People Getting Stabbed In Medieval Art Who Just Don't Give a Damn

[JHan]

A collection of stabbed subjects from Medieval Manuscripts and Mounted Paintings.

I love the Manuscript illustrations because... Manuscripts! It was a laborious process to create a medieval manuscript. The materials used took time to create and assemble- from ink preparation to the production of Vellum and parchment which were stacked and folded into "gatherings". Then came the process of scoring and creating ruling lines to guide the scribe so writing is even. Illumination followed, which embellished the work in gold or silver and then finally, the binding process. It took years of meticulous training to become a Master Scribe: students went through an apprenticeship where they would observe and absorbed their Master's technique.

We typically think of devout Monks practicing this craft in isolation in Monasteries, however, Nuns also produced manuscripts With the mushrooming of medieval economies (stimulated by the rise of The Merchant Class and the establishment of Towns) City Centres like Paris, Oxford and Florence became a hub for Craft Guilds and their artisans and the book trade became highly specialized - with Scribes, Artists, Binders, Publishers.

Given the energy, skills, and materials involved, the creativity of Scribes and Medieval painters fascinates since symbolism was more important in artistic representation then than "realism".

These saints/figures are ready to meet their maker. And they're chill about the whole thing.

"this is fine"



welp



It's just a flesh wound.



Stabbed through the chest and skull. Cool







God grant me the serenity to accept the stabbing I cannot change;
and the wisdom to know I'm gonna get stabbed anyway.

[safeinOhio]

1. Thanks for the post.

I love to look into the window of the past.

[whathehell]

2. Uh, no, they don't all "look fine about the whole thing"

Your cheery editorial notwithstanding.

[JHan]

3. obviously no one thinks their death is fine...

Some of these are symbolic representations of Saints who viewed their suffering through a religious lense so "ready to meet their maker".

If you note fear in the faces or some other thing, okay, though I don't get the consternation. The article is basically memeing the art.

[whathehell]

9. Not obvious to you, it seems..

and I'm cognizant of the symbolism and supposed "religious lens".

That said, only the first looks even mildly 'pleased', the others bear neutral or pained expression -- Quite a distance from "just don't give a damn".

[JHan]

10. well okay then.

and that's the beauty of art right, we see what we see yeah?

[whathehell]

12. Um, not sure of the relevance..

Your remarks seem more illustrative of callous indifference, if not sadistic glee, than "besuty".

[Bob Loblaw]

13. What's besuty?

Why so cantankerous to start the week?

[whathehell]

16. What's "beauty"?

For one thing, it's spelled with an "a".

[Bob Loblaw]

18. OK

I was critiquing your spelling. Maybe "besuty" is in the eye of the beholder.

[whathehell]

19. Huh?

Why would you be critiquing my spelling?

[violetpastille]

34. Because of Post 12.

Your remarks seem more illustrative of callous indifference, if not sadistic glee, than "besuty".

[JHan]

14. You are really reaching here, and I'm not sure where it is coming from.

The article itself is making light fun of stabbing scenes in medieval art.

If the article offends your sensibilities because of its take I suggest you avoid it.

If you think that making light fun of these illustrations is the worst thing in the world or some reflection of "Sadism" or some affront to medieval sensibilities, illuminators were also known to engage in a bit of satire themselves.

so strange.

[whathehell]

15. Really?

Lol..Perhaps, like art, one man's "reach" is another's easy grasp.

You can "suggest" what you like, but I'm as entitled to an opinion about your post as you are to the post itself.. Do have yourself a nice day.

[JHan]

17. ...

bye LOL

[whathehell]

20. Lol!

[Squinch]

21. I think its performance art. Happens often, coming out of left field with

incomprehensible outrage and really really weird insults.

I love the OP.

[Ferrets are Cool]

76. You are looking through a different lens.

None of them look like they are particularly bothered by being stabbed to death. Typical of much religious artwork, it "whitewashes" the real pain associated with dying.
Please understand that each person sees art in their own manner.

[whathehell]

78. Maybe you are looking through a different lens..

Mine is no less valid than yours.

[Ferrets are Cool]

79. That was the entire point that

went completely over your head.

[whathehell]

80. Eh, no..

It went over yours.

[mwb970]

28. WTF?

I have read the subthread that begins with this comment with considerable curiosity. You seem to have a weirdly grumpy, hostile take on this unimportant but amusing series of pictures. By any chance can you account for your bizarre attitude in some logical way? How can you be so crabby and argumentative so early in the morning? You sound just like one of the bitter, angry old men in the trump cult who post angry comments about "tranny libs" and "leftist gayboys" after articles about Democratic women.

What's up?

[Squinch]

32. Its a way of life for some.

[whathehell]

33. Lol!

You begin a post with "WTF"? and you want to know why I am grumpy?

That's so funny, it's actually improved MY mood!

Seriously, though, in disagreeing with me, I DO appreciate your questioning, rather than attacking me. While I stand by my earlier posts, I admit to being in a particularly bad mood this morning -- Yesterday was my birthday and it just happened to go badly.. .

As it happens, your post really HAS cheered me up, so I think we can just let it be. Bye for now.

[mwb970]

35. Good enough.

But just for the record, "WTF?" indicates bafflement and confusion, not grumpiness.

[whathehell]

40. Glad to hear it..

but I'm afraid I'd disagree somewhat on "WTF". There are many indicators of bafflement, but "WTF" -- in all caps, no less -- is an angry, aggressive one. Just sayin'.

[mwb970]

42. That's what you saw in it, but not what I meant.

I'd say that you seeing an angry insult where I meant nothing of the kind is akin to your great hostility toward the OP, who was just being droll.

