Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Vortigern Studies
Note how Ambros looks very ordinary, not in the least like a wizard or a future Merlin. To the left are an 'adviser' and a soldier, clearly marvelling at the sight of the fighting dragons. In the background, the courtiers stay at a respectful distance.
Vortigern stands out in this illumination. His long red hair and beard clearly mark him as the archetype of a Welshman (this is, after all, an English manuscript). His robe is very royal, for some reason emphesizing his kingship, which after all is by no means certain with him being cast in the role of usurper. But is he crowned? His headgear could be a crown, but also a hat, the old guy in the red robe wears a similar one. A royal robe, but not a crown?
Another strange thing is his right foot, which I for all the world cannot identify as anything but a hoof! This is clearly not a shoe or a boot (see the enlarged image), so why a hoof? Any suggestions are welcome. And while I am talking about extremities, have you noticed that all people in the painting only show one hand and hide the other...
A last remark about the faces of the people in the foreground, which are all very vague. I would venture that these are rubbed off by the readers over the centuries, but one could think of a premeditated action.
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