User talk:Johnbod/41

Majolica
John, Re your latest revisions Davidmadelena (talk) 15:58, 30 September 2019 (UTC)
 * 1) English spellings fine. I will not use American alternatives again.
 * 2) Revised start to the article. This now seems to confuse the essential first step to understanding the majolica/maiolica muddle which is to understand there are two distinct processes producing products that are called by many names including 'majolica' and 'maiolica'. So, can we have a sequence that goes Confusion -> different processes a) coloured glazes on biscuit  b) tin-glaze with brush painted enamels. May I revise your latest sequence along  these lines? Then you re-revise if you don't agree? Is this the correct way to proceed?
 * Ok, give that a try - but (per WP:LEAD) we need a lead of a decent length that concisely covers the key points of the subject. The subject is obviously inherently fiddly and confusing, as I'm sure we agree, but I think it's easier to start with the words rather than the techniques. This is partly because I'm sure the great majority of our readers simply glaze over (see what I did there) at any talk of pottery techniques, especially if chemistry is at all involved. They are far happier with talk about words, countries and periods. Johnbod (talk) 16:06, 30 September 2019 (UTC)

Thanks. I'll try. Appreciate your help. Intro lead of decent length understood. Totally agree with everything you say above about glazing over (haha very good) etc. but the use of both words and other words for both products is the root cause of almost universal misunderstanding (exceptions Paul Atterbury and V & A). I feel somehow in this case we have to coax the reader over the facts hurdle first. Davidmadelena (talk) 16:38, 30 September 2019 (UTC) John, nearly done. I propose deleting the Section Victorian Majolica, and using anything useful in the article text.

Davidmadelena (talk) 15:18, 3 October 2019 (UTC)

Dunstable Swan Jewel edits
My apologies for not reading the "no citation templates" notice at the top of the page when editing. I let my zeal for citations get the better of me, and no citebanditry was intended.—A garbage person (talk) 15:30, 1 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Thanks! Johnbod (talk) 15:33, 1 October 2019 (UTC)

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Today's TFA
I didn't know which comment to press the "thank button" for on today's ERRORS, so I'll say thanks for all of them, instead.  Cassianto Talk  16:57, 3 October 2019 (UTC)

Basket case article?
Hi Johnbod, I've looked at the history of this article and seen that you have never come across it. Which is a solid shame, but it may not be to late! I think that this article is most definitely encyclopaedic, but also very peculiar, to say the least. What do you think? Regards, --Edelseider (talk) 07:35, 11 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Very wierd formatting, which I've tidied up in the upper part. Johnbod (talk) 11:11, 11 October 2019 (UTC)
 * And the tone! I love formulations like "In his thesis Arnhold addresses the possibility of these two life-size statues being by the Maître de Chaource, dates them between 1518 and 1520 and states that there is archival evidence that they were brought to Saint Pouange in 1861, and had previously stood on the west facade of Troyes Cathedral." Totally acceptable, but somehow very different from how Wikipedia sentences should look and sound. At least I discovered an important Northern Renaissance sculptor. Did you know him? --Edelseider (talk) 11:16, 11 October 2019 (UTC)
 * I'd heard of him, but not much more. It's a neglected area. The article is not by a native speaker I think. Johnbod (talk) 12:01, 11 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Neglected, yes, apart from some household names (Michael Pacher, Tilman Riemenschneider, Veit Stoss). --Edelseider (talk) 12:50, 11 October 2019 (UTC)

Crusades
Thank you for your notes on the FAR for this article. When the dust settles I think I may revise and resubmit. If I copied your notes to date to the article's talk page would you consider reviewing the article to the end so that I can address your concerns enmass before it comes back? Norfolkbigfish (talk) 02:49, 13 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Yes, sure. I was not likely to not support, as you may have guessed. You can't expect perfection with a subject like that. Sorry I seem to have struck the death-blow, along with Borsorka. Is it my memory, or did I do something like that before? Johnbod (talk) 02:56, 13 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Not your memory, yes you did, probably quite rightly on the grounds (I think) that there was not enough analysis and too much narrative. This one is better but I guessed you were unlikely to support. Bazorka seems intent on reworking it to match his middle European Catholic view of history, I think that was the death blow Norfolkbigfish (talk) 11:08, 14 October 2019 (UTC)
 * No, I was almost certain to support this time (double negative above). Quite where it's heading now, I don't know. Johnbod (talk) 14:20, 14 October 2019 (UTC)
 * , just for clarification: I am central European, but I am not Catholic. It is so funny that we can so easily misunderstand each other's objectives. When reading the article and experiencing your unwillingness to modify highly biased sentences relating to Turkish history, I was convinced that you are on the payroll of the Turkish government or of a chauvinistic Turkish NGO. We could read unverified sentences, for instance, about the Seljuks' peaceful immigration to Anatolia and about their peaceful rule over local Arabs and Christians. Now I am sure you do not receive salary for this article. Borsoka (talk) 07:16, 24 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Well that is good to know, I consider that an achievement in itself. Hopefully, the article won't have gone backwards when this current spate of editing ends. Norfolkbigfish (talk) 17:19, 24 October 2019 (UTC)

Wikihounding
If you wikihound me again, I will have you sanctioned. I don't know what gripe you have with me, but either you stop, or I will have someone make you stop. This is the last time I will address your ownership behavior, and out of magnanimity I will let your ill advised edit pass. KingofGangsters (talk) 22:09, 16 October 2019 (UTC)

Notice of edit warring noticeboard discussion
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Portable altar (WB.232)
Hi John. Given the new image supplied by WereSpielChequers, I wonder if it could eventually be taken to DYK. I have a bunch of Art Gallery of Ontario (who have a significant collection of Gothic boxwood miniatures) sources somewhere in my mounds of books and pdfs; there are loads of others sources out there. Yet it seems as if the so named Adam Dircksz has fallen though the cracks of history. I know you are knowledgeable on the Waddesdon Bequest objects, so suggesting. Ceoil (talk) 00:39, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Wow, thanks for doing that. Yes, it would be good to take that to DYK. I may even try for some close up photos of the details referred to. Not sure however if I can get to the BM soon enough for the DYK schedule. As with other items in the Waddesdon bequest, I see far more detail when I look at a blown up photograph than I can in real life.  Ϣere Spiel  Chequers  15:14, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
 * I think it's ready for DYK as is (& should be nominated in the next few days). I doubt there's much more on this specifically. If you look at the BM bibliography: Read & Dalton (the latter compact) are online, Tait is given in full in the BM online - these pieces were never covered by the partial full catalogues - & you have Thornton. I don't know the rest but it doesn't look as if they'd add much on the piece - Adam Dircksz I think you've covered in the main article. For DYK the nom should go in soon, but it might easily be a month or more before it is actually used, so that gives more time for photos. Cheers, Johnbod (talk) 15:21, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Ok, you can do a double with Adam Dircksz. Johnbod (talk) 16:06, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Frankly John, I dont know how with all the new rules; can you do the hounours. I can add an extra bit about Gothic vs Italian influences. Ceoil  (talk) 16:18, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Ok have a hook that will tie them together, will do, prob on Sunday. Ceoil  (talk) 17:54, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Ok, give me a link to it, & I'll watchlist & keep an eye out. Johnbod (talk) 18:31, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Articles now at . Will work a bit more on Dircksz. Have cropped versions of SpielChequers's pic. Ceoil  (talk) 02:27, 21 October 2019 (UTC)

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WP:VAMOS
Hi Johnbod. Do you reckon there's consensus for adding the proposal about multiples and sets to VAMOS? Cheers, Ham II (talk) 09:15, 25 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Yup - done that. Thanks for the reminder! Johnbod (talk) 15:04, 25 October 2019 (UTC)

Gupta art
Hi John! I am trying to start a Gupta art article. Your expertise is welcome!! पाटलिपुत्र Pat   (talk) 14:30, 26 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Great idea! Next stop Kushan art! Are you planning to add lots more? I can certainly add, but it may be best if we don't have two people on it at the same time. Best, Johnbod (talk) 15:23, 26 October 2019 (UTC)
 * My ressources on Gupta Art are already nearly exhausted at this point. Please do take up the task if you have knowledge on the subject!! पाटलिपुत्र Pat   (talk) 15:57, 26 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Ok, will do, though I have several irons in the fire at the moment. Johnbod (talk) 15:59, 26 October 2019 (UTC)

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DYK for Castleford Pottery
Gatoclass (talk) 00:01, 29 October 2019 (UTC)

Our friends
Hello. I am hoping that maybe someone somehow can do an intervention on our friends that will somehow make things better and even maybe smooth. I remember yo and Srnec (sp.?) seemed to have a good grasp on things. I have no idea how any sort of mediation process works. Do you have any suggestions about how to peacefully head off a (potential) storm? Tks ♦ Lingzhi2 (talk) 15:05, 29 October 2019 (UTC)

