Every time I write a V. Note, I get ideas for five more. Then I spend the next month driving myself crazy because I don’t make time to write again. I’m sure all of you can relate to the constant vigilance it takes to make time for creating.
In the previous post I talked about Haniwa, Japanese clay figures that were produced for funerals from the 3rd to 6th centuries in Japan.
Japanese Haniwa
Haniwa: Clay sculptures in the forms of cylinders, human figures, animals, and architectural elements. They were placed at the tombs of elite members of Japanese society.
Looking at the haunting but cheerful Haniwa led me wonder what other cultures were doing during this time period. That plopped me into a topic that doesn’t come up much: funerary art history. There have been some fun times to be dead, as various cultures around the world produced some distinct and fascinating funerary art. I’ll see what I can dig up to share with you here.
Roman Catacomb Art
Roman Catacomb Art: The burials of Jewish, pagan and early Christian Roman citizens in the Roman catacombs began in the 2nd century and ended in the 5th century, so ran parallel in time to the Haniwa in Japan. At the end of the 2nd century and starting in the 3rd century, Roman catacombs served as the official cemetery of Rome’s Christian Church. Christians decorated catacombs with frescoes, sculptures, and inscriptions. The earliest identifiably Christian art consists of a few wall and ceiling frescoes, which continued to be decorated in a sketchy style derived from Roman impressionism through the 4th century. The catacombs are extensive, reaching a depth of at least 20 meters beneath the surface, and many of them stretch for 20 kilometers. These catacombs are located just beyond the city center, as it was against the law to bury the dead within the confines of the city walls.
Pictured above: “Adam and Eve”, painting from the late 3rd century (Cemetery of the Saints Peter and Marcellinus, Rome). “The Good Shepherd”, 3rd century, Catacombs of Priscilla, Rome. “The Good Shepherd sculpture in marble. Rome. Catacombs of Domitilla, 3rd century.
Unlike the Haniwa that were only made for the upper class in Japan, the Christians buried rich and poor together, so the Roman catacombs were filled with stinky dead people from all casts. Isn’t that nice? If only the holy trinity was as cute as a Haniwa. That’s what we really need after death: more adorable characters.
Red Cadmium Red: “Matisse was much taken with this strong new red, which has excellent stability. He recounts that he attempted, unsuccessfully, to persuade Renoir to adopt a “cadmium red” in place of the traditional cinnabar. Matisse inherited the use of intense cadmium red, a 19th century invention, from the Impressionists. The critic John Rusell …
The First Common Photo Device Did you know the first commonly used photographic device was invented by a painter? It’s true! In 1829 French painter and chemist Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre was using a camera obscura for his work on theater sets. He’d obtained the camera from an optician named Chevalier, and was introduced to Nicéphore Niépce, …
I’ve posted 740 V. Notes since the League started in 2016. Can you believe it? Two or three of them were even good! At this year’s end, I’d like to hear from you, creative readers: What are some V. Note posts that you especially enjoyed? How to search for past topics Did you know you …
[image_with_animation image_url=”7600″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Ralph Steadman Draw, paint, collage a reproduction of a famous artwork in history with your pet’s head replacing the figure’s. As much as you can, stay true to the original composition (unless you have a pet giraffe and have chosen the Mona Lisa). The original masterwork can be sculpture, …
Funerary Art pt 2: Roman Catacomb Frescoes
Every time I write a V. Note, I get ideas for five more. Then I spend the next month driving myself crazy because I don’t make time to write again. I’m sure all of you can relate to the constant vigilance it takes to make time for creating.
In the previous post I talked about Haniwa, Japanese clay figures that were produced for funerals from the 3rd to 6th centuries in Japan.
Japanese Haniwa
Haniwa: Clay sculptures in the forms of cylinders, human figures, animals, and architectural elements. They were placed at the tombs of elite members of Japanese society.
Looking at the haunting but cheerful Haniwa led me wonder what other cultures were doing during this time period. That plopped me into a topic that doesn’t come up much: funerary art history. There have been some fun times to be dead, as various cultures around the world produced some distinct and fascinating funerary art. I’ll see what I can dig up to share with you here.
Roman Catacomb Art
Roman Catacomb Art: The burials of Jewish, pagan and early Christian Roman citizens in the Roman catacombs began in the 2nd century and ended in the 5th century, so ran parallel in time to the Haniwa in Japan. At the end of the 2nd century and starting in the 3rd century, Roman catacombs served as the official cemetery of Rome’s Christian Church. Christians decorated catacombs with frescoes, sculptures, and inscriptions. The earliest identifiably Christian art consists of a few wall and ceiling frescoes, which continued to be decorated in a sketchy style derived from Roman impressionism through the 4th century. The catacombs are extensive, reaching a depth of at least 20 meters beneath the surface, and many of them stretch for 20 kilometers. These catacombs are located just beyond the city center, as it was against the law to bury the dead within the confines of the city walls.
Pictured above: “Adam and Eve”, painting from the late 3rd century (Cemetery of the Saints Peter and Marcellinus, Rome). “The Good Shepherd”, 3rd century, Catacombs of Priscilla, Rome. “The Good Shepherd sculpture in marble. Rome. Catacombs of Domitilla, 3rd century.
Unlike the Haniwa that were only made for the upper class in Japan, the Christians buried rich and poor together, so the Roman catacombs were filled with stinky dead people from all casts. Isn’t that nice? If only the holy trinity was as cute as a Haniwa. That’s what we really need after death: more adorable characters.
More funerary art posted soon!
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