giovedì 30 giugno 2016

'The Proposal' by Frank Stone: Victorian values and virtues taught in silence by a paintbrush.


IT WAS ENTIRELY accepted by the vast majority of the population that a central event in any woman's life was marriage. Women who remained unmarried had failed to fulfill their destiny, both biologically and psychologically. It was right for a woman to marry; it was what she was for. In her novel Reuben Sachs ( 1888 ), Amy Levy wrote of a woman with "beauty ... intelligence ... power of feeling, " who "saw herself merely as one of a vast crowd of girls awaiting their promotion by marriage." With that marriage came a home, the key to happiness; without marriage women could only hope to live as dependents is someone else's house. Unmarried men were pitied too, and considered to be living only half a life. 

Judith Flanders, INSIDE THE VICTORIAN HOME - A Portrait of Domestic Life in Victorian England, W.W. Norton & Company, New York - London, THE PARLOR, p. 214



The Proposal, Frank Stone ( between 1840 - 1859 )



ERA COMPIUTAMENTE accettata dalla stragrande maggioranza della popolazione la convinzione secondo cui il matrimonio fosse l'evento centrale nella vita di ogni donna. Le donne che non si maritavano non erano riuscite a compiere il proprio destino, sia biologicamente che psicologicamente. Era giusto per una donna sposarsi; era ciò per cui era nata. Nel suo romanzo Reuben Sachs (1888), Amy Levy scrisse di una donna con "bellezza ... intelligenza ... forza del sentimento," che "si vedeva sè stessa solo come una tra una vasta folla di ragazze in attesa della loro promozione garantita dal matrimonio". Con quel matrimonio arrivava una casa, la chiave della felicità; le donne che non si sposavano potevano solo sperare di vivere come dipendenti in casa di qualcun altro. Anche gli uomini non sposati erano oggetto di compassione, e considerati come se vivessero solo una vita a metà.



Essendo considerato lo sposalizio il più appropriato compimento della vita di una donna, alto, anzi, altissimo era il valore che veniva attribuito al corteggiamento, al fidanzamento ed infine alla proposta di matrimonio, passi da compiere, tutti, sempre seguendo un ben accorto rituale, ancora una volta governato da regole; ma qui oggi con voi mi piace andare oltre l'immagine che è rappresentata, con l'abilità degna di un maestro, quale Stone, peraltro, era, per leggere i significati che in essa, volutamente, il pittore ha inteso celare ... nulla di tutto quanto vi compare è casuale, in essa è rappresentato il corollario di valori e di virtù che alle spalle di un matrimonio si reputava dovesse esistere per garantire ai futuri sposi una convivenza serena e fondata su basi solide ed altresì vi compaiono simboli e metafore che ne rafforzano il significato.

Ma vediamo insieme I VALORI cui l'artista ricorre: 

quella che appare ai nostri occhi a tutta prima è una scena che immortala un luogo domestico, semplice, appartenente ad una famiglia di umili origini, ce lo fanno comprendere i pochi mobili che arredano le pareti, gli abiti di cui è vestita la fanciulla e di cui sono abbigliati i fratelli minori, i quali, al tavolo vicino la finestra, stanno imparando qualcosa dell'arte del leggere e dello scrivere probabilmente su istruzione della sorella maggiore, la quale cuce, entrambi elementi - quelli del non essere acculturati in un ambiente scolastico, ma direttamente da un famigliare, e l'essere abili con l'ago, che ci calano in una realtà estremamente modesta ( le donne di umili natali imparavano a cucire già da bambine per essere in grado non solo di rammendarsi gli abiti da adulte, ma per poterseli confezionare senza ricorrere a sarte o sartorie che erano appannaggio esclusivo delle famiglie benestanti ); la luce che illumina questa scena è una luce calda che infonde pace ed armonia e ci cala in una realtà che, anche se vissuta tra stenti, si palesa ai nostri occhi come lieta a e pacifica.

