Maybe painting can be a weapon?

Leslie Bohoss · 03-06-2003, 08:02 AM

Hello!

I mean not a duel with big canvases. I'm just reading a book about the 16th Century.

Year 1541: Michelangelo works on a fresco, The Last Judgement. (Rome)

Biagio de Cesena (a functionary in the Vatican) is highly indignant at so much nudity on the wall. Michelangelo took a terrible revenge: Cesena's face is on the figure at the far right and bottom on the fresco, as Minos, Judge of the Underworld! See what the snake make with him.

Wow, revenge with a built-in longtime effect. He was a sensitive man.

Today: Imagine, at night, armed with a few big jars of paint and a 500 W reflector on jeep (or family can help to hold this). The housewall of your disliked ex-teacher. You paint a very ugly portrait of his style: a little Dali mixed with more Picasso. (Of course alla prima,you have only one night.)

Next day: You get a check for about $5,000!

What went wrong? 1. You've signed it! 2. He is a teacher for modern art. His favorites are Picasso and Dali!

Best wishes!

Marta Prime · 03-06-2003, 05:14 PM

Ah, sweet revenge! NOT! Ok, it's fun to think about sometimes, but that's about it.

One related thought though, has anyone ever thought of painting something on their own house to show off your work? A portait or a figurative mural or something? Wow, out here that paint would have to stand up to a lot of heat, sometimes moisture!

It just entered my head because we have a street during the holidays that decorates so grandly that everyone goes to see it...the whole block. That includes detailed paintings on the garage doors!

Talk about your own private billboard...of course, it would have to be done with taste and NOT actually deface the property.

Michele Rushworth · 03-06-2003, 06:08 PM

Art has often been used to "get back" at a patron or other individual who bothered the artist. Medieval cathedrals are full of gargoyles who were made to resemble someone the sculptor knew and didn't like.

Jeff Fuchs · 03-06-2003, 06:12 PM

Marta,

My next door neighbor has a hanging yard sign to advertise his studio. But he's not a portrait artist per se. The sign is basically one of his paintings. If it weren't hanging in his yard, it could just as easily hang in a gallery. See his work at www.schex.com

It's held up pretty well to our non-stop rain here in Louisiana. On his previous home (just down the block) he had murals on the exterior walls. He's married with children now, so he paints more on canvas and less on the house.

Elizabeth Schott · 03-06-2003, 11:52 PM

Leslie,

Michelangelo's work is full of little jabs at the Church and Pope.

It is amazing what all he did in the Sistine Chapel...

I always wondered what it would have felt like to be one of Picasso's female models.

Leslie Bohoss · 03-07-2003, 08:04 AM

Hi

I think this picture (from kfki.hu) must be an older version. Not similar to my book. I believe they restore this continuously. In my book this painting has another face, and you see more of the snake.

Jeff, I agree with you. The world of your neighbor is not mine. But as a Hungarian maxim said: As long as garbage gives, so long gives birds that eat it. (Poor translation.)

All is permitted on the market, but the direction frightens me.

Only for fun!

Leslie