In Rome earlier this week, through the good auspices of a friend, I was fortunate to be able to see behind the scenes at the Vatican Museums. It was interesting to see the paintings in restoration and understand some of the techniques used to preserve them. Including lifting whole paintings off the wood on which they had been painted and re-applying the painted surface to canvas. A technique done in water but hugely costly and time-consuming.
The altar piece above - a twelfth century work - caught my attention, along with a little piece of it I can't help sharing and hope that the comments are not too hostile!
The piece is divided into horizontal sections depicting Heaven above, earth in the middle and Hell below. In the lower right hand corner the souls in torment are depicted with their sins written next to them - murderer, thief, etc. A group of women is pictured with their terrible sin described:
Women who chatter in church!
Of course, I'm shocked by that and think the category should be extended to men as well!
Seeing the Vatican Library corridors without the hordes chattering through them gives a renewed sense of their grandeur and beauty.
Fr Mark Haydu, International Diretor of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums shows how poor a condition some of the paintings are in.
3 comments:
Well I think you saved yourself Father, by noting that this was the artist’s depiction of the women chattering in church.
However, it reminded me of a curmudgeonly old brother in community many years ago who delighted in affirming: “Generally speaking (pause) women are (pause) generally speaking.”
It may have been truer of the fair sex at one time, but I think we have caught up – and I don’t mean just the men in the congregation…
You come to our church and at the Masses at lunch times, then you can hear the chatter of men and women - usually about the price of onions or carrots - on Chorley Market.
You men can talk as well.
It is an undisputed fact known to the world and beyond that women can talk - but at least we do make sense!!!!!
Kinga Grzeczynska
Dear Lady Grzeczynska,
As you can see, Fr. Simon clearly stated below the pictures: "Of course, I'm shocked by that and think the category should be extended to men as well!".
I don't know what scandalized you, but if you say women make sense when they talk, please, do make sense, because your comment is out of place, and it is Fr. Simon's statement that outplaced your comment even before it(your comment) was conceived.
Blessings.+
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