【Art & Design English-17】Hilariously Inaccurate Medieval Art of Animals (不準確的中世紀藝術圖畫)

Hilariously Inaccurate Medieval Art of Animals Medieval art of animals often looked… a little different from the real-world species. And this mismatch was compounded with any animal the artist had clearly never seen before. European texts from this period are full of hilarious attempts to depict far-off species. So let's take a look at some of the most inaccurate, bearing in mind it would be difficult to know what, say, an elephant would look like if you'd never seen one before. And speaking of Elephants, they're a good place to start when it comes to inaccurate depictions. Medieval artists seemed to struggle with the concept of the trunk, often rendering it in bizarre ways. Many illustrations also depict elephants supporting entire stone castles on their backs, spurring from myths elephants were mighty enough to carry around entire buildings. This is, of course, incorrect. Another large African animal medieval artists struggled to portray is the hippopotamus, possibly to an even greater extent than the elephant. Most illustrations of hippos from the era are way off, with an assortment of aquatic traits like tails and dorsal fins actual hippos don't possess. Other depictions almost make hippos like strange horses, perhaps due to misunderstandings surrounding the animal's name, which means 'river horse' in Latin. Up next we have the giraffe, an animal medieval artists portrayed with less frequently than the hippo or elephant. Compared to the hippo, at the very least, some pieces of art actually get the giraffe's general appearance… mostly right, emphasizing the long neck. Well, most of the time. Moving on to African predators, we have the hyena, an animal with rather inconsistent interpretations across different paintings. In some illustrations, the hyena features horns and almost resembles a carnivorous cow, while others are more dog-like. One curious trend is in many images, hyenas appear to be consuming the dead. This is because of a common myth that the animals dug up cemeteries to eat human remains, a concept which is inaccurate. Moving to a different part of the world, another large predator which gets the short end of the stick in medieval art is the tiger. Far from the massive predatory felines of the real world, medieval tigers were small, dog-like creatures lacking the animal's trademark stripes. Strangely enough, in many illustrations, the tiger is drawn looking in a mirror. This stems from a legend that a hunter could steal a tiger's cubs if they distracted the mother with her reflection, as the mother would mistake it for her cub. A pretty grim legend, and one which would more than, likely result in imminent death if tried on a real tiger. Moving on to the world of birds, the ostrich is a species medieval artists seemed to find particularly challenging. Most images of ostriches lack many of the animals' defining features, including their long neck and flightless nature. Indeed, many depictions of the ostrich just look like standard birds. One unusual trend is the ostrich of medieval art is often shown abandoning its egg in roast in the sun. Although real ostriches do leave their eggs in exposed ground nests, this isn't because they're neglectful parents — their eggs do just fine in the open. Another odd trend is illustrating the bird eating an iron horseshoe. This comes from another myth that the ostrich could digest anything — even metal. Once again, this is distinctly false. Another unique bird missing many of its most notable features is the Pelican, which in medieval art is a shot-beaked organism missing its trademark throat pouch. A highly unusual theme is most depictions show pelican families eating each other. The bizarre cannibalism comes from a legend pelican babies try to eat their parents when fully grown, prompting the parents to eat them in return. This is an obviously inaccurate notion, as any real species would die in a few generations using such a behavioral model. Diving into the ocean, the next animal worth touching on is the whale, an aquatic leviathan that rarely looks anything like the real species in medieval art. In most depictions, the animal looks less like what we know of as a whale and more like a giant fish, to the point where some versions are even covered in fish-like scales. Some whales in medieval illustrations go a step further away from the real animal and seem to have legs. While we're dealing with the ocean, the dolphin is another interesting, albeit incorrectly portrayed marine mammal when it comes to medieval art. Like the whale, the dolphin usually just resembles a giant, slightly goofy-looking fish. One aquatic organism that deviates even further from its real-life counterpart, however, is the sea turtle, which for some reason is often portrayed as bipedal with a massive tail. Sea turtles in medieval paintings also usually feature curiously shaped shells and segmented toes. One depiction of a sea turtle seems to look more like a hedgehog, with the artist likely hearing the animal was armored and assuming the species were equivalent. Going further inland, a semi-aquatic predator medieval artist took serious liberties with is a crocodile, with many images of the animal being borderline unrecognizable. To be fair, some illustrations at least look more or less like a reptile, while others really deviate from crocodilian features, displaying hair, paws, bushy tails, and short, dog-like snouts. Then again, some of the drawings of crocodiles don't include fur don't look all that better. Nearing the end of our list and truly veering into bizarre territory, we have the scorpion, another animal given fur and mammalian features without any clear explanation. There's something about giving a scorpion a non-arachnid face that makes it look so fundamentally absurd. At least some depictions give it more legs than a standard quadruped. Well, some depictions. At the very end of our journey, an animal you'd never be able to identify just by looking at medieval portrayals, the chameleon. Although in real life the animal is a lizard, medieval artists sometimes portrayed it as a horse-like organism, and sometimes more like a cat. In either case, one thing is for sure — it looks nothing like the animals it's based on. The error might come from phonetic similarities between a chameleon and 'Leon' or lion, but truthfully the reason why chameleons are so inaccurate in art from the period is anyone's guess. And that's where our list comes to an end. I hope you enjoyed this video — if you did, I have another one like it on the strangest fictional medieval monsters. References (optional) 6 Hardest Things To Draw Well as Beginners Face expressions. What is this? ... Foreshortening of the human body. ... Drapery folds. ... Drawing something based on your ideas instead of directly from references. ... Hands. ... Gesture of a body in motion. Several types of objects are generally considered difficult to draw realistically, including human figures (especially hands and feet), animals, glass and water, and perspective drawings of buildings and landscapes . The difficulty stems from the need to accurately capture complex shapes, proportions, and details, as well as understanding spatial relationships.  