1667 History of the Royal Society frontispiece

[Guest Ryan Murtha]

This is interesting, Wenceslaus Hollar's frontispiece for the 1667 History of the Royal Society. In the background are several compasses, which can be used to draw a hexagon grid. The first two points used in its construction determine the whole grid, you can indicate a grid with just two points. One day back in 2005 I was flipping though a book on Leonardo da Vinci and thought his Bacchus looked intentionally awkward, pointing with both hands. So I tried the procedure and it only minimally conforms to the pattern, but subsequent investigation revealed many artworks composed in this way. Hollar's frontispice also looks a bit deliberately awkward, and someone might turn up an interesting discovery. 

              

 

 

 

[Light-of-Truth]

Speaking of Wenceslaus Hollar, here is one of his works:

https://hollar.library.utoronto.ca/islandora/object/hollar%3AHollar_k_2115

Go full screen with the link and zoom in.

 

 

 

[Light-of-Truth]

Here's another of his work (Shakespeare tomb):

https://hollar.library.utoronto.ca/islandora/object/hollar%3AHollar_k_2133

 

[Light-of-Truth]

Another Bacon:

 https://hollar.library.utoronto.ca/islandora/object/hollar%3AHollar_k_1239

Why do I not remember seeing this before?

 

[Light-of-Truth]

Interesting, Bacon with his hand on the Royal Coat of Arms.

https://britroyals.com/arms.asp

 

Royal Coat of Arms

The main element of the Royal Arms is the shield which is divided into four quarters (see diagram). The three golden lions on a red background, symbolising England, occupy the first and fourth quarters. The Arms of Scotland, a red lion rearing on its hind legs inside a red border, are in the second quarter, and the Arms of Ireland's golden harp with silver strings on a blue background - are in the third quarter.

The lion and the unicorn supporting the shield represent England and Scotland respectively. They stand on a small frame called the compartment which sometimes incorporates the plant emblems of Scotland (thistle), Ireland (shamrock) and England (rose). The Compartment also has the sovereign's motto usually Dieu et mon droit ("God and my right").

Around the shield is a belt or strap with the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense ("Evil to him who evil thinks"), the symbol of the Order of the Garter. Above the shield is the gold barred helmet with the crest, a royal crown topped with a golden crowned lion.

In the engraving with Bacon the "golden crowned lion" is missing, but Bacon is "above" the design. Hollar seems to be hinting strongly that Bacon was Royal.

 

 

Edited March 13, 2022 by Light-of-Truth

[Allisnum2er]

19 hours ago, Light-of-Truth said:

Another Bacon:

 https://hollar.library.utoronto.ca/islandora/object/hollar%3AHollar_k_1239

 

 

Hi Rob !  What a great discovery you have made ! 😮 I totally agree with you regarding the "Golden crowned lion".

And there is much more ...

https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10532636v/f45.item.zoom

https://sirbacon.org/codukeg2.htm

https://sirbacon.org/archives/Coincidences.pdf (Page 53 .. what a coincidence ! 😉 )

 

[Light-of-Truth]

We know Bacon was represented as a Boar in public and in cipher. Now we might want to look where he was a Lion.

The Unicorn was Scottish, and was added to the the Royal Coat of Arms after Bacon was out and James I was in. The Lion is, was, and would have been him if Elizabeth had the bravery to say.