Sunday 16 November 2008

Renaissance Faces

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;

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:

Allison said...

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!!)

Ali Honey said...

Striped stockings like Pippi I'll be bound.
( what strange proportions the top lady has )

Mary said...

The design on the sleeve of the dress of the Baldovinetti portrait is incredibly modern...

Anonymous said...

You just can't get distaff these days ...

Anonymous said...

I hope it is something to make her happy. SOmething to delight her and bring her joy.

Ali said...

Socks for sure - she looks the secretly subversive type.

Suse said...

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)

blackbird said...

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.

The Coffee Lady said...

she scares me. I think whatever she knits, it's going to have thorns in it.

trash said...

Do you think Van Eyk painted that top picture b/c the tabloids needed a front page grab about chimeras and genetic hybrids?

kristina said...

I bet she wears wild stripy knee-high socks under that skirt! K x

dottycookie said...

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)

Jackie said...

Your work is done.....

Anonymous said...

I say she's knitting some natty pantaloons.


But I will have to swing by the National Gallery to see for myself...

Lynn said...

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...)

Christy said...

that's awesome! That Holbein is one I use in class every year to talk about symbolism in art.

fifi said...

oh,


completely heaving with envy.

Even on my third look at this post.


Oh, I am so far away from these wonders. aaagh!