“you offer us textures, showerings –
gifts from the sun, moon and comets -” – textures of cerebria
Glimpses of the noumenal from the realm of cerebria. This is a folio of a word piece and 10 digital photomontages from 2020 – 2021. Each photomontage has an associated fragment of scripture. Archival prints are available up to A2 size.
Here is a clavis, or key, to the realm of cerebria.
(There are earlier folios about cerebria and its inhabitants: fishes of cerebria, fires of cerebria, tales from cerebria, and postcards from cerebria.)
In the Vaults of Our Realm
In a Ruined Pagan Chapel
Early Light Played on an Ancient Tiled Wall
The Jester Chanced Upon a Fiery Whisk
A Diviner Was Intent Upon Exploring
A Sailor in a Vaulted Room
In an Abandoned Town
Sailors Were Exploring
A Crypt Into Which Sunlight Spilled
Reflecting on a Forgotten Faith
In a Regal Room
At a Shrine For Acanui

(detail)
“In the Vaults of Our Realm” – Figure: from G. Scotin, “An écorché figure, front view, with left arm extended, showing the outermost layers of the muscles”, engraving, 1747 (after Bernhard Siegfried Albinus, 1697-1770). Background: from Max Hutzel, “Lazio–Latina–Sermoneta–Castello Caetani, Image 11”, 1960 – 1990, credit Getty Open Content Program.
“In a Ruined Pagan Chapel” – Goose: from Nicolaes de Bruyn, “Swan and geese and ducks”, engraving, 1594 – 1644. Horse and rider (left): from Max Hutzel, “Lazio–Frosinone–Veroli–S. Andrea Apostolo, Cathedral, Image 87” (metalwork box), 1960 – 1990”. Bird (right): from Max Hutzel, “Lazio–Frosinone–Veroli–S. Andrea Apostolo, Cathedral, Image 77” (metalwork box), 1960 – 1990”. Crest (left): from Max Hutzel, “Tuscany–Siena–Montalcino–Museo Diocesano, Image 150”, 1960 – 1990”. Crest (right): from Max Hutzel, “Tuscany–Siena–Montalcino–Museo Diocesano, Image 151”, 1960 – 1990”. Background: from Max Hutzel, “Umbria–Perugia–Schifanoia–S. Michele Arcangelo, Image 17”, 1960 – 1990. (All Hutzel photos credit Getty Open Content Program.)
“Early Light Played on an Ancient Tiled Wall” – Peacock: from Nicolaes de Bruyn, “Two peacocks and turkey”, engraving, 1594. Background: from Max Hutzel, “Lazio–Roma–Rome–S. Pudenziana, Image 79”, 1960 – 1990, credit Getty Open Content Program.
“The Jester Chanced Upon a Fiery Whisk” – Jester: from Petrus Camper (possibly), “Jester with a whisk in his hand“, engraving, 1735. Diagram on wall: from “Orbits of the August and November Meteor Showers. (Orbits of Comets III., 1862, and I., 1866.)” (Fig. 284 from the book “Spectrum analysis in its application to terrestrial substances, and the physical constitution of the heavenly bodies”, authors: Heinrich Schellen, Caroline Lassell, Jane Lassell. Longmans, Green and Co., 1885). Background: from Max Hutzel, “Lazio–Latina–Bassiano–Santuario del SS. Crocifisso, Image 5”, 1960 – 1990, credit Getty Open Content Program.
“A Diviner Was Intent Upon Exploring” – Man: from the book by Helkiah Crooke, “Sōmatographia anthrōpinē. Or a description of the body of man / By artificiall figures representing the members, and fit termes expressing the same”, 1616. Two diagrams on wall: from the book by Wilem Jacob’s Gravesande, “Physices elementa mathematica, experimentis confirmata. Sive Introductio ad philosophiam Newtonianam”, 1742. Snake: from Anon., “Eagle and snake“, engraving, Antwerp, 1670. Background: from Max Hutzel, “Lombardy–Milano–Milan–S. Ambrogio, Image 19”, 1960 – 1990, credit Getty Open Content Program.
“A Sailor in a Vaulted Room” – Man: from the book by Helkiah Crooke, “Sōmatographia anthrōpinē. Or a description of the body of man / By artificiall figures representing the members, and fit termes expressing the same”, 1616. Moon: from John Adams Whipple and James Wallace Black, “The Moon”, salted paper print from glass negative, 1857–60. Background: from Max Hutzel, “Lazio–Roma–Rome–S. Paolo, Image 786”, 1960 – 1990, credit Getty Open Content Program.
“In an Abandoned Town” – Abode: from clay sculpture by the artist. Figures: from “Human skin tattooed with fruit, snake, figures and leopard, French, 1850-1920, purchased from La Valette in 1929”, Science Museum London. Background: from Max Hutzel, “Basilicata–Matera–Matera–S. Lucia alle Malve, Image 2”, 1960 – 1990, credit Getty Open Content Program.
“Sailors Were Exploring” – Sun: image from GREGOR telescope, Teide Observatory, Spain. Wings: from Nicolò Ricciolini (1687 – 1772), “Studies for Saint Michael Defeating the Rebel Angels”. Background: from Max Hutzel, “Umbria–Perugia–Spello–S. Maria della Rotonda, Image 20”, 1960 – 1990, credit Getty Open Content Program, coloured symbols added.
“A Crypt Into Which Sunlight Spilled” – Voids: from sculpture by the artist, bronze, 1992. Background: from Max Hutzel, “Tuscany–Siena–Montalcino (environs)–Abbey of S. Antimo–Abbey church, Image 111”, 1960 – 1990, credit Getty Open Content Program, colour added.
“Reflecting on a Forgotten Faith” – Meteor: digital painting. Background: from Max Hutzel, “Marches–Pesaro–Fossombrone–Museo Civico A. Vernarecci, Image 6”, 1960 – 1990, credit Getty Open Content Program.
“In a Regal Room” – Background: from “Emilia-Romagna–Ferrara–Pomposa–Abbazia di Pomposa, Museo, Image 75”, Max Hutzel, 1960 – 1990, credit Getty Open Content Program.
“At a Shrine For Acanui” – Columns: from Anon., “Pompey’s Pillar, Alexandria”, albumen print, c. 1870. Plinth: from Agostino Veneziano, “Corinthia”, drawing, Italy, 1536. Sophia Image: from Anon., “Icon of Divine Wisdom”, St George Church, Vologda, c16. Background: from Max Hutzel, “Lazio–Roma–Santa Severa-Castello, Image 1”, 1960 – 1990”, credit Getty Open Content Program.