A Snippet by anahata.c
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
Description
A short passage from the "museum" piece I posted a few excerpts from (here). Hope you enjoy...
(Reminder: This is a museum of the imagination.)
-----------------------------------
...she sat in the courtyard, bent over, alone. She wore a Renaissance gown.
I approached.
She was utterly immersed in a laptop. Then I noticed: It wasn't a laptop. It was made of oak, with balsa keys. It was splintery. And not a perfect rectangle: Bits of wood were sticking out, splinters everywhere, and several pieces of metal had fallen off. They were hand forged. Very old.
She was painting on it: It took my breath away. It was a painting of an Italian street---Renaissance---but in the most stunning hues, tapestry patterns all over it, blends, morphs, all of it. Renaissance art with Photoshop. "Excuse me," I said. "What're you making?"
I startled her.
"I paint," she said (in a heavy Italian accent).
And she showed---on her ancient computer---painting after painting, in a software I'd never heard of, and they were breathtaking. The logo---on the laptop---was an apple; but painted in the style of Cezanne. Lots of reds and yellows and greens...
"How---where did you---you're art is exquisite," I said, "but where'd you get that computer???"
"I'm from the Renaissance," she said. "You've been here 2 hours: You should be used to this by now."
I wasn't. I was stunned.
"I should be in this museum," she said: "But I'm a woman, and we weren't accepted in my time. Do you know how many da Vinci's never 'made it', because of that fact?"
I stood back. I mean, I knew enough about this place to believe anything I saw: But this? Finally we got to see the work of a woman master. "Please---show me more."
"First, the computer," she said: "Michelangelo came to lunch, one day, with one of your 'laptops': We looked and laughed. It was so strange. And it didn't work---I mean, why should it? No 'electricity', no 'wireless'. But Leonardo---da Vinci, I mean---he copied it and built models out of wood. He gave this to me for my birthday. Nice, isn't it?"
I was speechless.
Then she proceeded to show me model after model---on her screen---made by da Vinci, of computers made in wood, old rag paper, linen, plaster, etc...and they all worked she said: As long as they were used today.
Then she stood up, and the courtyard changed into a long street filled with Renaissance perspective. "How'd you do that?" I said.
"You've written enough strange things, here: Don't sweat it," she said.
She walked me through it, as if walking through a great painting. The lines were stunning, the hues filled with deep yellows and those pinks that seemed dropped out of heaven. Then she showed me---on her laptop---huge door panels that she'd made, in gold: They were exquisite. "Nice, hmm?" she said. "Like Ghiberti's panels, yes---as great as his?"
Yes. They were breathtaking. How did they not make it into history?
"They pushed them on the floor," she said. "That's how it was in those days..."
Then she showed me more of her work---on her laptop: It was stunning. Oils and temperas, but with blends and filters. "You're astonishing," I said.
"Yes," she said. No arrogance in her voice: She simply spoke the truth.
Then she waved her hands, the perspective-street disappeared, and she sat down once more, and went back to her painting...
"I---------" I didn't know what to do.
"Go back to your piece. It's not fun to watch an artist paint..."
So I walked away. And there was da Vinci, watching her from afar.
"You know her?" I said.
"She was the greatest artist of my age," he said.
"Why didn't you promote her?" I said.
"You could be imprisoned," he said. And he walked away.
Suddenly, In the museum:
Several Renaissance artists sauntered by, laughing. Followed by Caravaggio---who had a sinister sneer (he was a criminal in real life): He waved his hands, and the entire museum flashed into chiaroscuro, with dramatic lights and huuuuuuuge darks. Everyone bumped into each other. They screamed, "HEY!!!".
"Gets 'm everytime!" he snickered. He winked at me, said, "you'll put this in your piece?" And walked on.
"Aren't you going to change it?" I shouted.
The woman stood up, walked over to a switch---it was on the wall---flipped it, and: Poof! The museum went back to normal.
She looked at me and muttered: "Men!"
Then she sat down and continued painting...