Se coloro che abitano questo luogo sono decisamente di condizioni sociali non elevate, il giovane che, innamorato, sta dolcemente chiedendo la mano della fanciulla, lo si può in tutta sicurezza giudicare di status sociale ben più elevato, elemento che ci è garantito, ancora una volta, dal suo abbigliamento: non era consuetudine che un giovane uomo di classe media sposasse una giovane donna di condizioni modeste, generalmente il matrimonio serviva all'uomo per consolidare la propria posizione nella società od, addirittura, per elevarla, perciò questa scena si configura essenzialmente come una scena di vero e sincero amore.


Quanto alLA SIMBOLOGIA che vi compare:

la fanciulla è seduta dando le spalle alla finestra ed è lambita dalla calda luce del giorno riportandoci con la mente ad alcune immagini della Beata Vergine, soprattutto inerenti l'Annunciazione, a voler sottolineare il suo candore, la sua interezza, cosa che è ribadita anche dall'acqua che ricolma la caraffa che la madre, molto umilmente, sta recando facendo la sua comparsa da dietro la porta del 'parlor' ad indicare che anche la famiglia di ciò si fa garante; la fedeltà, che nel matrimonio è, ed era, in epoca Vittoriana, così importante, da parte della moglie al marito, è rappresentata dalla figura del cane che, introdotto in epoca barocca da Jan van Eyck, pittore fiammingo, spesso è presente nelle scene familiari proprio a simboleggiare tale virtù; l'orologio che è appeso alla parete, che non a caso ci appare quasi centrato rispetto alle figure degli innamorati, e quello che il giovane porge in dono alla fanciulla, sono entrambi palese simbolo del tempo, quello che egli intende trascorrere con lei, ovvero tutto quello che apparterrà alla sua vita, e, sempre in quanto a tempo, i fanciulli rappresentano il tempo futuro, la madre quello trascorso ed insieme simboleggiano il passare del tempo nella sua fluida continuità; la gonna della fanciulla che sia amplia evidentemente sui fianchi sta a simboleggiare la fertilità del suo ventre, mentre il colore giallo della sciarpa, che il giovane si è tolta ed ha riposto dentro il suo cilindro, in terra, è indice dell'impulsività, dell'avventatezza che spesso è connessa con la giovane età, ma più frequentemente tale tinta è sinonimo di infedeltà, visto che allora era fondamentale la dedizione della moglie verso il marito, ma non quella del marito verso la moglie: era consuetudine, infatti, che in epoca vittoriana la moglie dovesse condurre la casa e la famiglia, occupandosi di educare e di crescere la prole, mentre, per quanto concerneva la carnalità, vi erano le così dette 'donne di piacere' che alloggiavano in apposite case di tolleranza, frequentate ordinariamente da uomini coniugati benestanti; non dimentichiamo, però che qui tale capo è stato gettato in terra - vi era la seggiola su cui posare cilindro e sciarpa - il che è a mio avviso indice del voler ignorare un siffatto 'costume', ovvero sta ad indicare la volontà di misconoscere tale disvalore anteponendovi il vero amore che di questo incantevole, toccante dipinto è l'autentico, indiscusso protagonista. 


A questo punto, davvero a malincuore, devo annunciarvi che sono costretta a prendermi un paio di settimane di intervallo, lavori di ripristino in casa che da tempo si sommano a quelli ordinari, lavori impegnativi fuori e motivi di famiglia non mi concedono il tempo sufficiente per poter continuare a stare, in questo periodo, con voi in Blog-Land ... da tempo rimando, ma non posso più farcela ...
( Inoltre con l'inizio di Agosto parteciperò ad una conferenza e devo preparare il mio intervento )


Vi abbraccio con il cuore e già sento un pizzico di nostalgia ... so che mi mancherete, ma credetemi, avrei già dovuto farlo da tempo ... speravo di poterlo evitare !

