Saturday, February 4, 2012

INTERFUSION/ 'The Sybils of the Ancient World'/ A geometric figurative pictographic abstraction by Eric Whollem/ CONTEMPORARY ART



INTERFUSION
1984
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
Collection of the artist
6" x 9"
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The Sybils of the Ancient World

This painting is based upon my studies of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel.
I have always been fascinated by his depictions of the Sibyls of the ancient
world.

He depicted the Cumaen Sybil, representing the prophetic spirit of Italy; the
Erythrean Sybil, symbolizing the ancient Hellenic oracle of Turkey; the Persian Sybil;
the Delphic Sybil (representing the oracle of Delphi); and the Libyan Sybil.  Libya
is one of the archaic names of Africa.This was the quintessence of the Renaissance~
seeing the egalitarian status of the wisdom of all the cultures of the world, and
placing them on a par with the icons of the Judeo~Christian system.

Michelangelo helped to codify what became Humanism through these
allegories.

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See my online image gallery of ABSTRACT ART:
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GARDEN OF THE NIGHT
by Eric Whollem

Read more about the ancient SYBILS: