Award: Personal Commission for Tom Tinntinnabulum
Date: February 2022
Paper: 11×14″ on goat parchment
Illumination: Period pigments, gouache, Colira gold, real gold leaf
Calligraphy: Calli black ink
Inspiration:
Words by Wu Yun:
Before the shining halls of our modern medical institutions existed, the audacious surgeons of Europe, Arabia, China, and Rome stitched and set back together the lives of our ancestors. Under their resourceful hands, humanity survived wounds, afflictions, and plagues to become what it is today.
It is with great humility that we place thanks upon the name of Todd Drexel and his team for their efforts on the heart of one Thomas Holliday. As part of the lineage of surgeons,from ancient Sushruta in the Ganges Valley to Rogerius Salernitanus and his noble Chirurgia, later Wilhelm Fabry and into the present day, your knowledge, service, and care do not escape the notice of those who depend on your skills and expertise. The surgeons of antiquity have passed their understanding and empathy through the ages and placed their great renown upon you.
Ancient Egyptians considered the heart as the center of self, and in consideration of this we thank you for preserving this singular heart. With reverence we set down these words so that all know our appreciation.
May all who are in your care from this day forward add their voice to ours in admiration for your degree of attention, and may your dexterity and cleverness continue to increase. With joy and respect, we offer our deepest gratitude.
Presented on the twenty fourth day of February, in the year two thousand and twenty two.
Cecily of York Medieval Illumination 