Links 【Art & Design English- 02】What is Art For? Inaccurate Medieval Art drawings What are hard to draw objects? 6 Hardest Things To Draw Well as Beginners Stages of Art drawings Discussion Questions (Art) How great is your interest in art? What’s the best art gallery you’ve been to? Do you like modern art? What do you think of installation art? Do you ever think a lot of art is not really art? Do you have a favorite artist? What kind of art do you like – paintings, sculpture, ceramics, etc.? What is art? Does art change the way you think or feel? Do you think anyone can be an artist, or do you need a special talent? Do you think all children should study art at school? Do you think children should learn the history of art? Do you think a painting can really be worth a million (or more) dollars? Do you think today’s artists are as good as those from hundreds of years ago? What was the last painting/poster/piece of art you bought? Why did you buy it? Describe the pieces of artwork in your house. What kind of art is your country famous for? What kind of life do you think an artist’s is? Do you have any artistic talents? How would the world be different without artists? Discussion Questions (Design) How would you define design? How do you know if something is designed well? Do you think design is important? Why? Have you ever designed anything? What are some well-designed products? What are some poorly designed products? Are there any designers you admire? Have you done any interior design in your home? What are some examples of good design that you appreciate? Why? How does design influence our daily experiences and interactions with products and environments? Can you think of any iconic designs or designers that have made a significant impact on society? What are some key principles or elements of design? How does cultural and historical context influence design aesthetics? Can you describe a design project or process that you have been involved in or observed? How does user experience (UX) design contribute to the functionality and usability of products and services? What role does sustainability play in design? Share examples of environmentally conscious design practices. How can design be used to solve social and humanitarian challenges? What are some current trends in design that you find interesting? How does technology influence the field of design? Discuss the impact of digital tools and software. Can you think of any examples of design that have sparked controversy or provoked discussions? How can design be inclusive and accessible to people with diverse abilities and backgrounds? Can you share any examples of designs that evoke specific emotions or create a particular atmosphere? How does design differ across various disciplines, such as graphic design, industrial design, or interior design? What are some ethical considerations in design? Discuss the responsibility of designers towards users and society. Can you think of any design failures or instances where poor design affected the user experience? What lessons can be learned from them? How can design thinking be applied beyond traditional design fields to problem-solving and innovation? What skills and qualities do you think are essential for a successful career in design? How has technology influenced the field of graphic design in recent years? Can you think of any examples of design that successfully blend form and function? Explain why they are effective. How does cultural diversity influence design aesthetics and the portrayal of different cultures in design? What are some key considerations in designing user interfaces for mobile applications? Can you describe a design project that aims to address sustainability or environmental issues? How does typography contribute to the overall design and message of printed materials? What are some effective ways to gather user feedback during the design process? How can color psychology be utilized in design to evoke specific emotions or convey certain messages? Can you think of any examples where design played a crucial role in shaping a company’s brand identity? What are the main differences between designing for print media and designing for digital media? How can design be used to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities? Can you describe a design trend that you find intriguing? Why do you think it has gained popularity? How does packaging design influence consumer perception and purchasing decisions? What ethical considerations should designers keep in mind when creating advertisements or marketing materials? How has social media influenced the field of design and the way designers showcase their work? Can you think of any innovative design solutions that have improved people’s lives in developing countries? What are some challenges in designing for virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) experiences? How does design impact the gaming industry, particularly in terms of user interface and user experience? Can you describe a famous architectural design that has become an iconic landmark? What makes it significant? How do cultural symbols and icons influence design choices, especially in international contexts? Discussion Questions (Art Culture) How often do you go to art museums? Do you consider yourself to be artistic? What do you think about modern art paintings? How many forms of art can you name? What is your favorite form of art? Is graffiti art? Why or why not? What is the most famous statue in your country? Who is your favorite artist? Why do you like them so much? Do you think that art is important to society? Why? Have you ever tried drawing, painting, sculpting, or something else artistic? What is the most famous painting in your country? What is traditional art like in your culture? What country do you think is the most creative? Why is art so expensive? Do you think it should be more, or less, expensive? Do you have any artistic friends? What kinds of art do they create?