MissM and MrsM have a cultural day out
and visit the Renaissance Faces exhibition
at the National Gallery.
It is inspirational
and there is so much that could be said:
about the development of portraiture;
and visit the Renaissance Faces exhibition
at the National Gallery.
It is inspirational
and there is so much that could be said:
about the development of portraiture;
Margaret, the Artist’s Wife ~ Jan van Eyck
the representation of status;
Marsilio Cassotti and his Wife Faustina ~ Lorenzo Lotto
the role of women.
Portrait of a Woman, 'La Bella' ~ Palma Vecchio
but MrsM finds herself distracted...
She knows that she should be enthralled
by the delicacy of the Hilliard miniature
Young Man among Roses ~ Nicholas Hilliard
or the fabulous ornament of costume
Portrait of a Lady ~ Alesso Baldovinetti
or even the complicated symbolism of the Holbein.
The Ambassadors ~ Hans Holbein the Younger
But NO...
MrsM is wondering what this lady is going to knit:
Portrait of a Lady with Spindle and Distaff ~ Maerten van Heemskerck
stripey socks to wear under her dress?
a cosy throw for her oak settle?
some adorable toys for Christmas?
17 comments:
OK, very clever post. I do think the lass in the last pic looks a bit like Scarlett Johanssen from Girl with a Pearl Earring.
And hey! I don't like that my word verification word is "uglyst"!!! (Especially when I have been feelin' like such a hot mama!!)
Striped stockings like Pippi I'll be bound.
( what strange proportions the top lady has )
The design on the sleeve of the dress of the Baldovinetti portrait is incredibly modern...
You just can't get distaff these days ...
I hope it is something to make her happy. SOmething to delight her and bring her joy.
Socks for sure - she looks the secretly subversive type.
By interesting coincidence, I have a book in front of me right this very minute (because I am not reading blogs, oh no, I am actually writing a 2500 word essay, can't you tell?) that has that Portrait of a Woman 'La Bella' in it. From the fact that she's flashing her chemise, it's reckoned she is a courtesan. One with a wealthy patron, by the look of those sleeves.
Ok, back to the essay ...
(word verif is snusl)
And here I was so impressed that you and the Mister were having a cultured afternoon whilst me and mine are raking leaves out of the kitchen.
she scares me. I think whatever she knits, it's going to have thorns in it.
Do you think Van Eyk painted that top picture b/c the tabloids needed a front page grab about chimeras and genetic hybrids?
I bet she wears wild stripy knee-high socks under that skirt! K x
There is a section on ravelry of alarming knitted undergarments. She does have that look about her ...
(I am so sorry for lowering the tone, yet again)
Your work is done.....
I say she's knitting some natty pantaloons.
But I will have to swing by the National Gallery to see for myself...
She looks crabby to me -- in fact, maybe even a little bit dangerous. Maybe she's just peevish because she has to do her spinning while wearing those huge, whonkin' puffy sleeves? At least she has normal proportions and no antlers, unlike poor Margaret...
(My word verif: lesse. As in, lesse is more in the comment box, Ms. Long Winded...)
that's awesome! That Holbein is one I use in class every year to talk about symbolism in art.
oh,
completely heaving with envy.
Even on my third look at this post.
Oh, I am so far away from these wonders. aaagh!
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