Background to the Watercolour
By Guy Gervis
These
megalithic stones with a laboriously crafted circular hole are usually found in
association with mortuary monuments, and are believed to be associated not only
with death, but also with birth, and it is in the sense of birth, that such a
stone is presented here, with a glimpse of the marvels of Celtic art appearing
beyond. It should be stressed that it is only recently that it has been possible
to suggest that Celtic culture and its art was an offspring of the megalithic
culture. The two objects which I have selected to represent Celtic art are: part
of a stand for, it is said, a wooden jug, of bronze dated at 3rd century BC,
from Moravia, displayed at the Moravské Museum, Brno; and a display helmet, made
of iron, bronze, gold, silver and coral, dated at 4th century BC, from the
Charente, France, displayed at the Museum of the Archeological and Historical
Society, Angôulême. Both objects are illustrated in Les Celtes, published on the
occasion of the exhibition, ‘The Celts’, in Venice, 1991. The strange head from
the stand has been considerably enlarged, and the decorative pink affair,
hanging down from the helmet is, of course, the ear guard.
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