Talk:Jan van Eyck
Re Talk:Jan van Eyck: no, that's not her business actually. These pages are to discuss the article, not for random course instructors to put totally irrelevant tags on them. Obviously it is her business what article she assigns to which student, but that doesn't mean that we should accept any tag put on an article talk page. It is not her page, nor is it the page for that course. If there is a reasonable link between a course and an article, and the student(s) have actually contributed to the article or the talk page, then it might be a good idea to have such a tag. Here, not so much. Fram (talk) 15:48, 30 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Many of these courses let the students choose off-topic subjects, & always have done. I don't see it is our business to interfere in this way (telling them how to run their courses). There is a general issue with these tags, which are often placed on articles the students are only meant to review. Either way, these tags are piling up on art articles, & very often the students leave no trace in the edit history of either article or talk. You should pick your battles more sensibly. Johnbod (talk) 16:05, 30 October 2019 (UTC)
 * I am not telling them how they run their courses. I am telling them to not span irrelevant tags to article talk pages. If it is an off-topic subject, then there is no link between the course and the article anyway. Your addition, that many of these assigments lead to nothing at all and that these tags are piling up, is only more reason not to have this tag. If most are useless, then a discussion should be had to get rid of the others as well; readding this one solves nothing though. Fram (talk) 16:23, 30 October 2019 (UTC)
 * No more does removing it - beyond buggering up the project's statistics, the main reason they are there. It would be a good idea to initiate a general discussion that old ones should be removed (and indeed that all talk page stuff over say 3 years old should be auto-archived, which I tried a while back). That would be a useful thing to do. Johnbod (talk) 16:54, 30 October 2019 (UTC)

Die Einführung der Künste in Deutschland durch das Christentum
I made a real quick stub, but I'm a bit stuck--the book sources I was looking at don't show me a lot of content, I don't understand how a fresco is put on fabric, and I am not so well-acquainted with the formatting as you are. If you could help, that would be great. There is no rush. I was thinking of this painting as a cover for a Boniface book, but it's a bit too 19th century, too Romantic, too nationalistic, haha. Thanks for any help you can provide! Drmies (talk) 22:16, 30 October 2019 (UTC)

Thank you
Many thanks! Johnbod (talk) 17:43, 31 October 2019 (UTC)

DYK nomination of Māru-Gurjara Architecture
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Was it you who were working on this?
Can't remember who was working on this once: you, Ceoil, Modernist..? But saw your name atop talk page:
 * Unraveling the mysteries of ancient Egypt's spellbinding mummy portraits ♦ Lingzhi2 (talk) 08:40, 4 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Years ago, yes. The article seems to have rather deteriorated since. I'll add the link. Johnbod (talk) 22:40, 4 November 2019 (UTC)

A barnstar for you!

 * Many thanks! Johnbod (talk) 16:13, 4 November 2019 (UTC)

Kushan art
...One more piece in the puzzle: Kushan art. Help welcome! पाटलिपुत्र Pat   (talk) 19:47, 4 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Looks like a great start. I'll get on to it in a bit. Johnbod (talk) 22:34, 4 November 2019 (UTC)

Category:Lists of artists by biographer
I have proposed renaming Category:Lists of artists by biographer. Please see Categories_for_discussion/Log/2019_November_6. – Fayenatic  L ondon 08:15, 6 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Thanks - commented there. Johnbod (talk) 15:27, 6 November 2019 (UTC)

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UTRS update
--UTRSBot (talk) 15:02, 11 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Johnbod, following up from WP:BOTN, the notice above seems to be related to UTRS ticket 27556 that was resolved by . This is an automated notification that your ticket was closed. Did you not actually create that ticket? —  xaosflux  Talk 16:09, 11 November 2019 (UTC)
 * No, why would I, since I've not been blocked? Johnbod (talk) 16:27, 11 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Did you submit a ticket to UTRS about your account being autoblocked? OhNo itsJamie Talk 16:31, 11 November 2019 (UTC)
 * NO!! Johnbod (talk) 16:33, 11 November 2019 (UTC)
 * This may be relevant. Johnbod (talk) 16:35, 11 November 2019 (UTC)
 * In that case, I reversed the rights management action I performed earlier, since you didn't request it. OhNo itsJamie Talk 16:37, 11 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Ok, thanks, Johnbod (talk) 16:39, 11 November 2019 (UTC)

A survey to improve the community consultation outreach process
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Venus figurines
Hi - you made this edit but a student has changed it recently to say ", so it is assumed this color had a very significant meaning in their culture even though we do not know what." I find nothing on p.28 so I'm confused. Doug Weller talk 11:21, 14 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Eek - great spelling! You are unlikely to find anything anywhere with that sort of search! Note that I gave the source as Sandar's 1st edition, not online; unfortunately my copy is boxed up just now - perhaps not for long. Google preview of the 2nd edn, as later rearranged with the pics in the text, shows coverage of the VFs between pages 40 & 50, not all of which I can see, the bits I can not mentioning that point.  That bit may have been rewritten. I'll look when I've unpacked. This and this cover the "ochre as symbol of life" bit, which also shows up in many book snippets.

