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Cool in the News
Posted: 16 Dec 2022, 13:16
by Wosbald
Cool in the News
Posted: 24 Apr 2023, 09:49
by Wosbald
+JMJ+
The Holy Finger at the Nelson-Atkins is an unusual piece of biblical history
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. (Courtesy of Nelson-Atkins Museum)
At the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, one of the most unusual items is a finger bone said to be that of St. John the Baptist.
Nicknamed the Holy Finger of Kansas City, the bone is contained in a vial surrounded by an intricate gilded silver container — a reliquary — circa 1400, according to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art collection notes.
The reliquary is an early Gothic architectural work, with bells, pillars and the small cast figures of six saints. The finger bone is inside a glass cylinder mounted in silver.
The reliquary with finger of Saint John the Baptist. (Courtesy of Nelson-Atkins Museum)
According to biblical history, St. John the Baptist was a Jewish prophet baptized by Jesus. He is believed by Christians to have been sent by God to announce the coming of the Messiah.
He is also known as the first cousin of Jesus of Nazareth and a pivotal figure in theological history who preached “Repent, for the kingdom is near,” according to Matthew 3:2.
Aerial drone photography of The Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. (Courtesy of Nelson-Atkins Museum)
John the Baptist devoted his life to God as a disciple baptized many, which highlights his significance. The finger in the glass cylinder is reportedly from his left hand.
The rest of St. John the Baptist’s body is reportedly located all over the world. His right hand, the hand he used to baptize Jesus, is allegedly in the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Cetinje monestary in Montenegro.
A tooth, knuckle bone and arm in Bulgaria are also said to have belonged to St. John the Baptist.
Exterior of the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City. (Courtesy of Nelson-Atkins Museum)
The reliquary holding the finger bone, which has not been verified, was purchased by the William Rockhill Nelson Trust. It was once part of the Guelph Treasure accumulated by the dukes of Brunswick beginning in the 11th century, according to the collection notes.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum is normally open six days a week and has free general admission policy, excluding ticketed exhibits.
Cool in the News
Posted: 24 Apr 2023, 10:40
by FredS
I got yer holy finger right here pal.
Cool in the News
Posted: 24 Apr 2023, 10:41
by tuttle
Wosbald wrote: ↑24 Apr 2023, 09:49
+JMJ+
The Holy Finger at the Nelson-Atkins is an unusual piece of biblical history
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. (Courtesy of Nelson-Atkins Museum)
At the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, one of the most unusual items is a finger bone said to be that of St. John the Baptist.
Nicknamed the Holy Finger of Kansas City, the bone is contained in a vial surrounded by an intricate gilded silver container — a reliquary — circa 1400, according to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art collection notes.
The reliquary is an early Gothic architectural work, with bells, pillars and the small cast figures of six saints. The finger bone is inside a glass cylinder mounted in silver.
The reliquary with finger of Saint John the Baptist. (Courtesy of Nelson-Atkins Museum)
According to biblical history, St. John the Baptist was a Jewish prophet baptized by Jesus. He is believed by Christians to have been sent by God to announce the coming of the Messiah.
He is also known as the first cousin of Jesus of Nazareth and a pivotal figure in theological history who preached “Repent, for the kingdom is near,” according to Matthew 3:2.
Aerial drone photography of The Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. (Courtesy of Nelson-Atkins Museum)
John the Baptist devoted his life to God as a disciple baptized many, which highlights his significance. The finger in the glass cylinder is reportedly from his left hand.
The rest of St. John the Baptist’s body is reportedly located all over the world. His right hand, the hand he used to baptize Jesus, is allegedly in the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Cetinje monestary in Montenegro.
A tooth, knuckle bone and arm in Bulgaria are also said to have belonged to St. John the Baptist.
Exterior of the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City. (Courtesy of Nelson-Atkins Museum)
The reliquary holding the finger bone, which has not been verified, was purchased by the William Rockhill Nelson Trust. It was once part of the Guelph Treasure accumulated by the dukes of Brunswick beginning in the 11th century, according to the collection notes.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum is normally open six days a week and has free general admission policy, excluding ticketed exhibits.
The Nelson Art Museum is very very cool. Free too. And it's way more than art. Much of it is also history from a vast amount of times and places. If you are ever in KC it is a great place to visit.
The building itself is impressive. When I was a kid just driving by it was astonishing.
But the building/property also serves as a testimony of the degradation of art. At some point in the 90s some dumbass thought it'd be cool to put giant shuttlecocks on the lawn, forever tarnishing the view of the grand building with something that looks like it fell out of a cartoon.
But over the years some other dumbass people started calling them "iconic" so they've remained there all stupid looking.
But at least the silver lining was that they were relatively a minor blemish.
Then came a horrid monstrosity. Someone decided to add this "expansion" to the museum causing the beautiful old building to sit there all embarrassed as the new building looks worse than Cousin Eddy's RV parked in the Griswold driveway.
It's called the Bloch building. I call it the Blech building.
Cool in the News
Posted: 24 Apr 2023, 12:07
by FredS
KC has a giant shuttlecock. It could be worse. Chicago has a big chrome bean. Minneapolis has a bent spoon with a cherry.
As for the Nelson Atkins building and the Bloch buildings - - - well they were each built for their time. Times change, styles change. That's sort of the whole point of museums. They reflect and exhibit different eras. Remind me to stay off tuttles lawn.
Cool in the News
Posted: 25 Apr 2023, 05:18
by tuttle
FredS wrote: ↑24 Apr 2023, 12:07
Remind me to stay off tuttles lawn.
I started yapping on CPS when I was 25. I'm 40 now. In all that time I've been trained by the best curmudgeons the internet has to offer.
Cool in the News
Posted: 25 Apr 2023, 21:11
by Biff
FredS wrote: ↑24 Apr 2023, 12:07
KC has a giant shuttlecock.
Apparently, Big Mike does too.
Cool in the News
Posted: 26 Apr 2023, 07:24
by FredS
Biff wrote: ↑25 Apr 2023, 21:11
FredS wrote: ↑24 Apr 2023, 12:07
KC has a giant shuttlecock.
Apparently, Big Mike does too.
If nothing else, these things have given thousands of 7th grade boys a giggle on their field trips to the art museum when their teacher or museum guide describe them. Isn't that what public art is supposed to do?