A presto, miei cari 💕












IT WAS ENTIRELY accepted by the vast majority of the population that a central event in any woman's life was marriage. Women who remained unmarried had failed to fulfill their destiny, both biologically and psychologically. It was right for a woman to marry; it was what she was for. In her novel Reuben Sachs ( 1888 ), Amy Levy wrote of a woman with "beauty ... intelligence ... power of feeling, " who "saw herself merely as one of a vast crowd of girls awaiting their promotion by marriage." With that marriage came a home, the key to happiness; without marriage women could only hope to live as dipendents is someomne else's house. Unmarried men were pitied too, and considered to be living only half a life. 

Judith Flanders, INSIDE THE VICTORIAN HOME - A Portrait of Domestic Life in Victorian England, W.W. Norton & Company, New York - London, THE PARLOR, p. 214





- picture 1 - The Proposal, Frank Stone ( between 1840 - 1859 )





Being marriage considered the most appropriate fulfillment of a woman's life, it was high, in fact, highest the value that was attributed to courtship, engagement and finally to the proposal of marriage, all steps to take always following a well-realized ritual, once again governed by rules; but together with you, here today I like to go beyond the image that is represented with the ability worthy of a master, like Stone was, to read the meanings which in it, deliberately, the painter sought to conceal ... nothing of all that appears is casual, there is shown the corollary of values and virtues that behind a marriage was deemed should exist to ensure the bride and the groom a peaceful coexistence founded on solid basis and also they appear symbols and metaphors reinforcing this meaning.

But let's see THE VALUES which the artist uses:

what appears to us at first is a scene that captures a domestic, homely place belonging to a family of humble origins, we do understand it just looking at the little furniture decorating the walls, the clothes with which the girl is dressed and those which garbed her younger siblings, who, at the table near the window, are learning something of the art of reading and writing probably on instruction of their older sister, who is sewing, both elements - that of not being educated in a school but directly from a family member, and to be skilled with the needle - which introduce us to an extremely modest reality (women of humble birth learned to sew already as little girl to be able not only to mend their clothes, once became adults, but for do their dresses by themselves without resorting to seamstresses or taylor shops which were the exclusive of wealthy families); the light that illuminates this scene is a warm light that infuses peace and harmony and drops us into a reality that, although lived in hardship, is revealing to us as happy and peaceful.

If the inhabitants of this home are definitely not of high social conditions, the young man, in love, who is gently asking for the hand of the lovely maiden, can be safely judge of much higher social status, an element that is guaranteed to us once again by his clothing: it wasn't customary for a young middle-class man to marry a young woman of modest means, then, usually a man needed to get married to consolidate his position in the society or even to raise it, that's why this scene can be essentially considered as a scene of true and sincere love.


As for THE SYMBOLS that are portrayed:

the girl is sitting with her back to the window and is lapped by the warm light of the day thus bringing us with our mind to some images of the Blessed Virgin, especially regarding the Annunciation, to underline her candor, her integrity, which is also emphasized by the water which fills the jug that her mother, very humbly, is bringing doing her appearance from behind the door leading into the 'parlor' to indicate that even the family of this is the guarantor; loyalty, which in marriage is, and was, in Victorian times, so important, indeed, an essential virtue as for wives, is represented by the figure of the dog, which was introduced in the Baroque period by Jan van Eyck, Flemish painter, and since then is often present in paintings of family scenes just to symbolize this virtue; the clock hanging on the wall, which no for chance is almost centered between the figures of the lovers, and the one the young man is handing as a gift to the girl, are both evident symbols of the time which he intends to spend with her, that is all what will belong to his life, and, always as for time, the children represent the future time, the mother the elapsed time and together symbolize the passage of time in its fluid continuity; the skirt of the girl which clearly expands on her hips symbolizes her fertility, while the color yellow of the scarf, which the young man took off and has placed inside his cylinder, on the floor, is index of impulsivity, of the recklessness that is often associated with the young age, but more often this tint is synonymous with infidelity, because if then it was important the dedication of the wife to her husband, the same couldn't be sayid for the husband towards his wife: in fact, it was customary, during Victorian times, that a wife would lead home and family, working to educate and bring up the children, and, as for what concerned carnal pleasures, there were the so-called 'comfort women' who were staying in special brothels, usually frequented by wealthy married men; but let's don't forget, however, that here this item is thrown to the ground - there was the chair on which to lay both the cylinder and the scarf - which in my view shows that he want to ignore such a 'costume', it indicates his willingness to misunderstand this disvalue considering much more important true love, which is, of this charming, poignant painting the authentic, undisputed protagonist.


