David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


21 October 2015

U R HERE : CARTOLOGOS/HA HA

      
Mandala of the Matrix World
(Tazōkai mandara 胎蔵界曼荼羅)
(15th century-16th century)



Medium
opaque watercolour and gold paint on silk

Measurements
218.4 × 184.5 cm (image and sheet)

Place/s of Execution
Japan

Accession Number
AS9-1971
      
Department

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne 
Purchased, 1971
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation

Gallery location
Not on display


     
 detail
 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
 someone looks at something...

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