Btw, this is a useful general paper on prehistoric oche use]. Cheers, Johnbod (talk) 14:30, 14 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Looks interesting but I have no time. I'll add it to the Ochre talk page. Doug Weller  talk 12:22, 15 November 2019 (UTC)

Royal Society portraits
Hi, unfortunately the Royal Society have decided not to publish portrait of Fellows of the Royal Society anymore, I'm trying to get more information from them about why (and I've emailed you some details) Duncan.Hull (talk) 13:57, 15 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Thanks Duncan - how silly of them, frankly! As you know, all my contacts have left, but if there's anything I can do (including a meeting) please let me know. Should I write anyway? It would be useful to know at what level the decision was made. Johnbod (talk) 14:08, 15 November 2019 (UTC)

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Asana
Hi Johnbod, thanks for your additions to this article. If these had been made by a newly-registered account or an IP, I would of course have deleted them as uncited and out of place in the lead section, and while welcoming their efforts to improve the encyclopedia on their talk page, I would have explained to them about the importance of reliable sources and the vital need for verifiability, linking to the relevant policies. In the unlikely event that they responded, I would point out further that a link to another Wikipedia article did not in any way substitute for a link to a reliable source, as Wikipedia itself did not constitute a reliable source and in any case many articles were inadequately cited; nor would it make sense to follow links from one article to another in a potentially endless chain, finding few or no suitable sources as one progressed.

I'll move the art paragraph out of the lead and find a source for it, since I assume such exists. However .... Chiswick Chap (talk) 08:42, 18 November 2019 (UTC)
 * [PLEASE SEE THE NOTE AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE!] shall almost certainly move them back, with more material below. The article as it stood, and presumably now stands, is grossly misleading, and there needs to be non-yoga stuff in the lead, more than I added, if Asana as a title is to be viable.  Otherwise, a disam page will be inevitable, and Asana (yoga) etc. Johnbod (talk) 16:31, 18 November 2019 (UTC)

DYK for Māru-Gurjara architecture
Gatoclass (talk) 00:01, 21 November 2019 (UTC)

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Uncited additions to Nelumbo nucifera
Johnbod, I do not intend to create sorrow by removing your helpful and accurate introduction to the use of the sacred lotus in Asian art, but you must be aware that it is not only a personal feeling on my part that additions to Wikipedia must be cited: WP:V is a critically important policy, as without it, anyone can add anything and the encyclopedia descends into nonsense. It is not acceptable for highly experienced editors to use their sense of unassailability to add uncited claims to articles, nor to expect other editors to go around cleaning up after them. I would be grateful if you could provide a suitable citation for the newly-added material. Many thanks. Chiswick Chap (talk) 09:14, 24 November 2019 (UTC)
 * No, it is not our policy that all additions must be cited. What WP:V actually says is "All quotations, and any material whose verifiability has been challenged or is likely to be challenged, must include an inline citation".  In this case, the content in question is not a quotation and it doesn't appear that Chiswick Chap is challenging it as they say that it is helpful and accurate.
 * Demanding pro-forma citations for everything is vexatious busy work which disrupts Wikipedia's development by annoying good faith editors and filling our articles with unnecessary clutter which intimidates new editors. Perfectionism is commonly understood to be counter-productive and so should be resisted.  For more on this, see perfect is the enemy of good which I started specifically to ensure that this is understood. That article gets a high readership and it's interesting to note that its pattern of readership follows the working week – people seem to consult it when they have to get real work done.  See also teaching grandmother to suck eggs.
 * Andrew D. (talk) 10:31, 24 November 2019 (UTC)

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Gupta art
Hi there, I wasn't aware of Gupta art. Haven't looked at its history but just read through the lead and glanced at some other sections. Some sentences sound (historically) accurate, but others less so. I'm troubled a few things: by the title, "Gupta art," which fudges the distinction between "art of the Gupta period" and "art from regions under Gupta hegemony;" by the inclusion of Ajanta in the art of the Gupta empire as opposed to the Gupta period; by the overuse of Radhakumud Mookerji (he was writing nationalistic histories in the 20s, 30s, and 40s, the book cannot have been published in the 90s; it might be a facsimile); by the implication that Taxila or Gandhara was under Gupta control. Gupta hegemony never got beyond the Ravi river in the Punjab. You certainly know a lot about Ajanta, so I'll defer to your judgment, but those are the things that jumped out at me. Thus far. :) Fowler&amp;fowler  «Talk»  13:10, 13 December 2019 (UTC)
 * As the 2nd para of the lead explains, fudging "Gupta" as regards both time and place is pretty standard in art history RS, as the style doesn't conform neatly to history's boundaries. Hence also the title, intended to convey that it is a style term, rather than "Art of the Gupta Empire/period". The Elephanta Caves sculptures (c. 530-550) are probably the single most iconic group of examples of the style, but are further out on the Gupta fringe than Ajanta, timewise. This sort of thing is not exactly uncommon in art history, as while it is irresistably tempting to art historians to give artistic styles easily recognisable political labels, they rarely actually fit neatly into the box - Carolingian art and Ottonian art are European examples, and China offers plenty more.


