Portrait of a Boy with a Long Beard
October 25, 2010 7:20 AM Subscribe
Flying eyeballs. Pissed-off bearded ladies. Mummy Jesus. The Wolfman. The lactation of St. Bernard. The Jesus & Mary UFO invasion.* And the Phineas Gage of 1550.
These and more at the gallery of unexpected motifs in Renaissance art. [old-school NSFW]
*with bonus golfing pope!
These and more at the gallery of unexpected motifs in Renaissance art. [old-school NSFW]
*with bonus golfing pope!
Seems odd that the author of this site would include Leonardo's Grotesque head but not the Quentin Massys.
posted by vacapinta at 7:30 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by vacapinta at 7:30 AM on October 25, 2010
This is going to be so much fun to read in my sleep deprived state
posted by The Whelk at 7:38 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 7:38 AM on October 25, 2010
Also, getting to explain stuff like sprays of breast milk granting wisdom makes touring art museums much, much more interesting.
posted by The Whelk at 7:39 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 7:39 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
That is a very anatomically...suspect Bearded Lady there. And I'm not talking about the beard.
posted by librarylis at 7:44 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by librarylis at 7:44 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
The bearded woman may be a reference to Wilgefortis.
posted by jedicus at 7:45 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by jedicus at 7:45 AM on October 25, 2010
Gregor Baci sure looks collected.
posted by adamdschneider at 7:52 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by adamdschneider at 7:52 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
They left out a rather obvious motif.
posted by Curious Artificer at 7:59 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Curious Artificer at 7:59 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
Nice collection, but the blurbs are a little bit lacking. For instance, in the Flaying of the Corrupt Judge Sisamnes, the seated man in the top right corner is Sisamnes' son, and the skin hanging behind him is his father's (it's slightly bloody). The painting is part of a diptych that was made for the Hall of Justice in Bruges. It's a kind of motivational poster for judges.
posted by elgilito at 8:01 AM on October 25, 2010 [6 favorites]
posted by elgilito at 8:01 AM on October 25, 2010 [6 favorites]
They left out a rather obvious motif.
Nobody would ever expect that.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 8:26 AM on October 25, 2010 [2 favorites]
Nobody would ever expect that.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 8:26 AM on October 25, 2010 [2 favorites]
That's no flying eyeball. it's the FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER!
posted by rmd1023 at 8:33 AM on October 25, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 8:33 AM on October 25, 2010 [3 favorites]
Was wondering whether the paintings from Leo Steinberg's "The Sexuality of Christ in Renaissance Art" would be in here, but those seem to have been omitted too. Great post!
posted by texorama at 8:35 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by texorama at 8:35 AM on October 25, 2010
I just have to say that the Mother of God has amazing aim.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:42 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:42 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
Old-School Taters
This is a fun website to click around in, and these paintings have a Bosch-like surreality that I enjoy. Thanks for posting!
posted by not_on_display at 8:47 AM on October 25, 2010
This is a fun website to click around in, and these paintings have a Bosch-like surreality that I enjoy. Thanks for posting!
posted by not_on_display at 8:47 AM on October 25, 2010
Swaddling.
Yeah, but the swaddling cloth in the picture is oddly segmented. It really looks for all the world like Jesus is dressed up as a mummy for Halloween, but Mary and Joseph waited until the last minute and used toilet paper.
posted by jedicus at 8:48 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yeah, but the swaddling cloth in the picture is oddly segmented. It really looks for all the world like Jesus is dressed up as a mummy for Halloween, but Mary and Joseph waited until the last minute and used toilet paper.
posted by jedicus at 8:48 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
What better evidence of homosexuality among Renaissance painters than that none had ever seen a female breast?
posted by DU at 8:59 AM on October 25, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by DU at 8:59 AM on October 25, 2010 [3 favorites]
The bearded woman may be a reference to Wilgefortis.
Apparently it's Magdalena Ventura, a historical bearded woman.
posted by Dr Dracator at 10:12 AM on October 25, 2010
Apparently it's Magdalena Ventura, a historical bearded woman.
posted by Dr Dracator at 10:12 AM on October 25, 2010
Prithee, milady, dost thou desire what the French are known to call a "nurple pourpre"?
posted by Rock Steady at 10:31 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Rock Steady at 10:31 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
Apparently it's Magdalena Ventura, a historical bearded woman.
Well never mind, then. I had guessed it was a physiologically average woman depicted as the saint for some reason, but the real story is more interesting. Thanks.
posted by jedicus at 10:34 AM on October 25, 2010
Well never mind, then. I had guessed it was a physiologically average woman depicted as the saint for some reason, but the real story is more interesting. Thanks.
posted by jedicus at 10:34 AM on October 25, 2010
Tell me there is a painting of the Spanish Inquisition.
posted by Harry at 10:53 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by Harry at 10:53 AM on October 25, 2010
I wouldn't expect it.
posted by Dr Dracator at 11:01 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Dr Dracator at 11:01 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's more paintings about the Lactation of St. Bernard.
posted by vacapinta at 11:06 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by vacapinta at 11:06 AM on October 25, 2010
Unexpectedly, that joke had already been made! I will punish myself with fluffy cushions.
This is very clever: the diptych is now windows!
It's Jacob's nemesis!
posted by Harry at 11:08 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
This is very clever: the diptych is now windows!
It's Jacob's nemesis!
posted by Harry at 11:08 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
While this is fun, the images are different categories: the Petrus Gonsalvus and the Bearded lady link are portraits (or supposed portraits) of actual people; the mummy Jesus is swaddled; the 'UFO' painting and the lactation of St. Bernard are both illustrations of miracles; and Gregor Baci is, well, a remarkably lucky guy. The flying eyeball is an emblem: maybe of vigilance?
posted by jrochest at 11:45 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jrochest at 11:45 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
When I first read "flying eyeballs", I thought, "does he mean der fliegen augen?"
posted by Relay at 12:46 PM on October 25, 2010
posted by Relay at 12:46 PM on October 25, 2010
Gregor Baci sure looks collected.
Frontal lobotomies have a wonderfully calming effect.
posted by TedW at 6:54 AM on October 26, 2010
Frontal lobotomies have a wonderfully calming effect.
posted by TedW at 6:54 AM on October 26, 2010
The Wolfman.
Man, I was sure that was going to be about Saint Christopher.
posted by Amanojaku at 9:45 AM on October 26, 2010
Man, I was sure that was going to be about Saint Christopher.
posted by Amanojaku at 9:45 AM on October 26, 2010
The bearded woman and her husband look like they could be brothers. Was the painter just not very good or is it part of the condition causing excessive hair growth?
posted by moody cow at 1:55 AM on October 31, 2010
posted by moody cow at 1:55 AM on October 31, 2010
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posted by ciderwoman at 7:23 AM on October 25, 2010