Photograph, colour, on paper, printed papers, carbon tracing paper and 2 metal paperclips on screenprint on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Rose and Chris Prater
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/joe-tilson-2043" aria-label="More by Joe Tilson" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Joe Tilson</a>
Delphic Oracle
Presented by Rose and Chris Prater 1980
‘Aristion’, relief sculpture
architecture
body
cities, towns, villages (non-UK)
classical
countries and continents
Delphi - non-specific
Earth - cube
emotions, concepts and ideas
features
fine art and design, named works
food and drink
formal qualities
fruit, pomegranate
Greece
Greek text
hand
inscriptions
maze
nature
objects
people
periods and styles
photographic
places
postcard
reading, writing, printed matter
religious
religious
ruins
symbols and personifications
temple
paper unique photograph colour printed papers carbon tracing 2 metal paperclips screenprint
Delphic Oracle
support: 737 × 641 mm
Presented by <a href="/search?gid=999999979" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Rose and Chris Prater</a> 1980
<p><b>P05565</b> DELPHIC ORACLE 1980
<br/>
<br/>Inscribed ‘Tilson 1980’ bottom right
<br/>Screenprint with collage, from the Kelpra/ Tate Gallery portfolio, printed at Kelpra Studio and published by Kelpra Editions and the Tate Gallery in an edition of 150, 29×25 1/4 (73.5×64)
<br/>Presented by Rose and Chris Prater 1980
<br/>
<br/>For information about the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/portfolio" title="Glossary definition for 'Portfolio'"><span>portfolio</span></a> see Patrick Caulfield, <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/caulfield-dressed-lobster-p05560" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P05560</span></a>. ‘Delphic Oracle’ is one of an extensive series of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/print" title="Glossary definition for 'Print'"><span>prints</span></a>, <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/s/sculpture" title="Glossary definition for 'Sculpture'"><span>sculptures</span></a> and <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/r/relief" title="Glossary definition for 'Relief'"><span>reliefs</span></a> entitled ‘Proscinemi Oracles’ begun in 1977. In a letter to the compiler (March 1980) the artist provided background notes about the print: the two fragments of poetry are quoted in the section on Delphi in Pausanias’ Description of Greece. In the translation Tilson took with him on his travels in Greece they are given as:
<br/>
<br/>	Forthwith the voice of the Earth-goddess uttered a wise word,
<br/>	And with her Pyrcon, servant of the renowned Earth-shaker</p>
<p align="right">(by Musaeüs)</p>
<p>and
<br/>
<br/>	Here in truth a mindful oracle was built
<br/>	By the sons of the Hyperboreans, Pagasus and divine Agyieus</p>
<p align="right">(by Boeo)</p>
<p>
<br/>The relief head is of Aristion, from an archaic gravestone in the National Museum, Athens. The postcard was bought at Delphi. The linear images are a pomegranate, a labyrinth and a cube (the Platonic symbol for Earth). The laurel leaf refers to a line in Homer's hymn to Pythian Apollo, in which Apollo ... ‘speaks in answer from his laurel tree’, and the ivy denotes the use of ivy in Dionysian rituals. The <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/photograph" title="Glossary definition for 'Photograph'"><span>photograph</span></a> is one of many Tilson took (and later used in prints) at various ancient sites. ‘Proscinemi’ is an Italian translation of the Greek ‘Proskynema’, a word describing the practice of leaving your name inscribed in a sacred place to fix your presence - this was extended by pilgrims who left representations of objects or imprints. Tilson photographed hands, feet or sandals against the ancient stones.
<br/>
<br/><b>Published in:</b>
<br/><i>The Tate Gallery 1980-82: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions</i>, London 1984
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-10-11T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
architecture ‘Aristion’, relief sculpture body cities, towns, villages (non-UK) classical countries and continents Delphi - non-specific Earth - cube emotions, concepts and ideas features fine art and design, named works food and drink formal qualities fruit, pomegranate Greece Greek text hand inscriptions maze nature objects people periods and styles photographic places postcard reading, writing, printed matter religious religious ruins symbols and personifications temple