tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post8608159593742707925..comments2024-02-22T17:59:50.213-05:00Comments on in so many words...: Duel After the Masked Ball by Jean Leon Gerome - What do you suppose brought this on?Yvettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-38873126972850942732013-10-09T19:10:17.038-04:002013-10-09T19:10:17.038-04:00Pierrot always represents unrequited love; the Ind...Pierrot always represents unrequited love; the Indian represents brutality; the Harlequin, talking into the ear of the Indian, is an eternal trickster figure.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05208685594240700495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-205457028613019542013-08-25T18:51:57.631-04:002013-08-25T18:51:57.631-04:00Thanks for stopping by, Blakeney. This is definite...Thanks for stopping by, Blakeney. This is definitely one of the more mysterious paintings although John does give some info. (His is the first comment.)<br /><br />Blakeney. As in Sir Percy?<br /><br />Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-66395498283101583032013-08-17T23:32:41.950-04:002013-08-17T23:32:41.950-04:00I'm wondering the exact same questions - I arr...I'm wondering the exact same questions - I arrived here after just viewing this painting on the site http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/search/label/Composition?updated-max=2008-05-20T05:25:00-04:00&max-results=20&start=52&by-date=false. It is fascinating how a painting can immediately make you want to know more...and frustrating sometimes how hard it is to find out extra information!Blakeneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04778630656258229069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-23062488055412460182012-02-18T14:10:34.142-05:002012-02-18T14:10:34.142-05:00Dorian, I'm always happy to shake up people...Dorian, I'm always happy to shake up people's thought processes. :)<br /><br />That's what I hoped to do with this post. It's SUCH an enigmatic and in so many ways, mysterious, painting. <br /><br />I might, if I think about it, even see some sort of religous symbolism. We could talk about it for hours, I'll bet.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-4485013753125447782012-02-18T14:08:51.612-05:002012-02-18T14:08:51.612-05:00Deb, I saw the PBS version of the Christie story s...Deb, I saw the PBS version of the Christie story some time back, but was not very impressed with the adaptation. But, yes you're right, this sort of costume thing has been done in books.<br /><br />I vaguely remember Wimsey dressed in masquerade. It suited him. :)Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-25593292833618213552012-02-18T13:11:55.900-05:002012-02-18T13:11:55.900-05:00Yvette, this painting lodged itself into my brain ...Yvette, this painting lodged itself into my brain the minute I saw it here! Talk about a picture being worth a thousand words -- there's enough symbolism here to keep philosophical types pondering for ages! But I find the palpable emotions in the painting just as compelling as the figures depicted. It can be read in so many ways, though what comes to my mind most strongly is either some kind of symbolism (probably political), or as others have suggested, an argument (possibly a drunken one) at a gala costume ball that somehow went tragically wrong. Wow, you've really shaken up my thought processes here, Yvette! Thanks for giving me plenty of food for thought, my friend!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-64443070206618951122012-02-17T21:01:10.695-05:002012-02-17T21:01:10.695-05:00I'm guessing someone "insulted" some...I'm guessing someone "insulted" someone else's wife at that ball. Everyone was masked, so perhaps it was a case of mistaken identity. Anyway, the victim is costumed as one of the Italian Commedia dell'arte characters. Not sure about the others. <br /><br />One of Dorothy Sayers's mysteries (MURDER MUST ADVERTISE?) features a costume ball where Peter and others are dressed in a like style (Peter, I believe, is Harlequin). Agatha Christie also had a Commedia dell'arte ball in one of her short stories; two characters chose the same costume--you can guess the consequences.Debnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-29974140942607248962012-02-17T13:13:04.312-05:002012-02-17T13:13:04.312-05:00Mark, I wonder if maybe you aren't right. Thou...Mark, I wonder if maybe you aren't right. Though the clown on canvas is very tragically portrayed.<br /><br />Anything is possible, I suppose, since I think all the costumes are supposed to be fairly specific.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-78120628334073161262012-02-17T13:11:10.374-05:002012-02-17T13:11:10.374-05:00Ryan, I don't think you'll have any proble...Ryan, I don't think you'll have any problem finding a print. Jean Leon Gerome is a pretty popular artist - still.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-58124752181265382872012-02-17T13:10:29.261-05:002012-02-17T13:10:29.261-05:00I read that too, John, but still I wondered at the...I read that too, John, but still I wondered at the melodramatic tone and the costumes - the atmosphere.<br /><br />Mark may be right, there might have been some political attempt. Since the character in red is a 'Doge'. <br /><br />One of the men walking away is an Indian, according to the limited information available.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-14553347120720492002012-02-17T09:43:38.786-05:002012-02-17T09:43:38.786-05:00Wouldn't it be interesting if the painting wer...Wouldn't it be interesting if the painting were a political commentary, just as so many nursery rhymes are?<br /><br />I can think of any number of current politicos who should die sudden deaths, dressed as clowns!Mark D. Ruffnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09241533547309049140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-67526480607324679462012-02-16T20:05:50.490-05:002012-02-16T20:05:50.490-05:00I love it. It's one of those paitings that I ...I love it. It's one of those paitings that I think I could stare at for hours. I'm off to go see if there is a print of this available anywhere.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17786139533776263328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-79840838725462936822012-02-16T18:18:57.670-05:002012-02-16T18:18:57.670-05:00After doing a little Google "research" I...After doing a little Google "research" I discovered that the Duc de Guise, who is holding Pierrot and is referenced in that link you gave from The Walters Art Museum, is the son of the Duc d'Aumale. The paragraph mentions that the picture is an altered composition originally meant for the Duc d'Aumale. Must have some personal meaning for those two men long since gone.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.com