Saturday, March 27, 2010

Neo Medieval Susanna

Susanna and the Elders (1920) by the German symbolist painter Theodor Baierl (1881-1932). Baierl who studied under Franz von Stuck was great admirer of late medieval art, above all that of the Quattrocento. So he didn’t present his Susanna in a historical and oriental look which was so fashionable in the 19th century. The costumes in his painting are medieval and a kind of fairy tale like.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Jezebel’s Cruel Death

The Death of Jezebel (1868) by the French painter Jean Joseph Benjamin Constant (1845-1902).

It’s a very traditional view of Jezebel’s death. She had already received what she deserved and the triumphant Jehu watches how the dogs are devouring her body.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Romantic Bathsheba

Bathsheba at her bath (1834) by the Italian painter Francesco Hayez (1791-1882). The smooth light and gestures, the exotic costumes and the fairy tale trees all in all a typical romantic painting.
Funny King David wearing his crown in the background.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Hollywood Esther

This movie poster for "Esther and the King" (1960) starring Joan Collins as Esther underlines the modern artistic interest and exploitation of the bible women.