Cabinet of Curiosities

By Mary Jo Gibson

August 31, 2012

The changes of the season will soon be upon us, but as the last days of summer wane, I bring a new Cabinet of Curiosities with several bits of interest. The cabinet picture is from the Victoria and Albert Museum, showing a Japanese lacquered incense box that may have belonged to Queen Marie-Antoinette of France.  The museum’s team of scientists have tested the materials and found that metals such as gold, silver and tin were used to decorate the surface, and what was thought to be red coral is actually made with a red pigment called vermilion.  Let’s open the drawers a take a look inside…

Restoration Secrets from the Vatican

Museum Secrets has added new content to their website, including an interactive tool for users to experience restoration of a fresco.  A back story tells of restoration work in the Papal apartments on several masterpieces by Raphael.  Old repairs that concealed damage to the faces of several popes revealed the name of the leader of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther.  How did this name appear on a work of Catholic religious art?  Find out at their link, Museum Secrets.

Opening up the Soane

The Soane Museum in London has added a video to their site showing the unique restoration project that is currently being undertaken.  Their archival library includes an inventory of all objects from Sir John Soane himself, and several books with watercolor drawings of the rooms.  Armed with this research, the restoration will be completed to the highest satisfaction of the donor’s standards.  The video offers a glimpse of the miniscule water closet, which contains one of the smallest sinks I have ever seen.  Take five minutes and find your imagination in awe of what awaits behind the door at Soane’s private residence in London, there is even a sarcophagus in the basement.

What exactly is a Cotehardie?

Clothing through the ages has changed radically, with art recording the variety of the times.  The Cotehardie was the first tailored garment in European history.  Prior to this, clothes were a variation on a bag with sleeves and a hole for your head, not exactly flattering.  An enterprising individual whose name has been lost through the passage of time experimented with cutting the fabric to fit the body like a glove, and a revolution began.  Images from art of the period showing women dressed in Cotehardies can be found at this link.

The true journey of the lost sock

I never thought that an old pair of stockings would have any significance, but a small collection from the Costume Institute is available on the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.  This particular pair dates from the late 18^th century, made of silk with metallic thread.  A gift from Henri-Marcel Cadgene in 1955, I am truly amazed at what people have stored away in their homes.  I doubt the television program Hoarders would find anything of this value, but there is the possibility.

Tudor Roses and enough history to fill volumes

This emblem of King Henry VIII, the Tudor Rose, represents the combination of the House of York and the House of Lancaster.  When Henry took the crown of England from Richard III in battle, he brought about the end of the War of the Roses.    Given the symbolism and branding through the centuries at the historic King’s College Chapel, a virtual tour with explanations would greatly enhance their website.  Perhaps writers of the Dan Brown variety will find inspiration in this storied chapel.  Founded in 1446, I am sure there is some historical intrigue that can be fleshed out through research.  After all, master masons of the highest caliber were involved in the construction and decoration of this historic place.

Another lost Masterpiece makes news

Horse and Rider, the only known three dimensional piece of art created by Leonardo da Vinci was unveiled this week.  Taken from a 504 year old beeswax image, the sculpture is believed to contain a thumbprint of Leonardo.  Created in 1508 as gift for his patron, French military governor Charles d’Ambroise, it measures 12 inches high and 7 inches wide, and believed to be intended as a model for a much larger sculpture.  After Leonardo’s death in 1519, it was given to his apprentice, Francesco Mezi, remaining in the family until 1930.

When studied in detail, it was discovered that along the horse’s right breast a thumbprint exists.  While there is no possible verification available, it is believed to be Leonardo’s.

The beeswax sculpture was authenticated by Dr. Carlo Pedretti, widely considered the world’s foremost authority on Leonardo, and professor emeritus of art history and the Chair of Leonardo studies at UCLA.    The statue is currently on display at the Imagine Exhibition Gallery at the Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas.

Around the world with a virtual vacation

If funds are scarce this holiday weekend, take a tour from Best Places in the World.  Beautiful photographs of unusual points of interest across the world.  A short description of the historical context is just enough to whet the appetite for more research.  This photo of Mont Saint-Michel in France gives the briefest of vignettes, but the Wiki page provides a depth of detail.

Thank you for joining me for this week’s Cabinet of Curiosities.  Museum Monday will offer a virtual tour of the historic Red Rocks Amphitheater and their museum.  Join me for some of the most beautiful views outside the city of Denver, and a little music to complete the experience.

Cheers,

MJ

What I am reading over the holiday weekend.

Museum Monday

Raphael Loggias at the Hermitage Museum

The Raphael Loggias in the Hermitage Museum are copies of the famous gallery created during the 16^th century in the Vatican Palace by Raphael Sanzio da Urbino (1483-1520).  The Hermitage Gallery was created at the behest of Catherine II.  Built in the mid-19^th century, it was included in the New Hermitage design as a museum building.  Copies of the Vatican frescos were produced in tempera on canvas by a group of artists under Christoper Unterberger.   The vaults of this gallery are decorated with paintings based upon Biblical stories, and the walls are covered with human and animal forms interwoven with flowers and foliage.  This decorative ornamentation was found in the ruins of Nero’s Golden House, referred to as grotesques.  The Raphael Loggias in the Hermitage reveal the links of 18^th century Classicism with Renaissance and Classical art.  But that is also where the comparisons end.

Raphael Rooms at the Vatican

Pope Julius II Della Rovere commissioned Raphael, age 25, to paint the frescoes in his four room apartment on the top floor of the Vatican palace.  The four Stanze di Raffaello (Raphael’s rooms) form a suite of reception rooms, the public part of the papal apartments.  It is possible Julius’ intent was to outshine the apartments of his predecessor (and rival) Pope Alexander VI and the Borgia Secret Apartments, as the Stanze are directly above Alexander’s apartments, overlooking the south side of the Belvedere Courtyard.

The death of Julius in 1513 found only two rooms complete but Pope Leo X continued the program.  Following Raphael’s death in 1520, his assistants Gianfrancesco Penni, Giulio Romano and Raffaellino del Colle finished the project.

The most famous fresco done by Raphael is called The School of Athens.  Depicting a school of famous ancient Greek philosophers, some of which were done in the image of well-known artists of the Italian Renaissance; Plato painted to look like Leonardo da Vinci, Euclid is Donato Bramante, the first architect of the new St. Peter’s Basilica; Raphael included a portrait of himself in a group on the right.  During the development of this fresco, the painter managed a surreptitious look at the work going on the Sistine Chapel, subsequently adding an additional individual to the School of Athens, the lone figure of Heraclitus, played by Michelangelo.

Viewing the Raphael Loggias at the Hermitage pushed me to further research the Vatican versions, and what a treasure trove of images I found.  The Hermitage design and execution differs greatly from the Vatican originals, but the inspiration of Raphael is evident.  Taking the virtual tour at the Hermitage will require some patience, click on the spinning room after it loads, and you will be able to view the area adequately.  The Vatican Museum offers a virtual tour of the Raphael rooms, small screen size also, but with great magnification of detail.  Wiki has a page devoted all the frescos by Raphael in the Vatican apartments, 28 images total.

Thank you for joining me for Museum Monday. If you have any comments on Raphael, please use the Observations space below. If you wish to read more on Raphael, I recommend Three Pipe Problem and his post Recounting Raphael’s Digits.

I am planning a new addition to my blog devoted to art, history and the iPad. If you have any great apps, please share them with me, I am still new and fumbling about.

Cheers,

Mary Jo