the new emotional blackmailer's handbook

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

inside the oranges and lemons church, saint clement danes

rootin' around

i've been plodding through the internet thingy, trying to discover the name of a girl, or girls, who sang a reggae version of the cliff richard hit "the young ones" back in the early eighties

no luck so far

but i did stumble upon a theological critique of popular singing that shouldn't have taken me by surprise, but quite startled me

http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=1786&CATE=142

Monday, October 12, 2009

'ow vexatious !

i'm still perplexed by this painting, a multiple portrait of the saltonstall family

second wife is sitting at the right holding the new baby, detached, expressionless

first wife, deceased, lays on the bed with eyes open holding out her hand

the tate gallery say she is gesturing towards her children

but every time i look at the painting, i think he is about to drop that glove into the palm of her hand

and if he was, then what did the glove or the action signify ?

the artist, thought to have been david des granges, left no explanation

the tate gallery website carries two descriptions of the work ...

http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cgroupid=999999968&workid=3821&searchid=15051

https://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cgroupid=999999961&workid=3821&searchid=10739&roomid=false&tabview=text&texttype=9

Maybe this item on the symbolism of gloves in Freemasonry offers a clue:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/mas/sof/sof22.htm

... and this one by a glovemaker ...

http://www.glove.org/gallery/mirianna.php

Etc., etc.

So I've reached a point where I'm prepared to believe that both ladies are dressed in white to show their innocence before their "Maker", and that the glove itself may possibly symbolize the honest and legal transfer of their property when the ownership of various estates was changed by marriage.

Much, much later ... THINKS: possibly, the dead lady is gesturing a request that he continue to care for their children after his second marriage, and maybe the white glove signifies his honourable assent.