Before completing part two of this course I would have looked at the image provided and answered the exercise questions. However now I know to do some research.
It is obviously a dragon however what are dragons, what is their history ?
The word “dragon” is from the Greek word “draconta” meaning “to watch” suggesting these creatures guard treasure/gold or a symbolic treasure, not for the hoarding dragon but for the brave knights who would vanquish the dragon.
It would appear that dragons go back centuries. According to Live Science reference Editor, Kimberly Hickok, “dragons are huge flying mythological serpents”. Perhaps they were invented to explain the giant bones of dinosaurs, that were not understood at the time.
Dragons are very diverse – some have wings, others do not, some breathe fire, they may live in caves, oceans or mountains.
Folklorist Carol Rose writes “Dragons have composite features from many other beasts, such as the head of an elephant in India, that of a lion or bird of prey in the Middle East, or numerous heads of reptiles such as serpents. Their body colour may range from green, red and black to usually yellow, blue or white dragons.”
Here is a majestic dragon on a cliff edge (if rather fearsome looking) :-
The Christian church created legends of righteous and godly saints battling and overcoming dragons. Goodness prevails. This could be associated with crusaders. St George the dragon slayer is Patron Saint of England (feast day 23rd April). The legend has it that he happens upon a town threatened by a dragon. He rescues a fair maiden and protects himself by the sign of the cross and slays the beast. The towns people are impressed by St George’s example of bravery and faith, and convert to Christianity.
Dragons continue to capture imagination in fantasy books eg The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien who illustrated the front cover of his book:-
Smaug – the name of Tolkien’s dragon is written in the smoke. Smaug lived in Lonely Mountain to guard the treasure he stole from dwarfs.
General characteristics of dragons are an obsession with treasure, rather greedy in that respect, they are usually confident and slothful (sleep a lot). Many have a weak spot on their underside.
Dragon eggs consist of embryos which are gold during certain developmental stages.
An example of a more friendly Welsh dragon is Idris from the “Ivor the Engine” stories.
Jones and Ivor the engine stop to investigate a fire on Smoke Hill and find a hot egg. They show it to local Mr Dinwiddy however do not have time to return it to Smoke Hill as they need to attend choir practice. So they place the egg in Ivor’s fire box to keep it warm. Idris hatches out and sings with the choir.
This research helps with the reading of the image in general. Also this old English riddle holds a clue:-
In marble walls as white as milk, Lined with a skin as soft as silk,
Within a fountain crystal clear, A golden apple doth appear.
No doors there are to this stronghold, Yet thieves break in and steal the gold !
So reading the image: The image is of a fantasy tale of adventure. At first glance attention is drawn to the large red dragon which takes up most space in the frame. The dragon is curled around treasure and a bright green throne, the seat of which is unoccupied.
Two sets of armour lie in heaps nearby either side of the throne, abandoned. This seems to indicate that soldiers or knights would have been standing on guard to the throne and gold. They probably fled in fright at the appearance of the dragon who is now resting after gaining the treasure.
The purple coloured background gives a sense of distance and may signify the mountains from where the dragon has come.
Two young adventures are shown arriving on the scene after the guards have fled. They appear alarmed and their outstretched arms gesturing seem to be enquiring of the empty throne and perhaps wondering where the King or Prince may have escaped to, from the throne. One figure points back from where they have come as if to indicate where they may need to make haste to search.
The dragon is not a truely beastly type. This one has beautiful black and white horns and an endearing long snout. However it can’t help but be a dragon with the characteristics ( as explained in the research above) of obsession with gold (there is even a gold goblet shown in this stash) and great sloth (it is sound asleep).
The adventurers seem to understand and recognise the dragon for what it is. They are more concerned of the events that have taken place than the presence of the dragon itself. In all probability the story will evolve with these two adventurers restoring the rightful owner to the throne and treasure. This particular dragon will not be slain however will somehow have to relinquish the gold.
The dragon is shown traditionally in the colour red and the hotness of this colour is enhanced through the contrasting cool blue of the floor. The red and orange textured curve at the top left of the picture gives the impression of heat and energy, as heat rises so it is above the sleeping dragon. This is the fire of the dragon after it has exerted itself in gaining the gold. And in the process the gold has become hot too, so the orange of the gold is mixed in with the red as a reflection of the heat. This curve also gives a sense of movement in the image as if this is the direction from which the dragon has flown in.
However although the dragon takes most of the frame, it is the bright green of the throne that is the main, central point. The tip of the dragon’s tail almost points to it being empty. The green colour connects the adventurers, the fled guards and the throne, as though they are all on the same side of “goodness” (green for goodness) in this story.
So the hierarchy in this image seems to be the green throne, the sleeping dragon, the two adventurers and the armour of fled guards. The two adventurers are put before the guards as they are standing present in the moment, the armour on the ground tells of the past, of something that has happened and has been left behind.
It is interesting to analyse an image in this way, so that by gaining insight into how images are read, it becomes possible to create images for a reader so that they can be understood.
Researching Illustrators:-
John Vernon Lord b. 1939
John Vernon Lord studied at Salford School of Art and the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London. An author, illustrator and teacher. he works in pen and ink, especially of black and white. He has provided illustrations for Edward Lear and Aesop’s Fables. And illustrated books for the Folio Society. He taught at the University of Brighton (1986-1999).
Here is one of Lord’s illustrations from “The Song that Sings the Bird, 1989, of cormorants on a hill top.
I’ve chosen this image as it demonstrates hierarchy of the image clearly with the large bird in front of those diminishing in size and detail.
In the book “Graphic Design The New Basic” hieararchy is defined as the order of importance within a social group and exists in nearly everything we know where there is ranking of position and power. In art, hierarchy can be shown through scale, spacing and colour. It signals a change from one level to another and so helps to establish order. It is useful to the designer to make sense of data in all forms in a society where technology allows for greater information.
References:-
Rose, D, ( 2001). An encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend and Myth. Norton
Tolkien, J,R, R, (1970), The Hobbit, Allen & Unwin.
Postgate, O, (2006), Ivor the Engine, Severnside Wholesale Ltd.
Zeegen,L, & Roberts,C, (2014),Fify Years of Illustration, London, Lawrence King Publishing Ltd.
Lupton, E. & Phillips, J.C. (2015), Graphic Design the New Basics, Hudson, Princeton Architectural Press
Adelaide Art 