 * There was a lot of Mookerji in the version I was given, & he has the advantages of being mostly online, and covering things like coins which the standard works I have rather distain. I've removed a number of uses, and supplemented more with other sources in the refs, & adjusted the language in several places. He obviously isn't a specialist, & is pretty brief, which is sometimes a blessing. I remember his comments on "schools" of sculpture did need adjusting. I'll check over his appearances.


 * I see that Taxila does actually have a section on its Gupta period! I'll check over the references to Gandharan influence, which was certainly important.
 * Cheers, Johnbod (talk) 16:28, 13 December 2019 (UTC)
 * Hi again, I don't usually pay attention to Indian art history pages, unless they have some kind of impact on the India page, by way of being linked and I don't know the conventions of art history, but I'm still concerned a little. I notice that Promod Chandra's longish piece on Indian Sculpture in Britannica's South Asian Arts page, is titled Gupta period c. 4th-6th. centuries. Although the term "Gupta art" is certainly used as a catch-all term, and Chandra himself uses it, I am generally of the view that on India-related pages, we have to be more careful, as the potential for ideological tinkering is much greater than average. Anyway, I'll post something the article's talk page soon.  Fowler&amp;fowler  «Talk»  19:18, 13 December 2019 (UTC)


 * PS I just remembered that I had written a subsection Ganges as a part of a larger section. You may find it interesting.  I had forgotten all about it.  I was reading Diana Eck's books before a visit to India and Varanasi at that time, ca 2011, and one of the pictures in the National Museum there I might have taken myself.     Fowler&amp;fowler  «Talk»  19:18, 13 December 2019 (UTC)
 * Yes, we should probably continue discussing the Gupta question at talk there. I hadn't seen the Ganga section. That's rather interesting from the copying POV - should it be moved or copied to Ganga in Hinduism (a page with a decent 300-odd vpd)?  It is much fuller than the present coverage, and would be more prominent there, and at c. 134K bytes Ganges is very long. The same might go for other parts of the cultural significance section. But I don't like the title as the Ganga & Yamuna pair at doorways also appears in Buddhist contexts (and Jain too, I expect), and I think the earliest survivals may be Buddhist (not sure).  Your addition is very nice, but neither of these two articles mention non-Hindu use, nor clarify that the normal early & medieval set-up is Ganga and Yamuna on opposite sides of the doorway, often carved into the doorjamb.  You may have noticed that the big terracotta one in Delhi is illustrated in Gupta art. Johnbod (talk) 14:46, 14 December 2019 (UTC)
 * Sorry, I forgot about this discussion. I will now watchlist your page.  The religious significance section was added to the Ganges page because at the time people were constantly adding POV versions of the same to it, many copied from the poorly written Ganga in Hinduism article.  The POV wars had gone on for quite some time. Finally, a number of editors including me had attempted an NPOV expansion and rewrite. But we succeeded in only half the article (Hydrology, Religion and Culture, and one other section).  You are right, the religion and culture section is an uneasy fit there, and bulky.  But, I generally don't like copying.  Also, moving, or for that matter copying, will increase the burden of watching.  As a part of  Ganges, which has many watchers, the material has been decently maintained.  I wasn't aware of the non-Hindu use.  I will look into it.  I was aware of the door-jamb carvings.  In fact, an early sentence, "Hindu temples all over India had statues and reliefs of the goddess carved at their entrances, symbolically washing the sins of arriving worshippers and guarding the gods within." is an indirect reference.  I will have to think more about all this.  Whatever is the resolution, it will have to be part of an overall resolution for Ganges.  That page has lately been quiet.  Half of me is leery about waking the sleeping dogs of POV-land from their slumbers.  Fowler&amp;fowler  «Talk»  12:51, 20 December 2019 (UTC)

Talk:Virgin of Vladimir/GA1
Johnbod, MJL has posted to the review that they've addressed all of the issues raised, but did not ping you, so I thought you might not have noticed that the review now needs your input. Thanks for all the great work you've done thus far. BlueMoonset (talk) 07:58, 16 December 2019 (UTC)

Art of Mathura
Hi Johnbod! I don't know how to describe adequately the evolution of Hindu art from the Gupta period down to the modern period, as seen in the art of Mathura (I think it shows, since I can only line up image galleries for that period!!!). By any chance, are there a few relevant lines you could add? पाटलिपुत्र Pat   (talk) 08:57, 16 December 2019 (UTC)
 * There seems to have been a big fall-off in production once the Post-Gupta period was over. In Harle and Rowland Mathura just drops off the map, with areas further east taking over the spotlight. No doubt it is more complicated than that. I see the city was sacked by the Sultanate in 1014 I think, which may have stopped activity. If I see anything I'll add it. There are pics like this "late medieval" figure from Govardhan near the city, and various others. One could certainly get a gallery row up. I can see some of this book which has a few late pics.


