Sculpted hands...

As actual teaching lessons came to an end some time ago now, I thought these early summer weeks would be calm and contemplative, however that hasn't entirely been the case...

There have been the preparations for the next academic year and then those for our move to a new flat, so all in all it's been busy as books and boxes are accumulating, along with a backlog of blog posts.

I don't have time to write those for the moment, but as I was looking at past photos I came across these; all of sculpted hands.

Rodin's studies of hands usually come to mind, with their expressive gestures that convey so much, however I think these sculptures from earlier centuries are so beautiful in their own manner.

The poise of hands seems so peaceful, with details of fold of skin, or veins that reveal life, even if the sculptures themselves are all part of tombs and as such are intended to symbolize the departure from this life of the deceased.

Most of these come from the basilica of Saint Denis, near Paris, but some also come from Canterbury cathedral.

Saint Denis was to serve as royal necropolis and so is the symbolic resting place of many of the kings and queens of France.

Whilst the whole appears in full pomp and splendour...

Or may appear a little too over-dramatic...

The hands seem to reveal humanity...

Although these are often positioned in prayer, there are very slight variations.

Some more obvious than others, of course...

Especially as the more classic hands give rise to the tapering, elongated forms...

And on that, I will have to leave in order to continue my various repair-work tasks around the flat... literally keeping my hands very busy!