WillowNox7

Because we all have a favorite ancient architectural order, do we not?

This design was derived from an antique print in "L'ornement Polychrome" (1888) by Albert Racinet. The original Victorian caption called it Greek, but the style looks much more reminiscent of 1st c CE Roman friezes.

Artemis was the ancinet Greek goddess of the Hunt, as well as child birth and child rearing. This design is inspired by the 5th c BCE attic red-figure lekythos by the Oreithyia Painter. It shows the goddess pouring a libation for a faun.

Amenhotep III is often heralded as one of Egypt's greatest pharaohs. Egypt was more cosmopolitan than ever, and the art of the period is extremely distinguished for its craftsmanship with fine lines and high standards of polish and finish. This design is based on a faience sphinx in the MET's collection, an excellent example of Amenhotep's portraiture in miniature.

This design is a reverse of a golden aureus coin minted by the Emperor Septimius Severus, the first African Emperor of the Roman Empire. His wife pictured on the coin's obverse, Julia Domna, came from Syria, so quite a cosmopolitan family in charge of the Roman empire! The legend of this reverse coin side reads: VENUS GENETRIX. More than just the goddes of love and sexuality, Venus in the aspect of "Genetrix" meaning "one who has given birth" is a motherhood goddess.Moreover, she was the mother of Aeneas, the progenitor of the Roman people, so by extension, Veneus Genetrix is treated as the mother of the Roman people. She's usually shown with her young son Cupid/Eros. Julius Caesar himself, and by extension, the other Julio-Claudians, cl...

Egyptian wooden coffin

The Egyptian god Khnum in the form of a winged scarab with the solar disk, derived from the publication Pantheon Egyptien (1823-1825) by Leon Jean Joseph Dubois

Herodotos Father of History bust

An homage to my Alma Mater--"Friends of Wisdom, let us gather..."

Illustration of the Egyptian god Thoth, god of writing and knowledge, from the publication Pantheon Egyptien (1823-1825) by Leon Jean Joseph Dubois

The Eid Mar Coin is one of the most famous images from Roman history. It was issued by Brutus and the self-styled Liberatores after the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March in 44 BCE. The EID MAR legend on the coin refers to the date, the daggers to the event, and the hat in the middle if the Phrygian cap of Freedom, representing the end of tyranny and the liberation of the Roman people. This one event has inspired constant works of art, literature, drama, and films, not the least of which is Shakespear's classic play

This coin is from the end of her reign and the Greek legend reads BACILICCA KLEOPATRA, or "Queen Cleopatra". The cartouche along the bottom gives Cleopatra's royal titulary, translitterated from the hieroglyphs " ḳliwpꜢdrꜢ nṯrt mr(t)-it.s" meaning "Cleopatra Goddess, Beloved of her Father."

This work shows the pharaoh Ramses II as a child, his finger pressed to his lips. It is derived from an illustration in "Histoire de l'art dans l'antiquité: Égypte, Assyrie, Perse, Asie Mineure, Grece, Etrurie, Rome" (1882).

This design is based on the mosaics of Justinian and Theodora from the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy.

Also available in white elsewhere in my portfolio

This design is based on an Athenian Kantharos (a type of drinking cup) that's in the Met's collection. This is a particularly fine example, decorated with palms and olives. The olives also call to mind Athens' patron goddess, Athena, and the foundation myth of the city.

This work is of the 2nd c. CE cult statue of Egyptian goddess Isis in the Capitoline Museums in Rome. The illustration is derived from "History of Rome and of the Roman people, from its origin to the Invasion of the Barbarians;" (1883)

This design is based on a wall painting fragment of a Corinthian column, wheat, and fruit from the peristyle of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale.

This fresco scene is taken from an interior room in the Imperial Villa at Boscotrecase and can now be found in the Met's rich collection.

This design is a golden areus coin minted by the Emperor Septimius Severus, the first African Emperor of the Roman Empire. His wife pictured here, Julia Domna, came from Syria, so quite a cosmopolitan family in charge of the Roman empire! The legend of this obverse coin side reads: IVLIA DOMNA AVG. The reverse is of Venus Genetrix, a design coming soon! Julia Domna was easily one of the most powerful women in ancient Roman history. He led a fascinating career, and her portraits are always easily recognizable from her marcel-like wavy hair style.

1856 Italian Print, Grammar of Ornament

Salve is Latin for "hi!" Mosaics like this were often placed in doorways like our "welcome" mats! This particular design was derived from an antique print in "An illustrated dictionary of words used in art and archaeology. Explaining terms frequently used in works on architecture, arms, bronzes, Christian art, colour, costume, decoration, devices, emblems, heraldry, lace, personal ornaments, pottery, painting, sculpture, &c., with their derivations" (1883)

Usually, I like to select a single image from an ornate book plate, rescue it from obscurity, and adapt it into a design, but this whole plate was too beautiful not to upload in its entire! From L'ornement Polychrome (1888) by Albert Racinet. Enjoy

Over two thousand years after his death, Marcus Tulius Cicero remains one of history's greatest politicians and authors. Great design for Classics students and professors!

Derived from 1903 publication: "The Americana : a universal reference library, comprising the arts and sciences, literature, history, biography, geography, commerce, etc. of the world"

This design is based on a wall painting fragment of a Corinthian column, wheat, and fruit from the peristyle of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale.

Cleopatra VII coin from the end of her reign, the Greek legend reads BACILICCA KLEOPATRA, or "Queen Cleopatra"

This is a 6th c. BCE Attic kylix by the Pistoxenos Painter. You can find it in the Carlotta Museum in Stockholm. It's also been made into a popular meme!

ancient Egyptian hemhem crown

In Egyptian myhtology, Isis, or Asset, was one of the most powerful goddesses in the pantheon. According to some versions of her myth (although there are many variations across the thousands of years she was worshiped), Isis raised her son Horus to avenge the murder of his father Osiris. Alone and vulnerable, she sought shelter for her and her son in the marshes of the Nile Delta. This artwork, inspired by an ivory carving, shows her in one of her most common poses, suckling her son Horus in the papyrus marshes.

Painting of a scene from the tomb of Ramses IV, making an offering to the deities Isis and Osiris, derived from Monuments de l'Égypte et de la Nubie (1835–1845) by Jean François Champollion, the scholar who deciphered hieroglyphs!

Small Greek Vase Red Figure Palmate

This artistic interpretation is based on the reconstruction made by Emile Gilliéron. This fresco was excavated in fragments from the Minoan powerhouse of Knossos in 1914, dating to the Late Minoan IB period. Today, it can be viewed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Greek vase red figure palmate

derived from "The Literature of All Nations and all Ages; History, Character, and Incident" (1900)

Greek vase scene derived from the antique bookplates in L'ornement Polychrome (1888) by Albert Racinet.