---------------------------------
Comments (13)
helanker
I sincerely hope, I can still read your amazing narratives for a long time. I have such fun reading them. Happy I could read them in white on dark grey. That helped me see more clearly :) Thank you for sharing this, dear Mark. More please. :)
MaraxCruz
Lovely!
LivingPixels
You are a word smith my friend that was spellbinding i could read more of that any day that was most enjoyable like skilled artist with great precision you are painting incredible images in the canvas of our minds!! Much applause Mark Keep up the momentum my friend its an awesome gift you have Thanx !!!
RodS Online Now!
These 'snippets' are so much fun, Mark! You have a very masterful way with words, my friend! I've noticed that before...
Faemike55
This just blew me away. Even though I never studied art history, it does strike me strange that there were no women 'Masters'
Interesting concept! This bit of writing got me to thinking... not so good in today's society (it is still legal to think)
Freethinker56
LUV it Mark.It may be imagination.. but it could be some truths in what you write... Very magical. Outstanding writing 👏
auntietk
You remind me (again) of a trip Bill and I took to the Nelson Atkins in Kansas City. There was a painting that ... well ... okay I found it in Bill's gallery:
https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/photorealism-happy-birthday-tara-auntietk-/2056818/?p
See how I got there from your brilliant story?
romanceworks
What a wonderful and imaginative story, Mark, so well written, told with bold colorful strokes and the kind of humor that touches the heart and the mind. I could see her so clearly, and wanted to see her art. And such a meaningful way to shine light on the dark and invisible artwork of women through the ages. Men have long been afraid of women's talents, and insight, and feelings, and how they express themselves. And continue to be in far too many ways. It is, sadly, a sign of their weakness (fear), not strength. Then there are men like you, who break through the shadows and celebrate the brilliant glory of women artists, not merely because they're women, but because you see their creations. And you know that when something magnificent is created, it does not make you less, but makes you more. Thanks for sharing your insights, observations, and words, as they always make this world a little brighter and more beautiful.
blondeblurr
A snippet ? - maybe a snippet to you - a bit like 'ein kleines Wirtschaftswunder' to me... where do you find them ? alright, so I had to contact Mr.Wiki Pedia - [a small and often interesting piece of news, information, or conversation] I told you my English lacks a bit here and there, more of here, than there and there! and not even to speak of my grammar, or even Renaissance (thank heavens for Mr. Spell Check) ... I'm trying you know ? oh, der Weltschmerz !
Just imagine me, painting on my laptop, BTW - it's a 'Lenovo' - that must be pretty close to a Leonardo da Vinci, [maybe a cousin ?] "The Gates of Paradise" by Lorenzo Ghiberti, say who ? (another thanks goes to Mr. Wiki Pedia) don't know much about the old artist's but I am a fast learner - and then there was Caravaggio - now you are talking ! (or Artemisia Gentileschi, as I just found out) what a great list of painters, mainly all Italians... veni, vidi, vici !
...and then there is your talent Mr.T of bringing them all back to life in a 'S N I P P E T' of time, sublime and surreal indeed.
Thank you !
wysiwig
Quite surreal but spot on. Very rich in imagery. You do that so very well. My favorite line is “"You've written enough strange things, here: Don't sweat it," she said.” That made me laugh.
Not only artists throughout history were suppressed. Hypatia; 350–415; was a Greek mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher in Egypt. She was the head of the Neoplatonic school at Alexandria, where she taught philosophy and astronomy. She acted as though she were equal to men in an age when such a thing was almost unheard of. Coming home from a lecture she was set upon by a Christian mob and taken to their church. There she was tortured, her skin being flayed from her body, murdered, mutilated and burned.
The overriding message from Hypatia’s horrific end seems clear. Women are not equal to men and must know their place. Of course this idea came to full flower under Western religions. Pagans, not so much.
miashadows
Brings to mind a true story a film i saw" Big eyes" was in the 50 's if i can remember correctly it's of a woman painter I.m sure you would enjoy it
flavia49
nice
beachzz
"Men"---omg, I LOVE that last line. She said so much with just 3 letters; I would have loved to talk to her!!!