Showcasing vintage male photography, mostly nude. You must be 18 years of age or older to visit this blog! If you hold a copyright on any material shown on this blog, notify me, and it will be removed immediately.
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Sunday, December 17, 2023
Michelangelo Addendum
Viewer and collector Tom X sent me this image of two undraped views of Michelangelo's
The Risen Christ that he scanned. Thank for your generosity, Tom!
One version of the story behind the original commission was that both Michelangelo and his patron wanted Jesus portrayed naked to symbolize how he was above all things carnal. They apparently disregarded the predictable reactions of some viewers.
I have read, if one believes that Christ created man in his own image, to be admired, desired, unabashed without shame and without envy. I certainly do!
This is superb. Thankfully, some artists don't shy away from the depiction of Jesus nude. One of my modelling venues is a church hall. Sometimes they use the church.
A lovely sculpture - however, there is an anomaly here: Jesus was a Jew and as such would have been circumcised. Thank goodness Michelangelo decided to leave him untouched - truely in God's image
You make a very good point, both in terms of the historical facts and in terms of aesthetics. And it wasn't just this sculpture where Michelangelo chose to go natural with a Jewish subject. David comes to mind, among others.
I would think this would be theologically more appropriate. Celestial beauty and the triumph over death. So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOne version of the story behind the original commission was that both Michelangelo and his patron wanted Jesus portrayed naked to symbolize how he was above all things carnal. They apparently disregarded the predictable reactions of some viewers.
DeleteI have read, if one believes that Christ created man in his own image, to be admired, desired, unabashed without shame and without envy. I certainly do!
DeleteThis is superb. Thankfully, some artists don't shy away from the depiction of Jesus nude. One of my modelling venues is a church hall. Sometimes they use the church.
DeleteI've seen a few other nude renditions of Jesus, but they are rare.
DeleteA lovely sculpture - however, there is an anomaly here: Jesus was a Jew and as such would have been circumcised.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness Michelangelo decided to leave him untouched - truely in God's image
You make a very good point, both in terms of the historical facts and in terms of aesthetics. And it wasn't just this sculpture where Michelangelo chose to go natural with a Jewish subject. David comes to mind, among others.
DeleteThere is the subtext, that before heavenly ascension, the body heals its infirmities..Maybe Mike saw circumcision wound as an infirmity.
DeleteThere's something to be said for that point of view, Paul.
DeleteThe tip of the penis was broken when they install a bronze fig leaf.
ReplyDeleteSorry "when they installed"... if it is correct? And it is not exactly a fig leaf, more a drapery.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the historical detail, Camille! More vandalism in the name of "morality." And "installed" is indeed correct.
Delete