~
At this point, very reluctantly, I must announce that I have to take a fortnight of interlude: restoration works at home that for long have added to the ordinary ones, heavy and long works outside and family reasons do not give me enough time to be able to stay together with you in Blog-Land, in this period, alas ... I'm postponing this moment for some time, but now I cannot do it anymore !
(At the begin of August I'll also participate at a conference and I have to prepare my speech)

~


I embrace you with all my heart and already I feel a bit of nostalgia ... I know I'll miss you, but believe me, I would have done it a long ago ... I hoped I was able to avoid it !

See you soon 💕








37 commenti:

  1. Dany, mi mancheranno i tuoi post!!
    In bocca al lupo per l'intervento alla conferenza.
    Un abbraccio e a presto

    RispondiElimina
  2. Hello, Dany! this is an interesting post. I hope the women in today's world are not unhappy if they are not married. Enjoy your break! Happy Thursday, enjoy your day and weekend!

    RispondiElimina
  3. At times, we have to take time, away from Blog Land. May yours be productive, and peaceful too.

    Gentle hugs,
    Tessa

    RispondiElimina
  4. Another lovely and informative post, Dany. Thanks, especially, for including the notes on the symbolism. I find that extremely fascinating and remember learning a bit of that when at the Vermeer Center but the details were fuzzy! Happy week, my friend.

    RispondiElimina
  5. It was interesting to look at this painting through your analytic eyes dear Dany. I would not have noticed all those symbols. We western women at least have it so much better. Married or not we are not property of any man. And that is great!

    The Blogging World is fun but we all have our responsibilities in real life. I wish you a good break and success with the restoration work and your congress. Remember to enjoy the summer in between. Sunny hugs 💕

    RispondiElimina
  6. Dearest Daniela, thank you so much for sharing and bringing back the Victorian era. Fascinating and lovely post once again!

    RispondiElimina
  7. Importanti impegni ti aspettano. Non preoccuparti per l' assenza, io ti attenderò! Ti ringrazio per la bellissima e romantica lettura che mi hai regalato. A presto
    Bacioni
    Alessandra

    RispondiElimina
  8. Hello, Dearest Dany,
    The painting is lovely and so full of imagination and love. Thank you for interpreting it for us! I have known that yellow roses symbolize decrease of love and jealousy, and now to find the similarity of symbols in painting is so interesting. The Victorians were very adept at layering meaning into our lives in such subtle ways! I am very glad that young ladies don't have to base their future on marriage any longer, if they are lucky to have access to education and opportunity. I hope you find some time to relax during your time away, my friend. Hugs and blessings xo Karen

    RispondiElimina
  9. stai serena e pensa alle tue priorità, noi ti aspettiamo!!! un abbraccio immenso e auguri per tutto! Lory

    RispondiElimina
  10. I am not a very good seamstress so I don't know that I would have done very well back then, I would have had to marry a wealthy man.
    It always amazes me the stories behind the paintings, things that don't occur to me when I look at the paintings. I feel so sorry for those woman that weren't able to get married back then, there is still a little stigma against that kind of thing but thankfully not as bad as back then.
    Wishing you all the best as you take your break from blogging and work on your speech. I know by watching my daughter get ready for conferences where she speaks that it takes a lot of time to prepare. All the best to you!

