Spring Inspiration in Winter
I am in love…. with this painting of the Roman Goddess of Spring, flowers and fertility, "Flora-Meretrix", by Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1526-1593). This is the more sensual version of his Flora paintings and I love the way he softened the flowers to create a sense of flesh (almost as if she were wearing a lacey body stocking) and in contrast, he gave the other flowers, which create her hair and garment, a sense of hyper-reality. What a challenge it would be to reinterpret even a detail of this glorious painting, in reclaimed embroidery.
When I was in Paris in 2010 I walked through miles of galleries in the Louvre to see the Arcimboldo paintings, only to learn that they were all on loan to Madrid. I was quite disappointed.
This particular painting has always been held in private collections and has only been exhibited to the public once in four hundred years - in Vienna in 2014. What I wouldn't have given to have seen her in the flesh!
(http://musea.today/2014/10/20/exhibition-giuseppe-arcimboldo-khm-vienna/)
would love to see your interpretation of a section of this marvelous work and hope you will get to see this painting in real life in the not too faraway!
ReplyDeleteyou will I hope Mo, I need to do a website 'journal' post on progress to date, I'm working on another piece at the moment, but hope to get to Flora soon! cheers
DeleteDear Ms Saxton
ReplyDeletesince I am an old guy who has for quit awhile ascribed to the old sage, "when the student is ready the teacher will appear", I am now rejuvenated soulfully in pursuit of the knowledge you impart by your generous sharing metaphorically of the beauty and passion of life. Thank you.