Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

The Heraldic Artist and Interpretation

Posted on

The Heraldic Artists even today, have a formidable challenge. Whilst he may enjoy considerable freedom, within certain limits, the objects in the coat of arms and crest, their colours, disposition and symmetry may not alter.

Unfortunately, attempts by layman and even some commercial graphic artists often result in some classic mistakes or incongruities. A “lion rampant, gules, armed and langued, azure” can be fat, thin, hairy or bald, happy or angry. However, it must be in the rampant position, coloured red and the tongue and claws of blue. Obviously, its resemblance to a real lion is obscure.

Rendering of animals

Historically, the heraldic artists’ only choice was often to render an animal as he thought it would appear. Therefore, many modern artists portray their lions with the claws and head of a similar size. This is because people traditionally believe that the lion’s claws are just as important as the lion’s head.

The martlet is another example of an apparent mistake by heraldic artists. Martlets are traditionally drawn without legs but tufts of feathers. The real reason for this apparent mistake is unclear. Some say legless birds like these were to be found in the Holy Land at the time of the Crusades. Others say that the birds like these follow ships endlessly for scraps of food and as they never seem to land, they had no legs. Whatever, the real reason, it matters not as Martlets are always correctly drawn without legs. This is even when is is for the mark of cadency for a fourth son.

Find out if your surname has a coat of arms.

Share and Enjoy !

Shares

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Select your currency