Book of Hours - Illuminated Prayer Book for the Wealthy

A book of hours was a prayer book containing appropriate prayers for specific hours of the day, days of the week, months, and seasons. Books of hours were usually beautifully illuminated, and some of the more notable ones are among the finest works of medieval art in existence. Origin and history   Initially, books of hours were produced by scribes in monasteries for use by their fellow monks. Monastics divided their day into eight segments, or hours, of prayer: Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, Nones, Compline, and Vespers. A monk would set a book of hours on a lectern or table and read from it aloud at each of these hours; the books were therefore fairly large in format. The earliest known monastic books of hours were created in the 13th century. By the 14th century, smaller, portable books of hours with less complex liturgical systems were being produced for use by individuals. By the 15th century, these lay books of hours were so popular they outnumbered all other types of illuminated manuscript. Because the artwork was so splendid, books of hours were too expensive for all but the wealthiest of patrons: royalty, nobility, and occasionally very wealthy merchants or artisans. Contents Books of hours would vary according to the preferences of their owners, but they always began with a liturgical calendar; that is, a list of feast days in chronological order, as well as a method of calculating the date of Easter. Some included a multi-year almanac. Often books of hours included the seven Penitential Psalms, as well as any of a wide variety of other prayers devoted to favorite saints or personal issues. Frequently, books of hours featured a cycle of prayers dedicated to the Virgin Mary. illustrations Each section of prayers was accompanied by an illustration to help the reader meditate on the subject. Most often, these illustrations depicted biblical scenes or saints, but sometimes simple scenes from rural life or displays of royal splendor were included, as were the occasional portraits of the patrons who ordered the books. Calendar pages often depicted signs of the Zodiac. It wasnt uncommon for the owners coat of arms to be incorporated, as well. Pages that were largely text were often framed with or highlighted by foliage or symbolic motifs. The illustrations of books of hours and other manuscripts are sometimes called miniatures. This is not because the pictures are small; in fact, some could take up the entire page of an oversized book. Rather, the word miniature has its origins in the Latin miniare, to rubricate or to illuminate, and thus refers to written pages, or manuscripts. Production   Monastic books of hours were produced, as were most other illuminated manuscripts, by monks in a scriptorium. However, when books of hours became popular among the laity, a system of professional publication evolved. Scribes would write the text in one place, artists would paint the illustrations in another, and the two products were put together in a bookbinders hall. When a patron ordered a book of hours to be made, he could select his favorite prayers and subjects for illustration. In the later middle ages, it was also possible to purchase a pre-produced, generic book of hours in a stationers shop. Materials   Books of hours, like other medieval manuscripts, were written on parchment (sheepskin) or vellum (calfskin), specially treated to receive ink and paint. The writing surface was invariably lined to help the scribe write neatly and evenly; this was usually done by an assistant. By the time books of hours became popular, the inks used in manuscripts were almost always iron gall ink, made from the gallnuts on oak trees where wasp larvae were laid. This could be tinted different colors through the use of various minerals. Ink was applied with a quill pen -- a feather, cut to a sharp point and dipped in a jar of ink. A wide variety of minerals, plants, and chemicals were used to tint paints for the illustrations. The color sources were mixed with arabic or tragacinth gum as a binding agent. The most vivid and expensive mineral used in paint was Lapis Lazuli, a blue gemstone with gold flecks which in the Middle Ages was found only in present-day Afghanistan. Gold and silver leaf were also used to marvelous effect. The brilliant use of the precious metals achieved gave illumination its name. Significance to Medieval Art Books of hours offered artists the opportunity to display their skill to the best of their abilities. Depending on the wealth of the patron, the finest materials were used in order to achieve the richest and most vivid colors. Over the centuries of the book formats popularity, art style evolved into a more natural, vibrant form, and the structure of the illuminated page changed to allow more expression on the part of the illuminators. Now known as Gothic illumination, the works produced in the 13th through 15th centuries by clerical and secular artists alike would influence other art styles, such as stained glass, as well as the art that would follow in the Renaissance movements. Notable Book of Hours By far the most famous and splendid Book of Hours ever produced is Les Trà ¨s Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, produced in the 15th century.

Critical Analysis Of Raymond Carver s The Cathedral ...

