Damn! The Caravaggio painting I had wanted to see on this trip to Sicily is being fought

[CTyankee]

by two churches in Siricusa, Sicily http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/caravaggio-row-two-sicilian-churches-at-war-over-ownership-of-the-burial-of-saint-lucy-masterpiece-10295715.html

The Burial of St. Lucy is a masterpiece I have longed to see. 11 years ago when I was going to Sicily I found out that it was being restored in Florence and wasn't there. Now there's this controversy. It's my favorite work by the artist and I did work on it in my Master's thesis and even did an art essay on DU about it.

I hope this thing gets resolved...I am just sick at heart about it...evidently, it has a tourist draw (as it should) so two churches want it...I was going to do my candle lighting for some friends who need a good vibe at the original church....

[maxsolomon]

1. but it's on display at one of them - right?

Syracuse looks like a top spot to check out.

[CTyankee]

8. Yeah, possession being 9 tenths of the law, it's where it has been for a while...

it will be interestiing when we try to get there...Siricusa is an old Greek city and has a terrific history. Sicilily has been rolled over by every empire since the Greeks and the U.S. is just the latest to have a military presence there (Signonella Naval Air Base in Siricusa, which supplied cargo to Libya during our engagment there). It is a key island in the Mediterranean and of course if you saw the movie Patton you know all about our involvment taking it back during WWII.

[edhopper]

2. sorry to hear

hope you see enough other great art to make up for it.

[CTyankee]

5. Not really in Sicily. But this was going to be my pilgrimage.

I'm guessing that by the time I get there the church that has it now won't have given it up. But we'll see.

The real delight of Sicily is beautiful Taormina, their national dish "Pasta alla Norma" and the world class city of Palermo. It's a wonderful place...

[longship]

3. For those who don't know it.

I hope I have it right.


I found a better one. The red in the one character's robe is rather great. Is he a priest? He seems to be a central character, if not only for the color.

Detail:


Astounding.

BTW, there are many DUers who are missing your Friday art posts. I hope you are well.

[CTyankee]

4. Yes, isn't it amazing? I am always moved by this tender depiction...

[longship]

6. But what's with the guy in red?

He stands out. Who is he? His hands are folded.

Damn! And look at the dirt on the grave diggers.

I see a priest wearing a miter at the back right.

I sure could use your sage art history advice here.

As always.

[CTyankee]

7. I think the artist is depicting the truly religious community of mourners of Lucy

and the priest is looking desolate at seeing Lucy's body. It is a statement by the artist that the most devout aren't the high and mighty of the church, but the lowly people who are gathered to mourn their loss.

To me, the artist very skillfully contrasts the gravediggers hulking bodies with her broken doll fragility. You can almost hear the push of their shovels in the dirt. Do you get what I get here? It's one of those great "moments" in art. Caravaggio is at the top of that list of counter Reformation artists whose art revived the Roman Catholic Church from Martin Luther's Reformation. It was important for the church to have an artist of his genius doing this and he certainly did.

[longship]

9. I put the Lucy detail in because I, too, found it compelling.

And yes, the gravediggers are a great contrast, in the foreground no less.

But ones eyes are drawn to the red, the only bright color in the frame.
That's why one might ask, "Who is he?" The priest is in the back right, I think. Wearing the miter.

I hope your shingles are better.

As always, my best to you.

[Hekate]

10. I hope this gets resolved so you can make your pilgrimage!

You've brought us another gorgeous work of art, and as always, thanks.

For your health, a virtual candle in a virtual shrine.