    RispondiElimina
  11. Grazie per questo magnifico post ... potrebbe essere un fantastico spunto per una tesina di Maturità !
    Naturalmente puoi immaginare quanto mi mancherai , ma penso che anche le cose belle debbano avere una pausa .
    Auguri per questo periodo molto pieno per te , che possa comunque essere lieto e di riposo
    Con affetto ,
    Franca

    RispondiElimina
  12. Dear Dany, Come back quickly to us! We will miss you too much.
    Best wishes on the renovations and for your speech! I know you will do a wonderful job. We are with you in our hearts.

    RispondiElimina
  13. Thanks for another lovely and interesting post, Dany !
    Wishing you a nice break and a lot of success with the conference !
    Looking forward to see you back already ...
    Enjoy your weekend, sweet friend !
    Hugs,
    Sylvia

    RispondiElimina
  14. Ecco...già mi manchi! :(
    Mi rapisce come sempre questo tuo incantevole post, cara amica.
    E la spiegazione della simbologia del dipinto: sei bravissima e sai come farci apprezzare la bellezza di ciò che scegli e ci proponi.
    Dunque buon lavoro e buona conferenza!
    Un grande abbraccio Susanna

    RispondiElimina
  15. Olá Daniela:
    sempre posts muito interessantes !!!
    grande abraço !!!
    :o)

    RispondiElimina
  16. Beautiful post Daniela. Can't imagine a time when a woman's primary reason for living was to be marry. Those were certainly different times.

    Thank goodness that woman have so much more to offer today.

    Hugs from across the ocean.

    Janet

    RispondiElimina
  17. A wise and wonderful post, Dany, I loved it.
    Amalia
    xo

    RispondiElimina
  18. A very interesting painting, full of symbolic meaning for sure! I understand your need to step away from blogging, and you will be surely missed, but never forgotten! Will look forward to your return when you are able to :)

    RispondiElimina
  19. My dear, sweet Dany, you have been on my heart and mind for the last week or so....I hope you are well. You sound quite busy, my friend, and I completely understand your need to step away from your blog for now though I will miss you terribly!

    Please know that you are thought of often and I shall happily await your return. Much love to you!

    RispondiElimina
  20. Dear Dany,
    I just came along your interesting blog and I think this post and the other posts with all your amazing pictures are very beautiful...I love it.
    Have a nice week,
    Manuela

    RispondiElimina
  21. Your minute detail of each aspect of this lovely painting, Dany, is amazing. Thank you so very much for pointing out each little intricate detail. You are such a joy! Hope those renovations go smoothly and all the very best for your speech. You will be wonderful, of that I am quite sure. Wish oh wish I was there to listen to your lyrical words. Xx

    RispondiElimina
  22. I hope you are able to accomplish all that needs to be done! Enjoy the old-fashioned time AWAY from the computer my friend! And I hope that all is well with your family and loved ones.

    RispondiElimina
  23. CAra DAniela, questo tuo post mi ha fatto riflettere su come siano mutate (e spesso non in modo migliore) i rapporti tra i sessi. Il dipinto che hai magistralmente analizzato mi riporta a un mondo regolato da ferree regole sociali, il contrario di oggi, dove queste regole sono completamente assenti e ormai non ci si scandalizza o indegna piu' di niente, quasi fossimo anestetizzati.
    Medito sui pro e i contro, sui ruoli che non ci sono piu', su molte altre cose... meditazioni estive indotte dalla pigrizia e dalla calura.
    In bocca al lupo per i tuoi impegni e soprattutto per il tuo intervento alla conferenza.
    Buone cose a te e ai tuoi familiari.
    Anna Maria

    RispondiElimina
  24. sempre una piacevole pausa sognante leggere i tuoi post...mi rifugio da te e trovo pace e serenità.)
    ti auguro un bellissimo we...
    daniela

    RispondiElimina
  25. Dany, you will be missed in Blog-land! Enjoy your projects!

