Two Helens With Illumination Pieces

During the Medieval Ages, illuminated manuscripts were used by the Church so people who cannot read can see the message of the Gospels or the Word of  God in beautiful drawings and illustrations. Iluminating in Latin means to "light up". Gold and coloring pigments were placed with letters  and words to make the prayers more meaningful to priests, monks and religious believers.



Helen Fung "Gilded W" done at Cheerios' workshop



The earliest surviving handmade manuscript with evidence of illumination dated back in the fifth century.


At Kalligraphia 13, two Helens: Helen Fung, Elena Caruthers have marvelous pieces to share with the public.  Elena is a variation of Helen meaning the 'bright' one.  Helen of Troy was the Queen of Sparta, the cause of the Trojan war in Homer's masterpiece the Iliad. 

Nowadays,  Advertisements use the phrase "the face that launched a 1000 ships." to describe a beautiful woman.

Here's a clip of poem from poet Christopher Marlowe.

Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships,
And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?
Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.
Her lips suck forth my soul: see, where it flies!
Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.
Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these lips,
And all is dross that is not Helena.
I will be Paris, and for love of thee,
Instead of Troy, shall Wittenberg be sack'd;
And I will combat with weak Menelaus,
And wear thy colours on my plumed crest;
Yea, I will wound Achilles in the heel,
And then return to Helen for a kiss.
O, thou art fairer than the evening air
Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars;
Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter
When he appear'd to hapless Semele;
More lovely than the monarch of the sky
In wanton Arethusa's azur'd arms;
And none but thou shalt be my paramour!




Elena Caruthers Locked in My Heart

 

 

Listen to Maria Elena waltz and view gorgeous flower paintings.