Spiritual Blindness Is it possible that a complete person is more limited than one with a disability? As bizarre as it may sound it could be possible. In Raymond Carver s short story â€Å"The Cathedral†, the narrator was a man who couldn’t see beyond the end of his nose. He was aware of what his wife has lived in the past, but had no interest on her or what she likes to do. Not only this, but he would also judge people just by the way they talk or their names. But so, the blind man as the narrator calls Robert because of his disability, does the opposite. Despite being away, Robert had been in contact with her for years. He had knowledge of everything she had been through perhaps even more than her own husband. Carver’s story shows how a person who thinks superior of himself receives a lesson by the person he less expected it. Sometimes people s disabilities are not in their body but in their minds and hearts. The narrator made assumptions about individuals he didn’t know yet: Robert and his gone wife. The husband knew about Robert, but just what his wife had told him, nothing else. Before talking to him or knowing how Robert was, he started judging him for no reason: â€Å"I wasn’t enthusiastic about his visit. He was no one I knew. And his being blind bothered me. My idea of blindness came from the movies. In the movies, the blind moved slowly and never laughed. Sometimes they were led by seeing-eye dogs. A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to† (CarvesShow MoreRelatedCharacter Analysis Of Raymond Carver s Cathedral 1426 Words   |  6 PagesCharacter Analysis in Raymond Carver’s â€Å"Cathedral†: The Narrator Literature has the potential to act as a mirror by presenting people’s lived experiences, expectations, and perceptions through characters. Such is what can be deciphered through the analysis of different characters in Raymond Carver’s story â€Å"Cathedral.† This paper focuses on the narrator of the story portrayed by the author as blind, which is used metaphorically not to imply physical blindness, but the inability to have reasonedRead MoreMinimalism by Raymond Carver Essay3013 Words   |  13 PagesLiterary Criticism Minimalism by Raymond Carver English 210 P. Fishman Research Paper Literary Criticism on Minimalism by Raymond Carver Raymond Carver was a master of the short story during the mid nineteenth century due to his unique minimalistic style. Carver has his own artistic signature when it comes to writing, he tells his stories using

Iron Crowned Chapter 15 Free Essays

string(29) " his eyes made me step back\." I had two immediate reactions to this. One was that Dorian could wait around forever; he had no right to demand anything of me. My other reaction was outrage that he could come traipsing into my home when I was banned from his. We will write a custom essay sample on Iron Crowned Chapter 15 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Admittedly, that was my own fault. I hadn’t put down any hospitality rules to keep him out. As such, he’d be welcomed like any other non-enemy monarch – particularly by my people. I considered simply sending Volusian to revoke hospitality but then tossed that idea aside. I’d take care of this myself. I drove out to the gateway by my home as fast as I could without getting a ticket and then crossed over to the anchor inside my castle. Once there, I hurried through the halls, oblivious to servants’ startled stares. I knew where Dorian would be. My people would have received him in the nicest chamber, the one befitting any visiting monarch. Sure enough. Dorian sat inside the parlor, lounging in a central chair with Shaya, Rurik, and others sitting around him. He looked like he was holding court in his own castle. My anger doubled. Everyone except him jumped up at my sudden approach, giving hasty bows. â€Å"Out,† I snapped. â€Å"All of you. And shut the door.† My words left no question about who exactly I wanted out. Dorian didn’t move, but the rest scurried to obey my orders. I saw Shaya and Rurik exchange looks with each other, no doubt worried what was going to happen with the two monarchs they loved. Once we were alone, I turned on Dorian. â€Å"What the hell are you doing here?† He regarded me coolly, face perfectly at ease. â€Å"Visiting, as is my right. There’s nothing that says I can’t. Unless you’re revoking my hospitality?† â€Å"I should,† I said, stepping forward with fists clenched. â€Å"I should have my guards throw you out on your ass.† He snorted and absentmindedly smoothed a piece of his long hair. â€Å"Good luck with that. They’d throw you out first, if I gave the order.† â€Å"So that’s why you’re here? To start a rebellion in my own kingdom?† â€Å"No. I’m here to remind you of your responsibilities to your kingdom – since you’ve clearly forgotten.† â€Å"Really?† I crossed my arms across my chest in an effort to stop myself from doing something stupid. â€Å"I think you’ve forgotten what I’ve done for my kingdom. Say, like, saving it from disaster. And risking my life for that fucking crown so that we could finally have peace.† â€Å"If memory serves, you caused that disaster when you created an inhospitable desert.† His voice was still damnably calm. â€Å"And that crown is doing you no good.† â€Å"Didn’t you hear me? We have peace. The fighting’s stopped.