In art and iconography , a motif ( / m oʊ ˈ t iː f / ) is an element of an image . Motifs can occur both in figurative and narrative art, and in ornament and geometrical art. A motif may be repeated in a pattern or design, often many times, or may just occur once in a work.
36-545: The three hares (or three rabbits ) is a circular motif appearing in sacred sites from East Asia , the Middle East and the churches of Devon , England (as the " Tinners ' Rabbits"), and historical synagogues in Europe. It is used as an architectural ornament , a religious symbol , and in other modern works of art or a logo for adornment (including tattoos ), jewelry , and a coat of arms on an escutcheon . It
72-459: A 1576 Dutch engraving with the puzzle given in Dutch and French around the image. This is the oldest known dated example of the motif as a puzzle, with a caption that translates as: The secret is not great when one knows it. But it is something to one who does it. Turn and turn again and we will also turn, So that we give pleasure to each of you. And when we have turned, count our ears, It
108-570: A copper coin, found in Iran , dated to 1281. Another appears on an ancient Islamic-made reliquary from southern Russia. Another 13th or early 14th century box, later used as a reliquary, was made in Iran under Mongol rule, and is preserved in the treasury of the Cathedral of Trier in Germany. On its base, the casket has Islamic designs, and originally featured two images of the three hares. One
144-488: A gilded statue of the Virgin Mary. It features mosaics, stained glass, and a crypt of Saint Joseph. Fourvière actually contains two churches, one on top of the other. The upper sanctuary is very ornate, while the lower is a much simpler design. Work on the triumphant basilica was begun in 1872 and finished in 1884. Finishing touches in the interior were not completed until as late as 1964. Bossan's first sketches for
180-471: A motif has become used more broadly in discussing literature and other narrative arts for an element in the story that represents a theme . Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvi%C3%A8re The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière ( French : Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière ) is a minor basilica in Lyon , France. It was built with private funds between 1872 and 1896 in a dominant position overlooking
216-607: A pattern. Important examples in Western art include acanthus , egg and dart , and various types of scrollwork . Geometric, typically repeated: Meander , palmette , rosette , gul in Oriental rugs, acanthus , egg and dart , Bead and reel , Pakudos , Swastika , Adinkra symbols . Figurative: Master of Animals , confronted animals , velificatio , Death and the Maiden , Three hares , Sheela na gig , puer mingens . In
252-539: A roof boss of the three hares at Widecombe-in-the-Moor , Dartmoor, with another in the town of Tavistock on the edge of the moor. The motif occurs with similar central placement in Synagogues. Another occurrence is on the ossuary that by tradition contained the bones of St. Lazarus . Where it occurs in the United Kingdom, the three hares motif usually appears in a prominent place in the church, such as
288-614: A sign of the miners' patronage. The architectural ornament of the three hares also occurs in churches that are unrelated to the miners of South West England. Other occurrences in England include floor tiles at Chester Cathedral , stained glass at Long Melford , Suffolk and a ceiling in Scarborough , Yorkshire. The motif of the three hares is used in a number of medieval or more recent European churches, particularly in France (e.g., in
324-764: Is God to the Jewish people)." The hare frequently appears in the form of the symbol of the rotating rabbits. An ancient German riddle describes this graphic thus: Three hares sharing three ears, Yet every one of them has two. This curious graphic riddle can be found in all of the famous wooden synagogues from the period of the 17th and 18th century in the Ashknaz region (in Germany) that are on museum display in Beth Hatefutsoth Museum in Tel Aviv,
360-451: Is a specific person, group, or moment in a narrative, that should be referred to as the "subject" of the work, not a motif, though the same thing may be a "motif" when part of another subject, or part of a work of decorative art - such as a painting on a vase. Ornamental or decorative art can usually be analysed into a number of different elements, which can be called motifs. These may often, as in textile art , be repeated many times in
396-650: Is apparently not explained in contemporary written sources from any of the medieval cultures where it is found, it is thought to have a range of symbolic or mystical associations with fertility and the lunar cycle . When used in Christian churches, it is presumed to be a symbol of the Trinity . Its origins and original significance are uncertain, as are the reasons why it appears in such diverse locations. The earliest occurrences appear to be in cave temples in China, dated to
SECTION 10
#1732793426543432-541: Is there, without any disguise, you will find a marvel. One recent philosophical book poses it as a problem in perception and an optical illusion —an example of contour rivalry . Each rabbit can be individually seen as correct—it is only when you try to see all three at once that you see the problem with defining the hares' ears. This is similar to "The Impossible Tribar " by Roger Penrose , originated by Oscar Reutersvärd . Compare M.C. Escher 's impossible object . Motif (visual arts) A motif may be an element in
