this is a small post about a long story

July 13, 2006 8:14 PM

"In the reign of Harad IV there lived at court a maker of miniatures, who was celebrated for the uncanny perfection of his work. Not only were the objects of his strenuous art pleasing to look at but the pleasure and astonishment increased as the observer, bending closer, saw that a passionate care had been lavished on the smallest and least visible details. It was said that no matter how closely you examined one of the Master’s little pieces you always discovered some further wonder." [via]
posted by jessamyn (17 comments total)

Willard Wigan's work (to which you link in the "pleasure and astonishment" link) is incredible.

His Micro Sculptures are currently on display at Harvey Nichols/Manchester.

His work fetches a pretty penny!
posted by ericb at 8:21 PM on July 13, 2006

Related -- Miniature Books.
posted by ericb at 8:37 PM on July 13, 2006

Awesome; even though many of these artists have been posted here previously (Dalton Ghetti was the subject of my very first post here), this collection of all in one place, with new or updated links to their works is absolutely wonderful. Thanks, jess!
posted by jonson at 9:02 PM on July 13, 2006

Wiggan's stuff in the "smallest and least visible details" link is indeed amazing (my fav is Peter Pan & Co. on a fishhook). And you have to laugh at the idea of Cornell Phds (or more likely, their grad students) spending weeks arranging tiny saxophones into a picture of Bill Clinton. Gotta get those grants.
posted by gsteff at 9:47 PM on July 13, 2006

Diatom and butterfly scale art — as if the originals aren't intricate and beautiful enough.
An earlier mjjj post on tiny tomes.
posted by cenoxo at 9:50 PM on July 13, 2006

my eyes ache, but it's a good ache
posted by caddis at 10:07 PM on July 13, 2006

that story was really good.
posted by carsonb at 10:08 PM on July 13, 2006

Excellent stuff.
posted by nightchrome at 10:57 PM on July 13, 2006

Truly a model post.
posted by hortense at 11:17 PM on July 13, 2006

I'm surprised to see an fpp wasted on art of such miniscule stature...
posted by stenseng at 2:00 AM on July 14, 2006

Has anyone read Leskov's story 'The Steel Flea'? Because it rocks.
posted by Mocata at 2:12 AM on July 14, 2006

Some others work in slightly larger scales.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:42 AM on July 14, 2006

Excellent post and thread.
posted by TedW at 5:08 AM on July 14, 2006

Wow, this post is just what this former (amateur) miniature painter need on a Friday.
posted by mrmojoflying at 5:43 AM on July 14, 2006

Never have I seen anything so remarkable in both conception and execution.

*salaams*
posted by languagehat at 6:40 AM on July 14, 2006

I read this story a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. What a great way to add to the experience. Thanks, jessamyn.
posted by witchstone at 7:12 AM on July 14, 2006

Too bad about the photography.
posted by Sukiari at 12:52 PM on July 14, 2006