 * I think in general the medieval period saw a shift away from city "schools" to more widespread production, more often just ascribed to regions & dynasties. I suppose something similar happened in Europe. Of course sculptors are easier to move than large pieces of stone. Johnbod (talk) 16:39, 17 December 2019 (UTC)


 * Thank you! It seems there are many of these later Medieval sculptures in the Mathura Museum, but the style seems quite stereotyped, and their abundance may only be due to their being comparatively recent. It is indeed possible that style became uniformized throughout the country. Any help is welcome... Happy Christmas to you too!! पाटलिपुत्र Pat   (talk) 16:57, 17 December 2019 (UTC)
 * Yes, it's generally East Indian styles that are discussed re north India in the period to say 1200, & presumably led the field - as "Pala" & "Sena", or by area. The Mathura Museum ones seem broadly similar, but not as precise or sharp-featured. Johnbod (talk) 17:22, 17 December 2019 (UTC)

DYK for Gupta art
--valereee (talk) 00:01, 17 December 2019 (UTC)

Merry XMAS!
  "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold,  I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11 (King James Version) Ozzie10aaaa (talk) is wishing you a  Merry Christmas. This greeting (and season) promotes WikiLove. Spread the cheer by adding to their talk page with a friendly message.

--Ozzie10aaaa (talk) 15:19, 17 December 2019 (UTC)

So sorry, but...
I've pinged you liberally at Talk:Beaune Altarpiece, mainly to help explain that we don't know exact dates for 600 year old altarpieces, hence the use of "circa". And also to explain that most art of this period don't have titles and instead are often described by where they are held, hence our use of Prado to describe van der Weyden's Desposition. I could be wrong and am too tired to explain more than I can, so I pulled you in. Feel free to ignore. I would, if I were you. Thanks for the xmas card DYK! Very nice article, very nice image. Victoria (tk) 20:55, 17 December 2019 (UTC)
 * Yes, I've been watching that madness from afar, & letting Sandy & you carry it, but I'm happy to help. Did I catch all the points for me? Thanks re the card - They're in the post! Johnbod (talk) 23:09, 17 December 2019 (UTC)
 * Johnbod and Victoria, I saw this, and went and checked your feedback on talk ... I am worried that several of the things I did, then, will need to be undone. Feel free!  I was only trying to lessen the load.  I know I added the "Christ", and changed something to a c. that maybe shouldn't be, at least. And the short description. Please feel free to do whatever needs to be done with my edits.  This is a great example of how copyeditors not familiar with the  topic or sources can lead us astray.  Best, Sandy Georgia  (Talk)  23:23, 17 December 2019 (UTC)
 * No, very helpful, & you have more patience than I do! Johnbod (talk) 23:47, 17 December 2019 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the comments & for the card! Sandy it's all good. Victoria (tk) 00:53, 18 December 2019 (UTC)

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DYK nomination of Lotus throne
Hello! Your submission of Lotus throne at the Did You Know nominations page has been reviewed, and some issues with it may need to be clarified. Please review the comment(s) underneath your nomination's entry and respond there as soon as possible. Thank you for contributing to Did You Know! --evrik (talk) 18:51, 18 December 2019 (UTC)

User:Drmies/Jewish engraving
Johnbod--merry Christmas! I'm working on something, and I don't quite know how to finish, or reorganize, or what. I need to reconsider the title as well: the draft I have focuses on Western Europe, from the 1500s on. As some of the sources point out, esp. the Deluga article, sources are scarce. I don't know what you have on your shelf, but even without that, maybe you have some advice re:structure and content. Whatever you can do will be greatly appreciated. Drmies (talk) 02:34, 21 December 2019 (UTC)
 * Hi, I'll look at it from about 3 jan. There was a 16th-century rabbi who got into trouble with the other top rabbis after he or his fans did a medal with his head on, to exchange with his Renaissance Humanist pals. Can't remember where I saw that. Jewish art (click it and weep) has been on my to do list for ever. Johnbod (talk) 18:53, 22 December 2019 (UTC)

You'll probably find it yourself, but I think this was Elazar Rokeach of Amsterdam, around 1735. It would be quite nice to have the image in his article. I wonder if there is a museum with a free version. Theramin (talk) 21:59, 22 December 2019 (UTC)
 * Thanks, that looks like him - mostly right then! It would have to be one of the US museums who have done big releases, as medals count as 3D. Johnbod (talk) 04:51, 23 December 2019 (UTC)

Merry merry !
 ---Wikaviani  (talk) (contribs)  02:37, 21 December 2019 (UTC)

Today's Wikipedian 10 years ago
--Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:44, 21 December 2019 (UTC)
 * We're getting old, Johnbod! You too, Gerda! (And if you have a moment, is there anything you can add to Georg Goldberg? Thanks!) Drmies (talk) 15:13, 21 December 2019 (UTC)
 * We're (gracefully) getting old but staying awesome, even if sometimes bad-tempered ;) - Happy 2020! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:42, 13 January 2020 (UTC)

Yo Ho Ho!


