spiegel, Le Monde, El País and Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Twitter Ye Not - Pride and Prejudice


Twitter Ye Not - Pride and Prejudice

A regular piece for the Daily Mail Weekend magazine about how figures in history might have twittered or tweeted or whatever, had they the chance, inclination and technology.

On the 28th January 1813, Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice was published in London. Almost 200 years later, it is still one of the most celebrated books in the English language. Here we imagine the reaction on Twitter to that first edition and its then anonymous author.

I have shown on the one side fat George the Prince Regent (later King George IV), based on caricatures at the time by Mssrs Gilray and Cruikshank. George ruled as Regent for ten years whilst his father, King George III, was incapacitated by madness. Georgy Porgy clutches a copy of the newly published novel, and thinks he resembles Mr Darcy (especially as portrayed by a wet Colin Firth).

Across from him is poet George, Lord Byron (mad, bad and dangerous to know), leaning nonchalently against a classical pedestal, and also imagining himself as Darcy. I have indicated Byron's club foot, which he was very sensitive about.

Behind the Prince Regent is a weeping willow, very popular at the time as a motif in furniture, art and ceramics. Between the two noblemen is the Royal Pavillion at Brighton. Very exotic!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Twitter Ye Not - Execution of Louis XVI


Twitter Ye Not - Execution of Louis XVI

A regular piece for the Daily Mail Weekend magazine about how figures in history might have twittered or tweeted or whatever, had they the chance, inclination and technology.

On the 21st of January 1793, King Louis XVI of France was executed by guillotine in the Place de la Révolution (now Place de la Concorde) in Paris, after being found guilty of high treason by the revoltionary National Assembley. Here, we imagine the Twitter feed for that dramatic day.

On the right stands Louis XVI, re-named Citizen Louis Capet after his deposition, about to get the chop from Madame Guillotine.

Facing him is Madame Defarge, from Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities, a tricoteuse or knitter who sat, booed and purled as the heads came off. The basket in front of her contains three balls of wool (red, white and blue for Liberté, Egalité and Fraternité) and the têtes of two ex-aristos. They had it coming...

Both Louis and Defarge wear the Phrygian Bonnets or Liberty Caps of the revolution, with a tricoleur cockade apiece.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Twitter Ye Not - Coronation of Elizabeth 1


Twitter Ye Not - Coronation of Elizabeth 1

A regular piece for the Daily Mail Weekend magazine about how figures in history might have twittered or tweeted or whatever, had they the chance, inclination and technology.

On the 15th January in 1559, Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey. Here, we imagine the Twitter feed for that historic day.

This is actually a reworking of an image I done before, the original trial for the whole Twitter Ye Not series. But this time around I added a few small details - pear-drop pearl ear-rings, ermine dots on the crown and the names of those portrayed (Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh). Plus I changed the little Twitter bird on the Orb resting beside the coronation throne. Images of her coronation indicate that she probably wore her long red hair down. but I have shown her as she's more commonly seen, with her hair in high tight curls.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #10


Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #10
'Epilogue'

At the beginning of the last month (December) I was asked by the Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life (http://spitalfieldslife.com/) and publishers Faber & Faber (http://faber.co.uk/) to produce a map marking the bicentinary this month of the horrific Ratcliffe Highway Murders (December 1811), with vignettes indicating the location and dates of the pertinent events as their anniversaries occurred.

The vignettes were inspired by the book investigating the case 'The Maul and the Pear Tree', by P.D.James & T.A.Critchley, first published by Faber in 1971.

The map beneath was an 1811 map of the area, provided for me by the wonderful Stefan Dickers, archivist at the Bishopsgate Institute.

This is the tenth (and final) vignette. 'In the months after the burial of John Williams at the crossroads in Shadwell on 31st December 1811, some further evidence came to light. A search of The Pear Tree revealed a jacket with a bloodied pocket, blood stained trousers abandoned in the privy and a bloody French knife hidden in a mouse-hole – the knife that could have been used to slit the victims’ throats. However none of these items could be incontrovertibly connected to John Williams...'

I have shown the skull of John Williams as it may have appeared on the bar shelf of the Crown & Dolphin pub, on the corner of Cannon Street Road and Cable Street (just across from where his body was interred at the crossroad or 'four went way'). The supposed criminal's cranium sits lost amid the paraphenalia of a mid 20th Century public house - dusty bottles of whisky, port and gin, &c., postcards, tankards, a ceramic Virol pot, photographs, a toby jug and a brace of Staffordshire lions (based largely on items upon my own mantelpiece).

The Crown & Dolphin closed as a pub in the 1980s and has since been converted to flats. The whereabouts of John Williams' skull is unknown.

To know more go to http://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/01/02/chapter-10-epilogue/