Restorers unveil the devil in Giotto's detail

Art restorers have discovered the outline of the head of a devil hidden in the clouds of one of the most famous frescoes by Giotto in the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi. Read the full article  in yesterday's Irish Times about this extraordinary find.

 

Does the Tara Brooch fit the Golden Ratio?

In today's Irish Times there is a small piece discussing the complexity of the famous Tara Brooch.

THE COMPLEXITY of the Tara brooch goes deeper than the creatures that line its metal edges.

Dr Michael Brennan dissected its symmetry and geometry at the National Museum of Ireland yesterday afternoon as part of Maths Week 2011.

The rest of the article can be read HERE.

The Art Books of Henri Matisse

Today Form Primary and Form I visited the Chester Beatty Library where the Art Books of Henri Matisse are on Exhibition. Included in the exhibition are four of his most famous books, two of which are owned by the library and his celebrated 'Jazz' book which is on loan from the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Collection. 

The exhibition will run until September 25th. 

 Icarus

Our Ancient Past

Today Form V and Form VI artists will visit the National Museum in Dublin and Newgrange in Co. Meath. There are a number of online resources which pupils can look at to reinforce the experiences from their trip. Suggested sites include the official website for Newgrange, shee-eire, Encyclopedia of Irish and World Art, and the Knowth website.  The unique site at Newgrange and its neighbouring Knowth and Dowth  has proven to be a continuous source of inspiration for Historians and Artists alike. Indeed many of the motifs found at these sites have been incorporated into numerous objets d'art that have come to constitute part of our national identity.