 Ϣere Spiel  Chequers  is wishing you Seasons Greetings! Whether you celebrate your hemisphere's Solstice or Christmas, Diwali, Hogmanay, Hanukkah, Lenaia, Festivus or even the Saturnalia, this is a special time of year for almost everyone!

Spread the holiday cheer by adding to your friends' talk pages.

Season's Greetings
FWiW Bzuk (talk) 21:04, 22 December 2019 (UTC)

Peace Dove
Peace is a state of balance and understanding in yourself and between others, where respect is gained by the acceptance of differences, tolerance persists, conflicts are resolved through dialog, peoples rights are respected and their voices are heard, and everyone is at their highest point of serenity without social tension. Happy Holidays to you and yours. &#8213; Buster7  &#9742;   14:38, 24 December 2019 (UTC)

DYK for Mystical Nativity (Filippo Lippi)
Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 00:01, 25 December 2019 (UTC)

I disagree with you keeping out my changes
I disagree with you arbitrarily removing my changes https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nativity_of_Jesus_in_art&type=revision&diff=932338322&oldid=932329306

I added 2 of the most famous Bible illustrations depicting the Nativity. One is from Gustave Dore, the other is from Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld. Both Bible editions have been some of the most important published and are reproduced countless times. --GoogleMeNowPlease (talk) 04:58, 25 December 2019 (UTC)

A kitten for you!
You are most welcome.

Fylindfotberserk (talk) 15:35, 29 December 2019 (UTC) 

Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays text.png Hello Johnbod: Enjoy the holiday season and winter solstice if it's occurring in your area of the world, and thanks for your work to maintain, improve and expand Wikipedia. Cheers, Fylindfotberserk (talk) 15:38, 29 December 2019 (UTC)


 * Spread the WikiLove; use {{subst:Season's Greetings}} to send this message
 * Thanks! Johnbod (talk) 15:41, 29 December 2019 (UTC)

Happy New Year, Johnbod!


Happy New Year! Johnbod, Have a prosperous, productive and enjoyable New Year, and thanks for your contributions to Wikipedia.

– Davey 2010 Talk 00:17, 1 January 2020 (UTC)

Send New Year cheer by adding {{subst:Happy New Year fireworks}} to user talk pages.

DYK for Ratnagiri, Odisha
--valereee (talk) 00:01, 2 January 2020 (UTC)

Invitation to the 2020 WikiCup
Happy New Year, Happy New Decade and Happy New WikiCup! The 2020 WikiCup began at the start of January and all article creators, expanders and improvers are welcome to take part. If you are interested in joining, you can add your name here and the judges will set up your submissions page. Creative editors like yourself seem to enjoy taking part, and many return year after year. Signups will close at the end of January, and the first round will end on 26 February; the 64 highest scorers at that time will move on to round 2. The judges for the WikiCup are, , and Cwmhiraeth (talk) 09:44, 4 January 2020 (UTC)

DYK for Lalitasana
Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 12:01, 7 January 2020 (UTC)

Gudimallam Shiva
Hi Johnbod! I've always been puzzled by the dates given for this statue... I've looked up a bit. One author I've found says the date is generally given as 2nd century CE, but thinks it is actually 4th century CE in, while a less specialized summary of available dates gives a range from 2nd century BCE to the 7th century CE in. What is your opinion? पाटलिपुत्र Pat   (talk) 11:52, 8 January 2020 (UTC)
 * I've no personal view - I see: Blurton, T. Richard, Hindu Art, 1994, British Museum Press, ISBN 0 7141 1442 1, p. 78 says "most scholars ... now accept.. on stylistic grounds ... [a date of ] 2nd or 1st century BC". I'll poke around. Johnbod (talk) 13:12, 8 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Ellwood, 47 from 2000 says "has been dated between" 2C BC & 1C AD. I think I'll widen the range & add stuff. Blurton & Ellwood have longish accounts. Johnbod (talk) 13:27, 8 January 2020 (UTC)
 * It does seem there is quite a lot of divergence on the dates. Thank you for the feedback! पाटलिपुत्र Pat   (talk) 14:28, 8 January 2020 (UTC)

DYK for Lotus throne
--valereee (talk) 12:01, 12 January 2020 (UTC)

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Administrators' noticeboard
There is currently a discussion at Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents regarding an issue with which you may have been involved. --evrik (talk) 04:20, 13 January 2020 (UTC)

