Dear Mark,
You asked about my favorite Godiva sculpture or paintings. Now as you (with that memory of yours) undoubtedly recall, I’ve never been all that excited about sculpture or statues. I appreciate the artistry, but I’m generally not moved by them. Oh, occasionally I’ll be captivated by something small, like this:
She could be a version of Godiva who knows that we don’t have to take our clothes off (to have a good time).
Of course, being a Southern girl, I do appreciate having statues to look at when I picnic in cemeteries and talk to the dead. A good time–as long as the dead don’t talk back.
But since you asked so sweetly, and it is, after all, your birthday, we’ll begin our Godiva tour with the statue in Coventry, England, that–in BeckyWorld–was duplicated and sent to Coventry, Texas. If you click on her and go up to the gallery, there are more photos (with notes) that can be embiggened if your eyes are now too old to see them for greater detail.
Happy birthday to one of my favorite writers–a person who always makes me think and smile. Those are lovely qualities to find in a friend, and only two of many wonderful things about you. I hope you have a fantastic day, in or out of your birthday suit. (However, I don’t recommend nude horseback rides. Chafing, you know.)
click here
*I stole “embiggen” from The Simpsons just as I stole these pictures from the Internet. Don’t tell.
Good lord, that first one is painted up like some kinda tart. Whats with the rouge!
Painting made them seem more life like.
The Greeks had plenty of beautiful marble and used it freely for temples as well as for their sculpture (see Marble). They were not satisfied with its cold whiteness, however, and painted both their statues and their buildings. Some statues have been found with their bright colors still preserved, but most of them lost their paint through weathering.
http://history-world.org/arthist.htm
Re: Painting made them seem more life like.
So your telling me that the Greeks liked their statues to look like whores?
Re: Painting made them seem more life like.
yeah. The Greeks liked a lot of things that dealt with whoring. They believed in the fun life, and every one had sex with each other, not caring about homosexuality, too. 🙂 It’s was an open thing. While they had wives to procreate, they also had their boys to play with. The Senate was famous for orgies.
I love the word “tart.”
Here’s why you’re a total angel. That Ramparts of God’s House painting… that’s one I saw a long time ago and could never find because A) I forgot the title, and B) because I’ve confused the artist with Burne-Jones, all these years.
You give one hell of an unexpected birthday present, when you put your mind to it. : )
I think the artist was a student of Burne-Jones. I get all those artists mixed up. I’m glad I helped you find an old painting. It’s birthday magic!