Noli me tangere

Martin Schongauer

The other day I came across this painting in a book. Titled Noli me tangere, it comes from a Dominican altarpiece painted around 1475 by Martin Schongauer. I liked it so much that I decided to research it online. To my surprise, when I googled "Noli me tangere", over a dozen paintings came up, each one by a different artist. It turns out this Biblical scene was a common subject for masters to paint. It depicts the passage in the Gospel of John, after the resurrection when Mary Magdalene recognizes the voice of the risen Lord. She reaches out for him but he says to her "Noli me tangere", or "Don't touch me." Some scholars have noted that this phrase is the Latin translation from the Greek in which the Gospel was originally written, and that the words "cease holding on to me" or "stop clinging to me" more adequately describe what Jesus said to Mary Magdalene.

Andrea del Sarto

Fontana

Fra Bartolomeo

Corregio

Giotto

Fra Angelico

Hans Holbein the Younger

Titian

It's interesting to see how each artist portrays the same subject so differently. Although the scene is basically the same, each one is unique in its details. I especially love the nuances in the position of the Jesus figure. In some, he seems to reach out to Mary Magdalene while in others his body almost forms an "S" shape, moving away from her. In Titian's rendition, Jesus even pulls his garment out of Mary's reach. In Giotto's, he's moving away from her so briskly that he almost walks off the edge of the fresco. I also love the way each artist uses the hands as a means of expressing the title of the work. In some, Mary's expression is more desperate than in others. In Andrea del Sarto's, her hands are the focal point, right in the center of the canvas. She is almost pleading, her right leg at the point of lifting her up to a standing position. Jesus, in return, seems to be gently appeasing her, his palm facing down.
Mary also seems to be begging to touch Jesus in Giotto's fresco. She is down on her knees as a beggar would be, extending both hands toward him. Jesus turns back to glance at her and reaches with his hand. His arm then forms a diagonal, connecting his eyes directly to hers as he tells her not to touch him. Corregio's painting takes the Biblical passage a bit further, expressing the words the risen Lord spoke next: "for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" In the painting Jesus points up to sky as to indicate that he will soon ascend into Heaven and is asking Mary to go tell the others.
I could spend the entire day counting the details and symbolism that make each painting distinct from the other but... this post has already taken me back to my college days. I feel like I just wrote a paper for art history class ;) Enjoy the paintings.

A Wonderful Illustrator

Her name is Rebecca Dautremer. Before yesterday I didn't know she existed. Or so I thought. I've always loved the packaging for the perfume Flower by Kenzo. A bright red poppy on a skinny white box and on a tall skinny bottle. I bought my first Flower back in '03 on a trip to Paris as I fell in love with its powdery scent. Years later, I remember seeing it wrapped in new packaging and thought it was beautiful. Too bad I had way too many bottles of perfume at that point... It wouldn't have been right to buy another.

I was at a library yesterday, taking pictures of the architecture (see previous post) when I wandered into the children's section. On my way out I quickly glanced back to take one more picture. In the viewfinder I noticed a book...the illustration on the cover was so irresistibly beautiful I had to pick it up. I quickly skimmed the pages and took it with me.

So what does one thing have to do with the other? Well, it turns out that the wonderful illustrations in this book are by a French illustrator named Rebecca Dautremer, the same artist who was among two others picked to design the limited editions of Kenzo's Flower back in '06.

One look at Rebecca's illustrations and you're hooked. Every one of them is as is exquisite as the next, filled with delicate details. Princesas olvidadas o desconocidas, the book I picked up, translates to Princesses Forgotten or Unknown, is written by Philippe Lechermeier and it's just as outstanding as the illustrations themselves. Fortunately for those who don't read Spanish, Portuguese or French, the book is scheduled to be released in English sometime...

A Legorreta Masterpiece in Shambles

There is something about run down buildings that makes me very nostalgic and melancholy. Luis Barragan and Ricardo Legorreta have always been among my favorite architects. For this reason I feel lucky to have one of Legorreta's buildings right here in San Diego County. But it's sad to see the condition that it's in.
The South Chula Vista Library is not set in the most ideal of neighborhoods. In fact, it is a residential area that is run down to say the least. Approaching the library you can't help but notice the massive structure which looks nothing like those surrounding it. The collection of yellow stucco geometric shapes is accented with rows of narrow windows and grids of square openings that create abstract shadows when the sun hits them just right. The ridged arched metal rooftops resemble those seen from above Paris, except the ones in Paris are not round, nor brown. Inside, every room is filled with endless details that make it uniquely Legorreta, such as intricate stepped ceilings, hidden courtyards, trickling fountains, recessed skylights and custom case work.

Disappointingly, some of the architectural features have either been removed, are no longer functional or have become so run down with time and use (or lack of maintenance) that it is hard to appreciate them. Not that long ago, the fountains in the courtyard and next to the entrance were operating. Now they are dry. The old Library Bookstore has now become a badly organized storage room and has been reduced to a couple of bookcases in the library's foyer. The children's area has become cluttered and run down. Many windows are scratched, smudged or have become opaque. Broken windows have been replaced with strangely colored glass. The courtyard adjacent to the glass Cafe corridor is no longer open... or at least it has not been open the times I have gone and the original teak (?) tables and chairs have been replaced by cheap patio furniture. Cobwebs have formed in many of the niches and alcoves. The landscaping is not at all maintained. But most noticeably for me is the stripping down of what they call the "marketplace" with its interior central fountain. This feature used to be the focal point of the room, surrounded by custom built shelving and seating. Now it has all been removed only to be replaced with mediocre furniture and displays, thoughtlessly scattered throughout the room. What once was a warm and inviting lounging room is now just one big room with badly placed furniture.

Leaving the library today, I couldn't help but wonder what Legorreta would think of the state of his piece of work if he were to visit now. I also wondered who the manager of this library is? Does he/she even care? It is hard to believe that this building was renovated just three years ago, a decade after its opening in 1995. If you ask me, it's time for another face lift!

A Great Quote

Photo: 09Traveler on Flickr

"A dead thing goes with the stream. Only a living thing can go against it."-- G. K. Chesterton

Just Because

Had to show you... This person must have been PO'd when he/she got to his car the following morning! How long do you think it took them to undo it?

Bastille Day

www.britannica.com

Bastille Day is just around the corner! Yeah! Okay, why am I so excited if I'm not French?
Because today I attended a class at the Macy's School of Cooking with Chef Bernard in honor of Bastille Day. He demonstrated a dish that was distinctly Provencal: St. Jean Cap-Ferrat Mackerel au Gratin with Pine Nut Crumble and Prosciutto Sherry Vinaigrette. Can I tell you how delicious this was? I ate, ahem, devoured, my serving in one bite. That is how delicious. The sherry vinaigrette coupled with the mackerel and the crunchiness of the fennel and red onions was superb. Thank goodness we all got a copy of the recipe. I WILL attempt to make this at home.

But before we tried the main dish, we had the opportunity to sample three BRILLIANT French cheeses: Saint-Nectaire, Explorateur, and Forme D'Ambert. I will eat these anywhere, anytime, anyhow.