    RispondiElimina
  26. What a beautiful post. Thank you so much for explaining why the painting is painted so. I had to go back and have a really good look at it with different eyes, so iteresting!
    We all need a break from the internet once in a while as there is so much in life to embrace and enjoy.
    I hope the restoration has gone well and not too disruptive and dusty. I'm sure it will look beautiful once it is completed.
    With Kindest Regards PP :)

    RispondiElimina
  27. What a fascinating post! So rarely do we take the time to really look at the symbols in paintings- love the details you shared which I might have overlooked.
    Best of luck with your projects- you will be missed in the blog world- Hope you return soon!

    RispondiElimina
  28. Hello sweet friend.

    I love your sweet post. The painting is very charming and lovely. Those were different times for sure. Such grace and gentility.

    I am sad to see you taking a break from blogland but I completely understand Dany. I too have been on a much needed break. Blogging takes lots of time and sometimes family, work and life must take center stage. I wish you all the best with your current projects and look forward to your return sweet friend.

    Hugs from across the ocean,

    Janet

    RispondiElimina
  29. Dear Dany:
    Have a wonderful summer and take care. I know when time permits you will be here again! God bless!

    RispondiElimina
  30. Lovely painting! Your interpretations are always so wonderful. They always tell a story....I do think I would have loved living in an earlier era! Enjoy your break and please come back soon! Love and blessings to you Dany!
    Linda

    RispondiElimina
  31. I was afraid I had missed a post, and indeed, I had. This was beautiful! Even 45 years ago, when I was a girl, marriage was a very important and desirable step.
    I hope you are having a good blogging break as you take care of home projects and prepare for your conference. Good luck!

    RispondiElimina
  32. Carissima, ho perso questo tuo bellissimo post. La tua assenza forzata ci fa capire quanto ci hai dato finora:)) Bello anche aspettare e sapere che comunque ci regalerai ancora dei bellissimi post in futuro! Auguri per tutti i tuoi impegni e a presto. 🤗😘😀💓

    RispondiElimina
  33. I miss you, sweet friend! I have been thinking of you often and I sincerely hope you are well. Much love to you!

    RispondiElimina
  34. I stopped by to hear your lovely music! Hope that is OK! Hope you are enjoying your break too! Much love,
    Linda

    RispondiElimina
  35. I miss you terribly, dear one. I pray you are enjoying your summer and all the magic that it affords. God bless you, sweet friend. I very much enjoyed learning about all the symbolism in this painting - wonderful!

    RispondiElimina
  36. Carissimi amici, apprezzo infinitamentetutte le bellissime pariole di stima e di affetto che mi avete scritto nei vostri commenti durante questo periodo che mi ha vista assente da qui ... sapete, la famiglia, lo SHORT LETS ed il meeting che si è tenuto a Madonna di Campiglio proprio lo scorso venerdì e che mi ha visto partecipare con il mio discorso, hanno preso molto del mio tempo, per cui non ho davvero potuto evitare di fermarmi, di malavoglia, ma sono stata costretta per questioni di forza maggiore ... dovete sapere che questo è il periodo di lavoro più intenso per me e dalla lettura delle vostre parole sono certa della vostra amorevole comprensione, che sinceramente ricolma il mio cuore di gioia.

    Con estrema gratitudine auguro ogni bene a ciascuno di voi !

    ~•♥•~

    Dearest friends,
    I so appreciate all the beautiful words of esteem and love you wrote me in your comments during this period which saw me absent from here, you know, my family, the SHORT LETS and the meeting which was held in Madonna di Campiglio just last Friday where I took my speech kept me so much time and I had to break here, so unwillingly, but I had to ... you have to know that this is the busier period of the year for me, and after reading your words I'm sure of your lovingly understanding, which truly fills my heart !

    So very grateful I'm sending blessings to you all !

    RispondiElimina

I THANK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS, SO PRECIOUS TO ME.