† â€Å"The fighting’s temporarily stopped. Katrice is playing you, and you’re letting her. She’s dragging her feet, using this negotiation delay to figure out a way out of this. If you really want to end the war once and for all, you need to get involved and let her know you’re serious. Wave the crown around. Dare her to call your bluff. Show her you’re in control and stop all of this for real.† I gave a harsh laugh. â€Å"That’s so typical of you. Attempting to pull the strings, as usual. You don’t even have the crown, but you’re telling me what to do with it.† Dorian shot up from the chair, smooth features breaking into annoyance. â€Å"I am remembering what it means to be a king. I’m not running away and letting others deal with things that seem too hard.† â€Å"Right,† I said, keeping an eye on the distance between us. â€Å"Getting the crown was easy. Which is why, of course, you were right out there with me.† He narrowed his eyes. â€Å"You know I would have if I could. So I did the only thing I could: I got you out there after it.† â€Å"By lying!† I exclaimed. I tried to keep my voice strong, letting anger be the only emotion to slip, but grief cracked me a little. â€Å"By creating an elaborate set-up with Masthera in the hope I’d seize more land for us. Why do you not see how wrong that was?† â€Å"Was it?† His volume was starting to match my own. I’d so rarely seen emotion seize him, and it was both terrible and beautiful. â€Å"Do you think our people think it’s wrong? The ones whose homes are no longer in danger? The ones who are alive because of this? The crown bought that, and you’re going to ruin it all if you don’t force her into talks! Not only that, by not acting, you’re letting what Leith did to you go unpunished.† â€Å"Oh, he got punished,† I said. â€Å"Yes,† agreed Dorian coldly. â€Å"By me. Something you seem to have forgotten, now that you’ve jumped back into bed with that animal.† â€Å"Kiyo isn’t part of this. And what you did isn’t enough to obligate me to stay in a relationship with someone who constantly deceives me.† Dorian turned away, putting his back to me. Somehow, this was more insulting than all the glares in the world. â€Å"I can only assume this is human logic. Achieving peace by bending the truth is deceitful. The greatest sin in the world. But infidelity is moral and just.† â€Å"It’s not! And I wasn’t – I didn’t cheat on you. As far as I was concerned, we were through. I was free to do whatever I wanted.† â€Å"Obviously.† I didn’t want to show any weakness in front of him, but the thing was, part of me still questioned if having sex with Kiyo back in the forest had been right or not. I’d even felt conflicted at the time. I’d let my impulses win out, using muddled logic to satisfy both my lust and need for revenge. â€Å"Look,† I said, trying to calm myself down. â€Å"I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings – â€Å" He spun around so sharply that my words dropped. I didn’t fear Dorian, not with my power and in my home, but something in his eyes made me step back. You read "Iron Crowned Chapter 15" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"Queen Eugenie,† he said formally. â€Å"Don’t trouble yourself over my ‘feelings.’ Replacing you in my bed isn’t that difficult. You have too high an opinion of yourself in that regard.† Those words slapped me in the face, despite all the reasonable parts of my brain screaming at me that it didn’t matter. I had no reason to care what he did. No reason to care about him. â€Å"So,† I said, matching his tone. â€Å"Ysabel has a place to sell her skills again.† â€Å"Very good ones,† he agreed. â€Å"The question now is if you’re going to use yours. Put Katrice in her place. Get her to negotiate so that we can get the concessions we deserve. Stop acting like a human.† â€Å"I am human. You keep forgetting that.† He studied me up and down, giving me the opportunity to do the same to him. You don’t care, you don’t care, I told myself, trying to push aside how much I’d loved that gorgeous face. â€Å"No,† he said at last, contempt in his voice. â€Å"It’s impossible to forget. You’re acting like one now, refusing to do the right thing just because I’ve asked you to. You’re being contrary out of spite.† He strode toward the door. â€Å"If you don’t act soon, you’ll regret it.† I didn’t like him being the one to end this conversation. It was more of him always having the power. â€Å"Are you threatening me?† Dorian put his hand on the door’s handle and glanced at me over his shoulder. â€Å"No. I’m not the threat. Katrice is. And while you keep going on and on about how much I’ve wronged you and lied to you, I can say with absolute certainty that what I’ve just told you is the truth.† â€Å"Noted.† Hastily, I made an attempt at acting like the queen around here. â€Å"You can go now. And don’t come back.† That earned me a half smile, though there wasn’t much humor in it. â€Å"Are you revoking my hospitality?† I hesitated. â€Å"No. I’m above that. I’ll just assume you’ll do the right thing and stay the hell away from me.† â€Å"Noted,† he replied, imitating my earlier tone. He opened the door and walked away without another look. I stared at the empty space where he’d been, wondering who’d come out on top of that argument. By the time I emerged and found Shaya, Dorian had already left my castle for his own lands. She asked nothing about what had transpired with him, but worry was written all over her face. â€Å"How close are we?