Thursday, August 17, 2006

"Walter Pater suggests an explanation of this persistent malancholy. He thinks that Botticelli had adopted a theory, held by one of the philosophers fo the day, that the human race had descended from those angels who, when war arose in heaven, had remained neutral, fighting neither for God nor his enemies. This (to quote from Pater) 'interprets much of the peculiar sentiment with which he infuses his profane and sacred persons,-- comely, and in a certain sense like angels, but with a sense of displacement or loss about them, .... always attractive, clothed sometimes by passion with a character of loveliness and energy, but saddened perpetually by the shadow upon them of the great things from which they shrink. It is this which gives to his Madonnas their unique expression and charm.... for with Botticelli she too, though she hold in her hands 'the Desire of all nations', is one of those who are 'neither for God nor his enemies': and her choice is on her face. Her trouble is the very caress of the mysterious Child, whose gaze is always far from her, and who had already that sweet look of devotion which men have never been able altogether to love, and which still makes the born saint an object almost of suspicion to his earthly brethren.'"

from 'schools of painitng', mary innes.
fecking brilliant.


mellie contemplated 12:32 PM
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