Comments on: Masonic Symbols Cast Light On Art Mystery? http://www.masonicregalia.org/freemasonry/masonic-symbols-cast-light-on-art-mystery#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Masonic Rings, Masonic Regalia, Masonic Art Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:36:09 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: maduagwu nkemakolam http://www.masonicregalia.org/freemasonry/masonic-symbols-cast-light-on-art-mystery/comment-page-1#comment-30 maduagwu nkemakolam Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:03:03 +0000 http://www.masonicregalia.org/uncategorized/masonic-symbols-cast-light-on-art-mystery#comment-30 Mine is an expression of interest. As child i,ve always been facinated by the structure of the entire Universe. I see so easily through the symbols. Mine is an expression of interest. As child i,ve always been facinated by the structure of the entire Universe. I see so easily through the symbols.

]]> By: Christopher Garlington http://www.masonicregalia.org/freemasonry/masonic-symbols-cast-light-on-art-mystery/comment-page-1#comment-3 Christopher Garlington Fri, 17 Oct 2008 05:09:29 +0000 http://www.masonicregalia.org/uncategorized/masonic-symbols-cast-light-on-art-mystery#comment-3 These men likely were Masons, but I'm not convinced these are Masonic paintings, though you do make some interesting connections. Yes, the men are holding compasses in their right hands. But compasses were important tools in their time, as were squares. It seems to me that as the subject of each painting appears to be conducting some precise investigation in each scene, that it's only natural they should have a square and compass. But the globes, and the attitude, and the bible, and the proximity of the tools do suggest Masonic intention. There were independent speculative lodges in England prior to the formation of the original Grand Lodge which tends to mark the historical appearance of modern Masonry. The practice is older than its recorded history and enjoys an awful lot of continuity gaps. It's very likely that these paintings were lodge portraits and that Leeuwenhoek was an officer, perhaps even Worshipful Master, of a masonic lodge. Or, maybe he just used a compass to measure things like every other guy from carpenters to carpet layers in his time. These men likely were Masons, but I’m not convinced these are Masonic paintings, though you do make some interesting connections. Yes, the men are holding compasses in their right hands. But compasses were important tools in their time, as were squares. It seems to me that as the subject of each painting appears to be conducting some precise investigation in each scene, that it’s only natural they should have a square and compass.

But the globes, and the attitude, and the bible, and the proximity of the tools do suggest Masonic intention.

There were independent speculative lodges in England prior to the formation of the original Grand Lodge which tends to mark the historical appearance of modern Masonry. The practice is older than its recorded history and enjoys an awful lot of continuity gaps. It’s very likely that these paintings were lodge portraits and that Leeuwenhoek was an officer, perhaps even Worshipful Master, of a masonic lodge.

Or, maybe he just used a compass to measure things like every other guy from carpenters to carpet layers in his time.

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