BOO!Wednesday, October 21, 2009
An Early Halloween Celebration!
BOO!
Monday, October 19, 2009
la Bencina (la-ben-cheena)
Many people don't know that I am an art lover. I was two classes away from humanities being my third major in college. I just kept taking the classes for fun. I've never been to Europe. Always wanted to but haven't had the chance. I do, however, feel like I have been because of all of my studying. This painting by guy you might know, Leonardo daVinci, is entitled "Ginevra de' Benci" but is known by contemporaries as "la Bencina". I'm not sure why, but it is one of my favorite paintings. You can imagine my excitement when I found out that it is located in D.C. at my favorite museum, The National Gallery of Art. It is also the only daVinci located in the United States. When I give tours of the museum most people ask for a brief one. This is a must-see painting on that tour.
Here's a little bit about Ginny, as I like to call her.
She was the daughter of a wealthy Florentine banker and is estimated to be about 16 years old. During the Renaissance wedding portraits were typically made in pairs with the woman on the right side of her husband. Because Ginny is facing the right, this is more than likely a painting commissioned in celebration of her engagement. Ginny was celebrated by many during her time because of her purity, virtue, intelligence and of course, beauty. DaVinci recognized all of these characteristics by painting her without jewels and extravagant clothing, near a juniper bush and outside of her home.
DaVinci painted Ginny with a juniper bush in the background. The junipers are not only a symbol of chastity, which was the greatest of characteristic a Renaissance woman could possess, but also refers to her name. In Italian the word juniper is ginepro. Something interesting about junipers is that they are very green when they are a young plant and turn more brown with age. DaVinci was a smart man. The original painting also showed her hands holding a pink flower that represented virtue and devotion.
I think that Ginny was a forward thinking woman. Typically women of her status were painted wearing large jewels and opulent clothing to symbolize wealth and beauty and ultimately the dowry that the man marrying her would receive. Surprisingly, she is painted without those things, in a plain dress and a simple necklace. I like to think that she wanted the focus to be on her intelligence, rather than outward appearance. Other features of Ginevra's portrait reveal young Leonardo as an innovator. He placed her in an open setting at a time when women were still shown carefully sheltered within the walls of their family homes, with landscapes glimpsed only through an open window.
Only one line of Ginny's poetry survived and I think that it just sums this girl up. "I ask your forgiveness, I am a mountain tiger." I like to think that she recognized her part of being a woman in her Renaissance society by the politeness of the tone, but she also recognizes her free spirit. I think that daVinci did a fantastic job of capturing it. What do you think?
Here's a little bit about Ginny, as I like to call her.
She was the daughter of a wealthy Florentine banker and is estimated to be about 16 years old. During the Renaissance wedding portraits were typically made in pairs with the woman on the right side of her husband. Because Ginny is facing the right, this is more than likely a painting commissioned in celebration of her engagement. Ginny was celebrated by many during her time because of her purity, virtue, intelligence and of course, beauty. DaVinci recognized all of these characteristics by painting her without jewels and extravagant clothing, near a juniper bush and outside of her home.
DaVinci painted Ginny with a juniper bush in the background. The junipers are not only a symbol of chastity, which was the greatest of characteristic a Renaissance woman could possess, but also refers to her name. In Italian the word juniper is ginepro. Something interesting about junipers is that they are very green when they are a young plant and turn more brown with age. DaVinci was a smart man. The original painting also showed her hands holding a pink flower that represented virtue and devotion.
I think that Ginny was a forward thinking woman. Typically women of her status were painted wearing large jewels and opulent clothing to symbolize wealth and beauty and ultimately the dowry that the man marrying her would receive. Surprisingly, she is painted without those things, in a plain dress and a simple necklace. I like to think that she wanted the focus to be on her intelligence, rather than outward appearance. Other features of Ginevra's portrait reveal young Leonardo as an innovator. He placed her in an open setting at a time when women were still shown carefully sheltered within the walls of their family homes, with landscapes glimpsed only through an open window.
Only one line of Ginny's poetry survived and I think that it just sums this girl up. "I ask your forgiveness, I am a mountain tiger." I like to think that she recognized her part of being a woman in her Renaissance society by the politeness of the tone, but she also recognizes her free spirit. I think that daVinci did a fantastic job of capturing it. What do you think?
Friday, October 16, 2009
A new obsessioin -- Laughing Cow Cheese
Yes, I think cows are funny. Really, I do. They chew funny, talk funny and produce funny things (rather, milk that is turned into funny things).
The cows in Vermont are just funny looking.In all seriousness though, this is my new favorite snack. Each wedge is a mere 30 calories and 2 grams or fat. Add with pita chips or apple slices and you've got a perfect mid-day low fat, health snack. Yum.
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