The Unicorn

Gotta love Unicorns, even when they're more goats than elegant and awe inspiring horses there's something special about them.
The Unicorn like the Phoenix is a singular creature, meaning there's only ever one (traditionally anyway, I'm sure there's been contemporary herds of the things roaming our novels and TV screens).

The Maiden and the Unicorn by Domenico Zampieri Domenichino, c. 1602.

The Unicorn in Captivity by an unknown Flemish Weaver, 1495-1505.

Sadly, due to the Unicorn's uniqueness and it's horn's supposed healing properties, this creature is the source of many a hunt and quest.

Chastity with the Unicorn by Francesco Di Giorgio Martini, 1463.

It was said that the Unicorn could only be captured by a virgin (female of course, for some reason virgin males just don't have the same effect) who was basically put out as bait. The poor Unicorn would come lay it's head on her lap and fall asleep leaving itself free to be captured by the waiting huntsmen.

 A Unicorn from the Spiderwick Chronicles. 

 A Mon Seul Désir by an unknown French weaver c. 1410.

 Abduction of Proserpina on a Unicorn by Albrecht Dürer, 1516.

 St Justina with the Unicorn by Moretto da Brescia, c. 1530.

The patron saint of Padua, St Justina is sometimes depicted with a Unicorn to signify virginity.

 Unicorn from Conrad Gesner’s Historiae Animalium, 1551.

 Lady with a Unicorn by Raffaello Sanzia, c. 1505.

That is one little Unicorn.

The Unicorn is found from The Hunt of the Unicorn tapestry, c.1495-1505.

 Allegory of March – Triumph of Minerva and sign of Aries by Francesco del Cossa, c. 1468-70.

 The Lady and the Unicorn by Luca Longhi.


To keep up to date with the words and pictures I'm sharing now head on over to my new website, www.sarahfallon.net.  I'm talking reading, writing and all kinds of daydreamy things.

What's it Gonna Be

I just finished reading Steppenwolf and am at a total loss for what to post about today.

I'm feeling tired and a little apprehensive. I have a job interview tomorrow which is good and it's at a bead shop which is better but it's an hour and three buses away which my distinctly lazy nature is up in arms over. In reality I know the trip won't be so bad especially since it won't be every day but that whiny voice inside my head just doesn't want to.

I do really want the job though as I've recently taken up jewelry making again, which is really fun, and hopefully some stuff will be up on my Etsy site soon.

Last Thursday was my turn to have a short story critiqued at my Short Story Clinic. It was very nerve racking but I'm so glad I did it. A lot of feedback was really positive and all of it was constructive. I can't wait to get cracking on the next draft (I already have in my head).

So that's my life update, let's see if I can come up with a blog topic...
... and it's latest pics on all my favourite sites and blogs.

A Peacock Chick by Andy Geppert.

Fountain Cusp by Amy Sol.

By Gabrielle Rose at draw, Gabby, draw!

Pandora by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1878 at Dark Classics.

Photograph by Fiona Quinn.


To keep up to date with the words and pictures I'm sharing now head on over to my new website, www.sarahfallon.net.  I'm talking reading, writing and all kinds of daydreamy things.

Picture of the Week: Paul Klee

This is the cover of the book I'm currently reading, Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse.
The picture is a detail of a painting by Paul Klee.

The book was very VERY slow to start, but after a while I really got into it and found it both enjoyable and thought stimulating.

My favourite quote so far: "Eternity is a mere moment, just long enough for a joke."

To keep up to date with the words and pictures I'm sharing now head on over to my new website, www.sarahfallon.net.  I'm talking reading, writing and all kinds of daydreamy things.

Faustas

Last night I saw the Queensland Theatre Company/Bell Shakespeare production of Faustus. It was a total win in my eyes. My full review of the play is now on Blogcritics.

Faust et Marguerite, 1871.

Faust et Mephistopholes, 1871.

Faust, 19th Century.

Heine Doktor Faust, 1851.

1620.

By Eugène Delacroix.

By Eugène Delacroix.

 Page 4 by Harry Clarke, 1925.

Faust and Erdgeist by Johann Wolfgang Goethe.

By Hendrik Frans Schaefels, 1863.

Gretchen by Margret Hofheinz-Döring, 1964.

Faust by Rembrandt, c. 1652.


To keep up to date with the words and pictures I'm sharing now head on over to my new website, www.sarahfallon.net.  I'm talking reading, writing and all kinds of daydreamy things.

Sirens

Siren Whisper Sweet by Edward Kwong.

Satiated Siren by Gustav-Adolf Mossa, 1905.

In some versions of the myth, the sirens were once nymphs and companions of the goddess Persephone. When Persephone was abducted by Hades the nymphs prayed for wings so that they could search for their lost friend. Their wish was granted and they became half bird and half woman. Another version (Ovid V, 551)) states that as punishment for not intervening when Persephone was abducted, Demeter changed their form.

The Siren by John William Waterhouse, 1900.

The Sirens sang songs promising fulfilment of one’s greatest desire, luring sailor’s and fishermen to their deaths.

The Fisherman and the Syren by Frederic Leighton. C. 1856-1858.

Little Siren by Sulamith Wulfing.

Ulysses and the Sirens by Herbert Draper.

When Ulysses passed by the island of the Sirens he had his crew fill their ears with wax so they would not hear and be tempted by their song. He however was tied to the mast so his curiosity could be satisfied. He is the only man to hear the Sirens song and live.

 Proserpina’s Companions are turned into Sirens by Johann Ulrich Krauss, 1690.

The Siren by Edward Armitage, 1888.

Despite the written descriptions of Sirens as part bird, it seems more common to depict them as either beautiful women or part fish.

The Sirens by Gustave Moreau, c. 1872.

Fisherman and the Siren by Knut Ekwall.

Sirenen by Arnold Böcklin, 1875.

Böcklin takes an unusually comic approach with the physicality of the Sirens.

Les Sirènes by Louis Adolphe Tessie.


To keep up to date with the words and pictures I'm sharing now head on over to my new website, www.sarahfallon.net.  I'm talking reading, writing and all kinds of daydreamy things.