Description: This illustration by W.G. Collingwood is from Olive Bray's
translation of the Poetic Edda that was published in a dual
language edition in 1908 as The
Elder or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's
Edda. This scene depicts a verse from Skáldskapamál
in the Prose Edda that is not preserved elsewhere. The verse
concerns Njörðr´s unhappiness after Skaði has
accidently chosen him for a husband and he must spend nine
nights out of every twelve the mountains.
Source: The Elder or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As
Sæmund's Edda
Folio or Page: 271
Medium: Wood Engraving
Date: 1908
Dimensions (mm): 110 x 65
Provenance:
This illustration is from The Elder or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known
As Sæmund's Edda from the collection of P. A. Baer.
Rights:
This illustration from The Elder or Poetic
Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's Edda is in the public
domain.
Research notes, early print reviews, etc.:
Excerpt from an early print book review (1908): "Each poem is prefaced
by two designs by Professor Collingwood. These at their best leave little to be
desired. Several of them e.g. Graybeard and Thor, are altogether admirable.
Others are valuable both from the artistic and the antiquarian standpoint, as
the artist has woven into them motives from Pre-Norman crosses or hogbacks
illustrating Eddaic subjects...." pg. 494. Full text of the
review. Folklore Vol. 19, No. 4 (Dec. 30, 1908), pp. 493-496.
Excerpt from an early print book review (1909): "The text is accompanied
by thirty-three excellent illustrations, which have the comparatively rare merit
of really helping the reader to vizualize [sic]the action and of suggesting the
atmosphere of the poems." pg 97. Full text of the review.The Journal of American Folklore Vol. 22, No. 83 (Jan.
- Mar., 1909), pp. 96-98.
Bibliography:
Editions
Elder or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's
Edda.
Translated by
Olive
Bray
. London: Viking
Club, 1908.
Secondary Sources
Major, Albany
F. Review of The Elder or
Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's Edda, translated by
Olive
Bray. Folklore,
vol. 19, no. 4, 30 Dec. 1908:
493-496. Web. August 2,2021.
Rankin, J.
W.. Review of Elder
or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's Edda, translated by
Olive
Bray. The Journal of American
Folklore, vol. 22, no. 83, Jan. -
Mar. 1909: 96-98. Web. 26 July
2021.
Dunn-Krahn,
Sage (en.)
b. 13th July 1999
Occupation: Research Assistant
Giants and Giantesses
Skaði (non.)
Skadi (en.)
In Snorri's Edda, Skaði is a giantess who
choose her husband from among the gods as compensation for the death of
her father, Þjazi. However, Skaði is only allowed to see the feet of the
gods and she mistakes Njorðr´s feet for Baldr´s. In Ynglinga saga, the
first saga in Heimskringla, she
is one of the group that traveled with the chieftain Óðinn from Asia to
the northern lands. Her first husband Heimskringla, was Njörðr, but she later married the
chieftain Óðinn and they were said to have had many sons.
Gods and Goddesses
Njörðr (non.)
Njord (en.)
Njorth (en.)
According to Snorri, Njörðr is one of the Vanir. He fathered Freyr and
Freyja with his sister, whose name is unknown. Njörðr was briefly
married to the giantess Skaði. He is associated with the wind and the
sea, and can control fire. He lived in Nóatún.
Nouns
Edwardian (en.)The
Edwardian era began with the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910
(January 22, 1901 - 28 July, 1914). However, the era's end date is
sometimes extended to the beginning of World War 1 (28 July
1914).
Source Materials:
Elder or
Poetic Edda (en.)A dual language editon of the Poetic Edda with
illustrations by W. G. Collingwood.
Prose Edda (is.)
Snorri Sturluson's thirteenth-century prose work concerning Old Norse
mythology and poetics.
Source Persons
Bray,
Olive (en.)
b. June 17, 1878
d. November 15, 1909
Nationality: English
Occupation: scholar, translator and editior
Residence: 17 The Boltons Kensington, London, England
Bray was one of the daughters of the high court judge Sir Reginald
More Bray (1842-1923) and the novelist Emily Octavia Bray, of Shere
Manor near Guildford. Little is known about Olive. She joined the Viking
Society for Northern Research in 1902 and was a Vice-President in 1909.
At the time of her death, she was living in the family home at 17 The
Boltons Kensington. Her grave is in the Shere churchyard.
Collingwood,
W.
G. (en.)
b. 6th August 1854
d. 1st October 1932
Nationality: English
Collingwood was an author, artist, and a professor at University
College Reading.