[whathehell]

49. Uh huh

Is that why you compared me to a number of nasty RIght Wingers?

No, I'm sure I was reading it ALL wrong.

[mwb970]

54. Yes. You were.

I compared what you WROTE with the comments I see from trump cultists. That is different from comparing you yourself with them.

OK, what will you misunderstand about THIS comment?

[whathehell]

61. Nah

Even the OP didn't take it that seriously.

That said, I hope you won't "misunderstand" this: Buh bye!

[mwb970]

64. This has been a very unsatisfying "conversation". /nt

[JHan]

55. I'm still kinda amazed......

it's like..



so wild.

[Bob Loblaw]

46. As opposed to

the handle "whathehell". That's rich, and irony is dead. Sorry your birthday stunk, hope things turn around for you.

[whathehell]

50. Huh?

as oppossed to whaaa?
I suggest you re-read the posts -- I didn't commented on anyone's handle.but my own.

[Bob Loblaw]

66. Where do I begin?

You object to WTF, but your handle is whathehell. The correct spelling is opposed, not oppossed. You wrote, "I didn't commented". What does that mean? Why did you use a period between handle and but? I recommend you re-read your own posts, they aren't worth my time. Maybe your birthday sucked because of your boorish behavior. Respond however you like, I'm through with you.

[whathehell]

69. Maybe with something like..

"Please excuse my poor communication skils"?

If you'd actually READ the post, you'd know I addressed "WTF" as a point of humor -- Talk about "boorish behavior".


.

[trusty elf]

4. This harper doesn't look too pleased.

[JHan]

7. Lancelot's adultery moment with Guin ...

He had it coming..

Can't get over the face of the guy doing the stabbing..almost polite

[3Hotdogs]

22. "The harp was out of tune so I fucked 'im up."

[Squinch]

24. And she's saying, "Gracious me! My lover has been run through! I

wonder what's for lunch."

[3Hotdogs]

27. "---fuck. Right before my solo. I was 'suposed to sign a contract for Columbia Record Club.

I guess that's not happening."

[PJMcK]

36. Columbia Record Club!

That company was from the Middle Ages!

[JHan]

26. LOL!

[alfredo]

44. 90% of the time harpist are tuning their harps, 10% of the time they are playing out of tune.

[treestar]

53. the lady does not seem very upset

[Squinch]

62. He was becoming kind of a pain.

[catbyte]

5. Wow.

I think the guy going in the second one is my favorite.

[oldlibdem]

6. wouldts thou wear a sword in thine head?

me thinks not!

[Squinch]

52. Hark! The really tall girl hast invented goth jewelry! Or, mayhap

she's just been stabbed in the neck. Either way, just keep walking...

[oldlibdem]

68. ha-ha

lol

[pansypoo53219]

8. manuscript cats ore fun.

[DetlefK]

11. There are two serious explanations why the artists painted them this way:

1. They possibly simply did not have good models to work with. No templates for twitching and screaming and groaning faces.

2. In medieval times, art was infused with symbolism. Symbolism was everywhere. One such symbolism was that ugly=evil. It was not possible for an artist to depict a person with an ugly face without implying that this person is evil.

[Squinch]

23. This post is hilarious. Thanks for it. The bizarro responses to it are pretty

funny too.

[JHan]

25. we both clearly have a sadistic streak..

I'll take it tho.

[Squinch]

31. Yes. This proves it! We are terrible human beings!

[whathehell]

38. Oh No.

I'm sure you're the very Soul of Sensitivity

[JHan]

39. Your du handle is apropos

Cuz really wth..👀

[whathehell]

41. Actually,

it's open to interpretation.

[Itchinjim]

29. "It's only a flesh wound!"

[Ferrets are Cool]

77. This made me LOL. nt

[Afromania]

30. Some of those expressions are way, way, too passive for the given situations.

They're absurd to the point of being funny.

[JHan]

57. Yep, they are, in our eyes but for them the focus was the allegorical.

The importance of symbolism in stories, the stories themselves and the values contained therein was really the focus. Artists would also repeatedly use certain set facial expressions which project saintliness, goodness etc.

There's a lot of depth there just have to see it through their eyes. And For me, the height of medieval artistic skill were the cathedrals/architecture.

[PJMcK]

37. Medieval honey badgers don't give a shit (n/t)

[alfredo]

43. One of my favorite books is about a miniaturist.

Here's a review of it.

Orhan Pamuk's "My Name Is Red" Note the name of the reviewer
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/09/03/murder-in-miniature

[JHan]

45. Great review, thank you

I've heard of it and been meaning to get to reading it, now I'll dive in.

[alfredo]

48. He's one of my favorite writers

[sheshe2]

47. This whole thread was a hoot!

Thanks, JHan.

[JHan]

58. ;p

[sheshe2]

59. Hahahahahahahahha!

Purrrrfect.

[qazplm135]

51. Much like a head-stabbing...

this thread escalated quickly!

[JHan]

56. from zero to ..

[More_Cowbell]

60. I loved everything about this article nt

[brer cat]

63. I love this!

The facial expressions are priceless, regardless of the intent of the artist.

[mcar]

65. They seem pretty mellow about it

[JHan]

75. even this guy

[Marcuse]

67. The medium is the message. Just another Monday in the Dark Ages.

[JHan]

72. ++

[secondvariety]

70. One of the

best threads I've read in ages. Thanks, JHan.

[JHan]

73. glad you enjoyed :)

[flying rabbit]

71. Great post

weird responses.

[Ohiya]

74. Thanks for posting this.

the stabbing serenity prayer!