468-439: Is viewed as a puzzle, a visual challenge, and has been rendered as sculpture, drawing, and painting. The symbol features three hares or rabbits chasing each other in a circle. Like the triskelion , the triquetra , and their antecedents (e.g., the triple spiral ), the symbol of the three hares has a threefold rotational symmetry . Each of the ears is shared by two hares, so that only three ears are shown. Although its meaning
504-571: The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon ) and Germany. It occurs with the greatest frequency in the churches of Devon , United Kingdom, where it appears to be a recollection of earlier Insular Celtic design such as the triaxially symmetric triskele and other Romano-British designs which are known from early British 'Celtic' ( La Tène ) metalwork such as circular enamelled and openwork triskel brooches ( fibulae ). The motif appears in illuminated manuscripts amongst similar devices such as
540-972: The Jewish Museum Berlin and The Israel Museum in Jerusalem. They also appear in the Synagogue from Horb am Neckar (donated to the Israel Museum). The three animals adorn the wooden panels of the prayer room from Unterlimpurg near Schwäbisch Hall , which may be seen in replica in the Jewish Museum Berlin. They also are seen in a main exhibit of the Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv. Israeli art historian Ida Uberman wrote about this house of worship: "... Here we find depictions of three kinds of animals, all organized in circles: eagles, fishes and hares. These three represent
576-518: The Nativity of Jesus in art , the detail of showing Saint Joseph as asleep, which was common in medieval depictions, can be regarded as a "motif". Many designs in Islamic culture are motifs, including those of the sun, moon, animals such as horses and lions, flowers, and landscapes. In kilim flatwoven carpets, motifs such as the hands-on-hips elibelinde are woven in to the design to express
612-905: The Sui dynasty (6th to 7th centuries). The iconography spread along the Silk Road . In other contexts the metaphor has been given different meaning. For example, Guan Youhui, a retired researcher from the Dunhuang Academy , who spent 50 years studying the decorative patterns in the Mogao Caves , believes the three rabbits—"like many images in Chinese folk art that carry auspicious symbolism—represent peace and tranquility". See Aurel Stein . The hares have appeared in Lotus motifs. The three hares appear on 13th century Mongol metalwork, and on
648-561: The Church to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Speculating on the reasons for the construction of such an elaborate and expensive building, one author makes the statement that: "The reaction to the communes of Paris and Lyon were triumphalist monuments, the Sacré-Coeur of Montmartre and the basilica of Fourvière, dominating both cities. These buildings were erected with private funds, as gigantic ex-votos, to thank God for victory over
684-811: The Kabbalistic elements of the world: earth, water and fire/heavens... The fact that they are always three is important, for that number . . . is important in the Kabbalistic context". Not only do they appear among floral and animal ornaments, but they are often in a distinguished location, directly above the Torah ark , the place where the holy scriptures repose. They appear on headstones in Sataniv ( Сатанів ), Khmelnytsky Oblast , western Ukraine . Jurgis Baltrusaitis 's 1955 Le Moyen-Âge fantastique: Antiquités et exotismes dans l'art gothique includes
720-700: The Virgin for saving the city by lighting candles throughout the city, in what is called the Fête des Lumières or the Festival of Lights. The Virgin is also credited with saving the city a number of other times, such as from a Cholera epidemic in 1832 , and from Prussian invasion in 1870. During the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), Prussian forces, having taken Paris, were progressing south towards Lyon. Their halt and retreat were, once again, attributed by
756-581: The altar while Jean-Claude Courveille celebrated Mass. On September 30, 1821 André Coindre and ten others made private vows in the chapel there, thus founding the Fratres a Sacratissimo Corde Iesu ( Brothers of the Sacred Heart ), a Roman Catholic religious community primarily devoted to educating youth. On 21 January 1851, Peter Julian Eymard prayed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fourvière and
SECTION 20
#1732793426543792-511: The anthropomorphic "beard pullers" seen in manuscripts such as the Book of Kells , architectural wood carving , stone carving , window tracery , and stained glass . In South Western England there are over thirty recorded examples of the three hares appearing on ' roof bosses ' (carved wooden knobs) on the ceilings in medieval churches in Devon , (particularly Dartmoor ). There is a good example of
828-540: The basilica seem to date from 1846. At the time he was in Palermo . The basilica has acquired the local nickname of "the upside-down elephant", because the building looks like the body of an elephant and the four towers look like its legs. Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc , The Children's Choir of Saint Mark, is the official choir of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. This choir became well-known following
864-400: The central rib of the chancel roof, or on a central rib of the nave . This suggests that the symbol held significance to the church, and casts doubt on the theory that they may have been a masons' or carpenters' signature marks. There are two possible and perhaps concurrent reasons why the three hares may have found popularity as a symbol within the church. Firstly, it was widely believed that