† I demanded. â€Å"How close are we to sitting down with Katrice and writing up a treaty?† Shaya paled, and I realized I had turned my anger at Dorian on her. â€Å"Not as close as I’d like. She agreed †¦ she agreed she’d come in person, but only if the talks were held in the Willow Land. Queen Maiwenn has agreed, but Dor – King Dorian says that’s unacceptable. He suggests the Linden Land or the Maple Land. Katrice refuses.† Linden and Maple. Kingdoms both staunchly neutral. Maiwenn theoretically was too. She’d always put on the pretense of friendship, and I was certain Kiyo would endorse her hospitality. But something about it made me uneasy. I didn’t want to support Dorian †¦ but then I realized that instinct came from exactly what he’d warned me of: wanting to oppose him just out of spite. Our personal mess aside, he was my ally. Neutral ground was best for us. â€Å"Reiterate Dorian’s stance,† I said. â€Å"Linden or Maple. I’m going back to Tucson. Let me know what happens.† Shaya opened her mouth, to protest or beg for help, I couldn’t say. Dorian’s words came back to me. Get actively involved. â€Å"Wave the crown† and make Katrice agree to our terms. No. On that, I wouldn’t agree with him. I wouldn’t use that crown like he wanted me too, even as a threat. â€Å"That’ll be all,† I told Shaya. She nodded, obedient as always. The look on her face as I left made me feel a little guilty. Maybe I could make things easier for her. Maybe I could expedite all this. But for now, there was literally no harm being done. What could Katrice’s stalling achieve? If she began hostilities again, she ran the risk of facing the crown she obviously feared. My people were safe. The waiting was frustrating, but it had to end soon. I’d told Dorian I was human, and that’s what I intended to be. I would go home, start following up on jobs, and let the gentry deal with this red tape until I was absolutely needed. And that was exactly what I did. I returned to my old life. Kiyo and I continued dating, and being with him, reestablishing our old connection and sex life, went a long way toward blocking out images of beautiful, voluptuous Ysabel in Dorian’s bed. My workload increased – as did my income – though my jobs tired me out more than I was used to. That scared me. It made me think about what it meant to be human and gentry. I’d fought to keep my human side dominant. Was the gentry part taking over? Stunting my shamanic abilities? No, I firmly decided. This was stress, pure and simple. In the two weeks that followed, though, I had to concede to my gentry side occasionally. The Thorn Land called to me, so I continued my quick visits, keeping the land strong and – no matter how much I hated to admit it – strengthening myself. Unfortunately, I took little joy from that because no good news ever came from the Otherworld. Katrice kept switching back and forth. Yes, she’d agree to the Maple Land – no, she’d changed her mind. Linden. But only if ambassadors went first, then the monarchs. No – she’d go. But it was back to the Willow Land. Or maybe some place altogether different? What about the Palm Land? Dorian made no attempts at direct contact with me, but there was no need. When I went to bed each night, I could see his face. Wave the crown, wave the crown. Fortunately, my aggressive workload tired me out enough to fall asleep quickly. Good news of sorts finally came one day when Kiyo and I were out hiking. The temperature had shot up, heralding spring, and I’d welcomed the break from work. Traipsing through the wilderness was something Dorian would certainly never do – especially in the desert. But like me, Kiyo appreciated the rugged beauty and heat of the land. I’d missed these excursions with him. His eyebrows rose when my cell phone rang. â€Å"You can get a signal out here?† â€Å"Apparently.† I was as surprised as him. Looking at the ID, I saw Enrique’s name pop up. His recent reports, after that brief surge of promising news, had been clipped and vague: simple reminders that he was still working on things. I answered eagerly. â€Å"Please tell me you’ve found something.† â€Å"I have,† he said. Enrique had that smug tone from when we’d met. It had been annoying then, but now, I found it encouraging. â€Å"I finally tracked down the gun dealer and – â€Å" I didn’t hear the rest because a sudden drop in the temperature and tingling in the air heralded Volusian’s arrival. Apparently, I could get an Otherworldly signal out here too. My minion’s orders to report all urgent news trumped whatever Enrique had to say. â€Å"Hey,† I interrupted. â€Å"I’ll call you back.† â€Å"What the – â€Å" I disconnected, not giving him a chance to finish his outrage. He probably wasn’t used to being hung up on. I turned to Volusian, who waited patiently and silently for me. He was a spot of darkness on the sunny day; he seemed to suck away the light of the world. â€Å"Please,† I begged. â€Å"Please tell me Katrice has finally given in, so that we can talk.† Volusian stayed silent a few moments. I swear, it was for drama’s sake, and I felt like choking him. â€Å"No,† he said. â€Å"The Rowan Queen has not agreed to negotiations yet, although †¦ she has acted.† Kiyo and I exchanged looks. There was no way this could be good. I was also pretty sure Volusian liked delivering this news. â€Å"She’s kidnapped your sister,† he said. â€Å"And has a list of demands to be met, if you want to see Jasmine alive again.† How to cite Iron Crowned Chapter 15, Essay examples

