St. Hubertus Folio
Finally it's done; the folio page dedicated to St.Hubertus, hence the stag with the crucifix between the antlers. Done on commission for the Great Game Fairs of Ireland; [link], especially the Shane's Castle edition, so make sure to come along for the great craic and a chance to see this piece in person! :)
Top carries the stag, with the cross between it's antlers and a gild-detailed halo. Visually it'll pull the readers eyes downwards from there, directing focus on the calligraphy. For the side-fillers, and in harmony with the vision of the stag to Hubert, a 'tree of life' pattern featuring foliage is depicted.
The four corners feature icons of the hunt, along with gild detailing. One design has the hunting horn and sword, the other features the rifle and the fishing rod.
Top banner, just below the main-crown, features two dogs/hounds pointing and flushing out pheasants. It is a repeated pattern for the side borders, but in the sides design we also see two hounds retrieving a bird.
The half-circles feature falcons with rabbits in their talons, and the bottom border has two fishing figures (one male, one female). The ferret and rabbit corners stand as a reflection of life itself, a dance of life and death.
The original poem, though you could almost call it a oath, is by Oskar von Riesenthal, and was first published in 1880. The translation was done by me into English, and kept the rhyme and meter intact as best as possible;
This is the hunter’s badge of glory,
That he protect and tend his quarry,
Hunt with honour, as is due,
And through the beast to God is true!
Weapons of war are by hate run,
yet love for game fires our gun.
Therefor ponder, your daily bread;
Did your game not suffer dread?
Guard game from man and beast alike,
Make brief its death and sure your strike!
Be outside rough, yet mild inside,
And badge of glory pure abide!
And the original in German;
Waidmannsheil - Oskar von Riesenthal
Das ist des Jägers Ehrenschild,
Daß er beschützt und hegt sein Wild.
Waidmännisch jagt, wie sich’s gehört,
Den Schöpfer im Geschöpfe ehrt!
Das Kriegsgeschoß der Haß regiert,
Die Lieb’ zum Wild den Stutzen führt.
Drum denk’ bei Deinem täglich Brot;
Ob auch Dein Wild nicht leidet Noth?
Behüt’s vor Mensch und Thier zumal.
Verkürze ihm die Todesqual!
Sei außen rauh, doch innen mild,
Dann bleibet blank Dein Ehrenschild!
(and yes, the first part also features on the Jägermeister bottle)
Top carries the stag, with the cross between it's antlers and a gild-detailed halo. Visually it'll pull the readers eyes downwards from there, directing focus on the calligraphy. For the side-fillers, and in harmony with the vision of the stag to Hubert, a 'tree of life' pattern featuring foliage is depicted.
The four corners feature icons of the hunt, along with gild detailing. One design has the hunting horn and sword, the other features the rifle and the fishing rod.
Top banner, just below the main-crown, features two dogs/hounds pointing and flushing out pheasants. It is a repeated pattern for the side borders, but in the sides design we also see two hounds retrieving a bird.
The half-circles feature falcons with rabbits in their talons, and the bottom border has two fishing figures (one male, one female). The ferret and rabbit corners stand as a reflection of life itself, a dance of life and death.
The original poem, though you could almost call it a oath, is by Oskar von Riesenthal, and was first published in 1880. The translation was done by me into English, and kept the rhyme and meter intact as best as possible;
This is the hunter’s badge of glory,
That he protect and tend his quarry,
Hunt with honour, as is due,
And through the beast to God is true!
Weapons of war are by hate run,
yet love for game fires our gun.
Therefor ponder, your daily bread;
Did your game not suffer dread?
Guard game from man and beast alike,
Make brief its death and sure your strike!
Be outside rough, yet mild inside,
And badge of glory pure abide!
And the original in German;
Waidmannsheil - Oskar von Riesenthal
Das ist des Jägers Ehrenschild,
Daß er beschützt und hegt sein Wild.
Waidmännisch jagt, wie sich’s gehört,
Den Schöpfer im Geschöpfe ehrt!
Das Kriegsgeschoß der Haß regiert,
Die Lieb’ zum Wild den Stutzen führt.
Drum denk’ bei Deinem täglich Brot;
Ob auch Dein Wild nicht leidet Noth?
Behüt’s vor Mensch und Thier zumal.
Verkürze ihm die Todesqual!
Sei außen rauh, doch innen mild,
Dann bleibet blank Dein Ehrenschild!
(and yes, the first part also features on the Jägermeister bottle)