Mary Mahler RI writes:
INCANDESCENT BLUE
Traditional watercolour, Lapis Lazuli and silver leaf Framed size 70 cm x 76 cm
Lapis is a highly prized, valuable blue pigment when finely ground and binder added (the forerunner of Ultramarine). It was sold ready made in a small scallop shell as were other semi-precious stones and precious metals and still today is known as ‘shell gold’
This is a beautiful and fascinating old marble bust on a tall plinth which stands in a quiet place in our garden, he is Apollo.
I don’t know when or how long he has been on his plinth in the garden. Our house is late Medieval. It and its curtilage hold many secrets and hidden things which we are slowly uncovering.
This is Apollo
FRACTURED BEAUTY
Traditional watercolour, Lapis Lazuli, water soluble pencil and gold leaf
Framed size 76 cm x 82 cm
A marble statue of one of the Nine Muses collectively known as The Daughters of Zeus. She would have been painted and highly gilded, remnants still visible.
I find it sad that these incredible beauties have become ghosts of their glittering past never again to be worshipped in their museum. Some lost or destroyed others cannot be identified so remain nameless.
Apollo is the guardian of the Daughters of Zeus.
QUIET BEAUTY
Traditional watercolour, water soluble pencil and gold leaf
Framed size 70 cm x 76 cm
A marble statue of one of the Nine Muses collectively known as The Daughters of Zeus. She would have been painted and highly gilded, remnants still visible. I find it sad that these incredible beauties have become ghosts of their glittering past never again to be worshipped in their museum. Some lost or destroyed others cannot be identified so remain nameless.
Apollo is the guardian of the Daughters of Zeus.
DEMONS NEVER QUITE SILENCED
Traditional watercolour, Lapis Lazuli shell gold and white gold leaf
Framed size 78 cm x 95 cm
He, known as Oberon and is an actual old and very damaged Fairground Galloper who I have got to know well as hopefully I shall be restoring/conserving him soon. I can see remnants of his former life and I can see who he wants to become.
(Apart from painting I restore (conserve or repair) artefacts in need of appropriate specialist grounds, paints and finishes commensurate with their age. I specialise in rare old rocking horses).
This is Oberon