Five Reflections
2023; Boston University; Volume: 31; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/arn.2023.a916771
ISSN2327-6436
Autores Tópico(s)Early Modern Spanish Literature
ResumoFive Reflections Ricardo Pau-Llosa (bio) Click for larger view View full resolution David, Gian Lorenzo Bernini Galleria Borghese, Rome [End Page 44] Projection Gian Lorenzo Bernini, David (1624) No lamb or king, the shepherd needs no armor.But this is war, not pasture, and had the giantworn a helmet, the foolish boy of the harpmight have wished for prudence over bravery.He is the Uriah that prevails against the enemy,who rushed to the front, the call to duty sharpas swords beating on shields. He took the defiantfoe for another desiring victory's clamor.Hiding behind his size, the Philistine inflamedwith trophy lust. So little of Goliath remainsin David's mind, that the slain oaf will seema toppled mirror, shards of blood fleeinginto sand as victors and vanquished screamtheir opposite chants. But now he twists, takinghis bitten aim, certain a version will dietoday and the other will be glorifiedand carry his brother's name with muted pride. [End Page 45] Click for larger view View full resolution Aeneas, Anchises, and Ascanius, Gian Lorenzo Bernini Galleria Borghese, Rome [End Page 46] Suppression Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Aeneas, Anchises, and Ascanius (1619) Two carry gods to new homesand the other duty, exile's rough muse.The widower of a nation with past and future in towand a loss too great to grieve, stumbles in the cavehe can only leave by blinding depth. He'll savethe tale for the feast of the banished where love and sorrowwed. Not yet Odysseus,with nobody to blame but his parents' pride, alonein the relay race. In stone, he is the vineand the branches but his distant, vengeful line.Can a kingdom unmastered repay what ashes mark?Can it split the twins of absence and dream?A walletful of gods, good as broke.The sea his Pactolus, a fortunate stream.This newest queen his second exile launched,but he will not think of them much.An age-hence gamble lights the present torch. [End Page 47] Click for larger view View full resolution Rape of Persephone, Gian Lorenzo Bernini Galleria Borghese, Rome [End Page 48] Fantasy Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Rape of Persephone (1622) What beauty harvests is often disdained,and power an unlatched hunger procreates.Demeter alone refused the pull of crimeinto lurid narrative. Her loss too realto self, until Zeus cut the dealthat reasons seasons. Hades' urge to climbhis captive's flesh jars our view of death'sruler, so virile in rock, aroused by the maidenstruggle. Easy to pardon admired desireand let the stagecraft feed the beastly fire.As he drags her into his jurisdiction,mortals of his sex conspire in hushedcheers, and females ponder the cleaved conditionof the race and how it confuses as it ravishes.The dog of multiple snouts loyally guardshis post and master. The mother consoles with the partsallotted. The queen rubber-necks her lord's. [End Page 49] Click for larger view View full resolution Ecstasy of Saint Theresa, Gian Lorenzo Bernini Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome [End Page 50] Displacement Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Ecstasy of Saint Theresa (1647–52) The angel smiles—at last, he's blamed for something.That chorus of plumes, the halo thorning night,the impeccables no drama could moveonto epic or stage, the tiers no promotion allow.He's young—always the young in the grip of arrow.The face impish, the needless pinch that removesthe habited breast to punctuate her garbled fright.Keep the naked strum of unmastered stringsif posture matters in heaven. She has to swoonconfusion into bliss and deem it a Godly boon.The lad is a messy messenger who skewersto free barefoot prayers from tumult and broadenthe scales of such passions that feversnever brewed. Afterward, she'll penthe tropes of incident. Marvel's not given to fools.Ask the wings, he'd stare in studied cooland blame the artist—that prisoner of his tools. [End Page 51] Click for larger view View full resolution St. Sebastian, Gian Lorenzo Bernini Museo Thyssen...
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