I've been wondering about this painting
for some time...
For whatever reason, it has been on my
mind today..
Painted by Goya directly onto his wall in
his home 'the house of the deaf' forming
part of what is now know as 'the black paintings'
It is a disturbing painting by somebody who is
obviously in very 'dark times' - a fear of one's
own mortality? or a direct homage to Rubens?
The paintings title is even questionable to me as
this was given to the piece after Goya died..
Goya never intended any of the work to be seen
(well, at least not 'publicly'.. maybe he shocked
a few dinner guests?)
I think there is an obvious relation to 'Saturn'
but I also think this is a private interpretation
of the myth that is more Goya's vision & projection
of his insanity & disgust with the world around him.
Saturn, if this is Saturn, isn't devouring his infant
son.. this is a fully grown adult, and possibly not
even male.. most critics will point you in the direction
of those very rounded buttocks.. (if you look from the
buttocks downwards, this is a very female looking body..
although, lovely & rounded as they are, they still find
themselves attached to a headless bloody corpse..)
The other concern is when painted directly on the
wall 'Saturn' had an erection, to show him as 'life giver'
as well as 'life taker'..
The process of transferring the plaster wall to canvas,
must be delicate to say the very least as well as time
consuming.. so what happened..? did this 'part' get lost?
Or maybe the sight of 'Saturn' with a massive erection
was too much...
Chomping the head and arms off the bloody corpse of your
own child... ?
..yeah, that shouldn't be a problem.
I was so fascinated by this piece in school.. this post makes me want to dig out my huge heavy art history book and read about it all over again.
ReplyDeletegreat post for some of us art history types...;)
Thanks!
I love your art history classes here in blog form.
ReplyDeleteThankyou both!
ReplyDeleteI think from the previous post I have been thinking about the past quiet a bit..
which as well as memories has brought back significant paintings I had a thing for...
This was one that always interested me...
I may re-visit the others as well...
Thanks for humouring me!