The painting is François Perrier’s ‘The Sacrifice of Iphigenia’ (1632-33). I had to do a little reading to understand what's going on, so I think I understand the significance of the deer in the clouds.
My question is - why is the knife shown being heated over the flames?? It's obviously going to be used to cut her throat (based on the positioning of her neck), but a sacrifice doesn't require a sterile instrument. Or is instrument sterility not the point - is there some other reason (?religious, ritual?) for heating a knife before cutting someone's neck?
Found at Miss Folly.
.Might cut down on the bleeding through cauterization.
ReplyDeleteWas the artist aware that sterility was not an issue?
ReplyDeleteOf course, "art" isn't required to remain factual or historically accurate.
Perhaps you're simply reading more into it than the artist intended.
Anon, I admit that I don't think sterility was a relevant concept in the 17th century - though cautery probably was understood.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't think I'm reading the importance of the heated knife into the painting because the flaming faggots have such a prominent central position that they command the viewer's attention.
I suspect there is some element of the Iphigenia story that I'm unfamiliar with, or some aspect of religious/cultural practice of the time that the painter was emphasizing.
Well yes, but look at how the silhouettte of that girl is f**ked up. Her torso is about a third of the lengh of the legs. Barroque painting is all about effect, they just didn´t give a damn.
ReplyDeleteHm, just a try on that one, but:
ReplyDeleteIn the story Iphinenia did form the flame of mercy from a wild fire.
The wild fire is also present in the speaking of the king, who expresses his inner disruption in the symbol of fire and water. (as the male and female principle)
When Goethe was originally letting Iphigenia form a humanistic version of the wild (barbarian) male principle (pure will), maybe the artist showed now, how death can still return, even from the flame of mercy.
Especially include, that Thoas wanted to think and keep the political approach in mind before he finally decided - which Iphigenia told him not to do, but to decide by feeling, without consideration.
So, even with a humanistic approach on the wild will, decisions can still be immoral, if not driven by feeling, but by political considerations.
Regarding that the flame on the painting looks merely improvised and not like the real flame of mercy, it could be some kind of excuse, that the wild will gives itself.
Or the painter just sterility fetish, yep. ;)
Ah, and don't forget how ironic Thoas reacts, even after Iphigenia's last lamento... how she accuses him to use the laws to cover his passion.
ReplyDeleteThe fire (wild will and passion) heating the blade of the law (death penalty) looks a pretty consistant symbol there, if you consider Iphigenia's accusation.
Thank you. That's the sort of answer I was hoping to hear - something logical based on components of the story (which I do not know very well)
ReplyDeleteGlad, I could be of some help.
ReplyDeleteI also don't remember well the details. It's been a long time since I actually read it. Glad to have found your blog by coincidence today. Gonna follow it. Keep it up! :)
Judu
Is it possible that the knife is NOT being heated, but rather, because it appears BEHIND the fire, it also appears to be IN the fire?
ReplyDeleteThanks for drawing my attention back to this old post, because the source for the painting had undergone linkrot. I've inserted a proper image.
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