JF Ptak Science Books
I'm in the midst of making several posts relating to a group of large (27x21") chromolithographs of the mosaics in San Marco (sumptuously published by Ferdinand Ongania in Venice in 1886. The main part of this image is the story of creation, starting in the innermost circle of images, where we find the creation of light (and darkness), and the rest, followed by the larger concentric circle showing the starry realms, the creation of the birds and fishes, then the land-based animals, and then (around "12 o'clock" on the second circle) comes the creation of life in Adam, where it all seems to go downhill. In the outer ring we see the creation and presentation of Eve, the various temptations, the nakedness realizations and then the banishment--not all together a happy ending. But the artwork is lovely, highlighted in gold.
- [Creation Myth] Chromolithographic image from Basilica di San Marino du Venezia, published by the prolific Ferdinand Ongania in 1886, 27x21", 68x53cm. Very good condition. $550
- Ongania's work is an exhaustive study of the iconic building, the publication being known chiefly I think for its very large and sumptuous chromolithographs of the building's architecture, art, and endless detail. It forms two volumes of an overall monumental 12-volume epic, though these were complete in themselves.
Image printed on a very thick paper that will now crack if you try the double-fold test, so although the paper is stable you do not want to bend it, though you wouldn't want to do that, anyway. Also all of the margins are not necessarily included in the photos--there were certain limitations in making the photographs, and some margins just didn't make ti entirely into the picture. IF you want more full images, please let me know and I'll send a jpeg detail shot.
Detail of the inner circle of images:
The detail of the separation of the day from night, of lightness from darkness:
And a scene between God and Adam, with the primordial man looking over his shoulder while at the same time pointing at all other life forms, discriminating perhaps, ordering, categorizing, distinguishing one from the other:
Here's another perspective of the mosaic, looking at it from the ground level, obliquely:
[Image via Rolf Gross' website, here: http://rolfgross.dreamhosters.com/Box/Travel/1994ItalyEaster/1994ItalyEaster.htm]
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.