Homo Aquaticus Essay Example For Students

Homo Aquaticus? Essay I. IntroductionWhen the human brain is compared with the brains of apes there are severalobvious differences; the centers for the sense of smell and foot control arelarger in apes than in humans, but the centers for hand control, airway control,vocalization, language and thought are larger in humans. In my paper, I willdescribe the most defined differences of brain size and centers between humansand their closest relatives, chimpanzees, to compare them with other mammals andto draw conclusions about the evolution history of humans. II. Brain EvolutionHumans and chimpanzees are biochemically (DNA) and therefore probablyphylogenetically (evolution relationships), more alike than chimps and gorillas. But the brains of chimps and humans differ in size and anatomy more thangorillas and chimps. The brains of chimps and gorillas probably didnt gothrough many evolutionary innovations, because they generally resemble other apeand monkey brains. This implies that the human brain changed a lot after thehuman/chimp evolution. With the exception of the olferactory bulb (scent), allbrain structures are larger in humans than in apes. The neocortex (part of thecerebral cortex), for instance is over three times larger than in chimps, eventhough chimps and humans are pretty close to equal in body weight. Each side of the brain is diveded by the central sulces into independanthalves. Just before the central sulcus lies the post-central cortex, where theopposite body half (right side for left brain, left side for right brain). Justin front of the central sulcus lies the pre-central cortex where the informationfor the voluntary movements leave tthe brain. The pre-central area is calledprimary motor cortex, and also Area 4 in primates. III. Human and Chimp Cortex DifferencesIn humans Area 4 is almost twice as large as it is in chimpanzees. Thepart of Area 4 that commands the movement of the leg, foot and toes is smallerin humans than apes. This leaves more room for the part that controls the hand,fingers and thumb. Even bigger is the lower part of human Area 4, related tothe mouth and brething and vocal cords. The post central cortex is enlarged thesame as Area 4. In front of the primate Area 4 lie the cortex areas (pre-motor) that tellArea 4 what to do. In front of the enlarged part of human Area 4 is the Area ofBroca, the motor-speech center which controls the breathing muscles. Above AreaBroca is Wernickes Area, the speech center, a uniquely human brain center alongwith Area of Broca. Wernickes Area has direct connections to Brocas Areathrough arcuate fasciculus, a neural pathway that apes dont have anywhere intheir brain. The major difference between the human and ape cortexs is the enlargementof the hand and mouth integration areas. These areas occupy a large part of thehuman brain. In the motor half of the cerebral cortex, enlarged areas are inthe pre-motor area and Brocas Area. In the sensory half, the enlarged ares areWernickes Area and the visual area as well as the auditory cortex. IV. ExplanationsMany anthropologists believe that the differences between human and apebrains are shown through mans ability to use tools and language. Thistraditional view cannot explain why only human ancestors developed these motorskills and language abilities, that is, why nonhuman primates and other savannahmammals didnt develop these abilities. The solution may lie in the aquatic theory of human evolution, the theorythat explains why humans dont have fur, and why we have excess fat, and manyother human features.(4) There are indications that the early hominoids(ancestors to man and ape) lived in mangrove or gallery forests(5), where theyadapted to a behavior like proboscis monkeys, climbing and hanging in mangrovetrees, wading into water and swimming on the surface. In my opinion humanancestors, split from chimpazees and other apes and, instead of staying inforests like chimps, progressed with their water skills, like diving andcollecting seaweed, then adapted to waders in shallow water and finally tobipedal walkers on land. .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429 , .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429 .postImageUrl , .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429 , .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429:hover , .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429:visited , .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429:active { border:0!important; } .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429:active , .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429 .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud64a9af65de8467aea04a71e457c9429:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Woman At Work EssayThe fact that human olfactory bulbs are only 44% of the chimpanzee bulb,is not compatible with African savanah life. All savanah animals have a goodolfaction. But an aquatic evolutionary phase would explain why humans have apoor sense of smell. Water animals typically have a reduced or even non-existent sense of smell.(4)The human Area 4 for the legs, feet and toes are