Author Topic: Beautiful Art (Read 22590 times)

Mark 79 · « **Reply #30 on:** December 30, 2021, 11:21:34 PM »

I thought this commentary was as interesting as Michelangelo's image of himself.

A self-portrait

St. Bartholomew (detail), Michelangelo, *Last Judgment*, Sistine Chape, fresco, 1534-1541 (Vatican City, Rome)

St. Bartholomew (detail), Michelangelo (flayed), Last Judgment, Sistine Chape, fresco, 1534-1541 (Vatican City, Rome)

Even more poignant is Michelangelo’s insertion of himself into the fresco. His is the face on the flayed skin held by St. Bartholomew, an empty shell that hangs precariously between heaven and hell. To his learned audience, the flayed skin would bring to mind not only the circuмstances of the saint’s martyrdom but also the flaying of Marsyas by Apollo. In his foolish arrogance, Marsyas challenged Apollo to a musical contest, believing his skill could surpass that of the god of music himself. His punishment for such hubris was to be flayed alive. That Michelangelo should identify with Marsyas is not surprising. His contemporaries had dubbed him the “divine” Michelangelo for his ability to rival God himself in giving form to the ideal body. Often he lamented his youthful pride, which had led him to focus on the beauty of art rather than the salvation of his soul. So, here, in a work done in his mid 60s, he acknowledges his sin and expresses his hope that Christ, unlike Apollo, will have mercy upon him and welcome him into the company of the elect.

Arch Stanton · « **Reply #31 on:** January 04, 2022, 02:12:40 AM »

"Allegory of Charity" - Francisco de Zurbaran

Arch Stanton · « **Reply #32 on:** January 04, 2022, 02:15:23 AM »

"Angel offering flowers to the Virgin" - Simone Martini

s2srea · « **Reply #33 on:** January 04, 2022, 07:01:54 AM »

Quote from: DigitalLogos on December 28, 2021, 05:45:24 PM

John Singer Sargent - The Confession

I very much love this image and have never seen it before! Thank you!

bodeens · « **Reply #34 on:** January 09, 2022, 03:39:42 PM »

Maybe my overall favorite, there are higher res versions of this but are lower quality overall and don't capture the individual details well at all and the highest res scan is straight up blurry.

Mark 79 · « **Reply #35 on:** January 09, 2022, 03:45:35 PM »

I started putting a few of my high-resolution favorites here: http://judaism.is/sacred-art.html

DigitalLogos · « **Reply #36 on:** January 09, 2022, 03:52:21 PM »

I've really been liking illuminated manuscript artwork lately.

God the Father enthroned from an illuminated Missal, c.1520-30

DigitalLogos · « **Reply #37 on:** January 09, 2022, 04:11:08 PM »

A vintage Holy Card of St. Margaret Mary receiving the revelation of the Sacred Heart

DigitalLogos · « **Reply #38 on:** January 09, 2022, 05:15:18 PM »

DigitalLogos · « **Reply #39 on:** January 09, 2022, 06:14:09 PM »

"And behold, two of them went, the same day, to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself also drawing near, went with them." [St. Luke 24:13-15]