God is Gold; Material use and meaning

The decision to use gold leaf came quite naturally, after deciding I wouldn't be using the gold frame and instead using the plates as a canvas i still wanted to incorporate gold into my work, the plates are already trimmed with gold leaf so to add a motif in the same material would be inkeeping with the object, but the placement and the image would stand out. gold is luxury, power, wealth, treasure, currency, religiious Icons are often depicted in gold.

The gold leaf i have used is high quality 24 k and even edible, gold is often added to drinks and deserts. The luminosity is wonderful, I love the reflective quality, and how it adds a warmth to the reflections it captures.

" In contemporary culture, gold continues to convey a myriad of different meanings, and is typically still used to symbolise prosperity, fortune and success.

The symbolism of gold has been communicated across centuries and cultures. Its influential presence and psychology have been so great, the colour has transcended visual culture and entered our language: 'golden days', 'as good as gold', even 'fool's gold'...

In many ways, gold has shaped our world, as much as we have moulded it into our material culture."

Lydia Figes, Content Creator at Art UK

ARTWORKS

Crucifixion Triptych – Saints Clare and Paul (formerly known as the 'Estouteville Triptych') (triptych, left wing) (top) (verso)

Types of Religious Gospel Manuscripts
The rise of the manuscript coincided with the spread of Christianity, and many of the early texts were produced specifically to aid in the process of conversion. In the Celtic areas of western Europe, the most important kind of text was the Gospel Book. This came in a wide variety of formats. There were the portable 'Pocket Gospels', which missionaries carried with them on their evangelical expeditions; there were the scholarly editions, used for study and research in monastic libraries; and there were the lavishly embellished types, complete with full-page religious paintings and decorative calligraphy. These were designed to be seen rather than read. In most cases, they were either on open view on the high altar, or displayed during feast days and special processions. Most were written and ilustrated by anonymous medieval artists.

God speaking to Jeramiah Winchester bible