January 2020
You have been blocked from editing for a period of 24 h for making personal attacks towards other editors. Once the block has expired, you are welcome to make useful contributions. If you think there are good reasons for being unblocked, please read the guide to appealing blocks, then add the following text below the block notice on your talk page:.  Sandstein  20:12, 13 January 2020 (UTC)


 * Sandstein, I am only here because I’m currently in conversation with Johnbod on a completely unconnected matter, but can we please have a diff for this supposed personal attack. You see, Johnbod is one of our more esteemed, long serving content editors not associated with incivility or associated behaviour. Giano    (talk) 20:36, 13 January 2020 (UTC)
 * It's hardly hard to find: User_talk:Evrik Andy Dingley (talk) 20:49, 13 January 2020 (UTC)
 * I’m glad my life has not been so sheltered that WTF as modern parlance has not totally escaped me. Your great grandchildren must consider you a treasure indeed. Giano    (talk) 20:59, 13 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Ah, Giano, as refreshingly charming as ever. Andy Dingley (talk) 21:16, 13 January 2020 (UTC)


 * Indeed and you and Sandstein remain unchanged by time too. Talking of time, did you know that when The Low Countries were governed by narrow minded people, rather like Wikipedia, in the 17th century, the intelligentsia invented coded ways of saying the word “Fuck”, they did this by painting little birds as the Dutch word for bird was then currently slang for recreational sex (bad) as opposed to procreational sex (good). So presumably a bird flying away could mean...well, I’ll let you work it out. Giano    (talk) 21:30, 13 January 2020 (UTC)
 * I'm not seriously vested in this discussion whatsoever, I just wanted to say that I absolutely love what you just said and appreciate your cultural awareness. MrThunderbolt1000T (talk) 04:30, 21 January 2020 (UTC)
 * How the fuck is "what the fuck" a personal attack? You're a fuck, sure. But "what the fuck" is the equivalent to "what on earth". How is this blockable?  freshacconci  (✉) 21:33, 13 January 2020 (UTC)
 * The upper casing and the three exclamation points were the bounce. Should have been [EDIT: presented as] a politely worded question instead, [EDIT: WHATTHEFUCK???], upper cased with three question marks. It's all in the wrist. Randy Kryn (talk) 22:24, 13 January 2020 (UTC) (Free Johnbod, and Epstein didn't kill himself) [EDIT: Edited later to make clear what I originally intended]
 * Well that is true no doubt. But it is totally typical that blatent and unapologetic breaches of policy are overlooked (see User:Primefac's comments at the Evric talk section). Johnbod (talk) 22:35, 13 January 2020 (UTC)


 * !!!kcuF eht tahW Randy Kryn (talk) 22:51, 13 January 2020 (UTC) (dobnhoJ eerF) p.s. this should have been talked out before a ban, given the clean slate. But women like bad boys, so there's that (I've got two bans to my record, and the scars to prove it)


 * All I can say is that sometimes it happens to all of us, WTF; OMG; but we do go on...Modernist (talk) 23:39, 13 January 2020 (UTC)


 * Thanks Rexx! Johnbod (talk) 02:32, 14 January 2020 (UTC)
 * As noted at WP:ANI, I would have agreed to unblock Johnbod if they had acknowledged that their conduct was wrong and committed not to repeat it. That not being the case, it is likely that the conduct will reoccur and the block remains needed.  Sandstein   22:26, 13 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Sandstein, Johnbod's post is very close to what you're looking for. Johnbod, please consider bringing it even closer. SarahSV (talk) 22:45, 13 January 2020 (UTC)

DYK for Ringstone
--valereee (talk) 12:02, 15 January 2020 (UTC)

Mike DeWine
I changed the "attorney" part you reverted to on Mike DeWine, and made it "former attorney." That should be descriptive enough and not mislead any readers. Thoughts? MrThunderbolt1000T (talk) 04:27, 21 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Well I don't really care but normally we just pile up all appropriate career designations. What happens when he loses office & goes back to the law? Johnbod (talk) 10:49, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

"Domestic architecture" listed at Redirects for discussion
An editor has asked for a discussion to address the redirect Domestic architecture. Since you had some involvement with the Domestic architecture redirect, you might want to participate in the redirect discussion if you wish to do so. Steel1943 (talk) 00:35, 24 January 2020 (UTC)

Plane crash
How odd! We must have both moved it at exactly the same time. Never known that before. You must have been a milli-second before me. Giano   (talk) 11:49, 24 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Indeed - I was puzzled when I saw it. I think I'm done now (I kept the lower placing - I expect the village are as unkeen to have their article dominated by strangers crashing into each other above them as the manor were). Cheers, Johnbod (talk) 11:53, 24 January 2020 (UTC)


 * Thanks! Agreed. I gave up editing when I realised we were both in there together. Giano    (talk) 11:59, 24 January 2020 (UTC)