900-467: The centuries, the most recent major works being in 1852 when the former steeple was replaced by a tower surmounted by a golden statue of the Virgin Mary sculpted by Joseph-Hugues Fabisch (1812–1886). On 23 July 1816 twelve Marist aspirants, priests and seminarians, climbed the hill to the shrine of Our Lady of Fourvière and placed their promise to found the Society of Mary (Marists) under the corporal on
936-605: The city. The site it occupies was once the Roman forum of Trajan, the forum vetus (old forum), thus its name (as an inverted corruption of the French Vieux-Forum ). Fourvière is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, to whom is attributed the salvation of the city of Lyon from the bubonic plague that swept Europe in 1643. Each year in early December (December 8, day of the Immaculate Conception ), Lyon thanks
972-701: The hare was hermaphrodite and could reproduce without loss of virginity . This led to an association with the Virgin Mary , with hares sometimes occurring in illuminated manuscripts and Northern European paintings of the Virgin and Christ Child . The other Christian association may have been with the Holy Trinity , representing the "One in Three and Three in One" of which the triangle or three interlocking shapes such as rings are common symbols. In many locations
1008-519: The hopes and concerns of the weavers: the elibelinde symbolises the female principle and fertility , including the desire for children. Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs are a familiar type of motif in the eastern portions of the United States. Their circular and symmetric design, and their use of brightly colored patterns from nature, such as stars, compass roses, doves, hearts, tulips, leaves, and feathers have made them quite popular. The idea of
1044-508: The iconography of a particular subject or type of subject that is seen in other works, or may form the main subject, as the Master of Animals motif in ancient art typically does. The related motif of confronted animals is often seen alone, but may also be repeated, for example in Byzantine silk and in other ancient textiles. Where the main subject of an artistic work - such as a painting -
1080-418: The public may access the basilica's north tower for a spectacular 180-degree view of Lyon and its suburbs. On a clear day, Mont Blanc, the highest point in Europe, can be seen in the distance. The design of the basilica, by Pierre Bossan , draws from both Romanesque and Byzantine architecture , two non-Gothic models that were unusual choices at the time. It has four main towers, and a bell tower topped with
1116-910: The rabbits as a symbol of the Jewish diaspora . The replica of the Chodorow Synagogue from Poland (on display at the Museum of the Jewish Diaspora in Tel Aviv ) has a ceiling with a large central painting which depicts a double-headed eagle holds two brown rabbits in its claws without harming them. The painting is surrounded by a citation from the end of Deuteronomy : כנשר יעיר קינו על גוזליו ירחף. יפרוש כנפיו יקחהו ישאהו על אברתו This may be translated: "As an eagle that stirreth up her nest, hovereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her pinions (...thus
Three hares - Misplaced Pages Continue
1152-436: The release of the 2004 film Les Choristes . The choir's director ( chef de chœur ) is Nicolas Porte. Since 1982 the tower has housed the antennas of Radio Fourvière, the predecessor of Radios chrétiennes francophones . Fourvière has always been a popular place of pilgrimage. There has been a shrine at Fourvière dedicated to Our Lady since 1170. The chapel and parts of the building have been rebuilt at different times over
1188-493: The socialists and in expiation of the sins of modern France." Perched on top of the Fourvière hill, the basilica looms impressively over the city of Lyon, from where it can be seen from many vantage points; not unintentionally, the Basilica of Fourvière has become a symbol of the city. The Basilica, which offers guided tours and contains a Museum of Sacred Art, receives 2 million visitors annually. At certain times, members of
1224-650: The three hares are positioned adjacent to the Green Man , a symbol commonly believed to be associated with the continuance of Anglo-Saxon or Celtic paganism . These juxtapositions may have been created to imply the contrast of the Divine with man's sinful , earthly nature. In Judaism, the shafan in Hebrew has symbolic meaning. Rabbits can carry very positive symbolic connotations, like lions and eagles. 16th century German scholar Rabbi Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, saw
1260-468: The three hares in churches occur in England and northern Germany. This supports a contrary view that the three hares occurred independently as English or early German symbols. Some claim that the Devon name, Tinners' Rabbits, is related to local tin miners adopting it. The mines generated wealth in the region and funded the building and repair of many local churches, and thus the symbol may have been used as
1296-471: Was lost through damage. One theory pertaining to the spread of the motif is that it was transported from China across Asia and as far as the south west of England by merchants travelling the Silk Road and that the motif was transported via designs found on expensive Oriental ceramics . This view is supported by the early date of the surviving occurrences in China. However, the majority of representations of
#542457