Pandora (first finished study) 1869
Существует несколько вариантов мифа о Пандоре, один из которых изложен в книге The generall history of Women Author: Heywood, Thomas. экземпляром которой владел Россетти. По этой версии Пандора сама открыла ящик, содержавший все бедствия и несчастья, и выпустила их в мир, на дне осталась только Надежда.
С 1869 года Россетти всё чаще обращался к рисунку мелом, обычно на тонированной зелёной или голубой бумаге. На тему мифа о Пандоре он создал несколько работ мелом и картину маслом. Поза на данном рисунке, возможно, взята с одной из фотографий, сделанных Россетти в 1865 году с Моррис.
на многих фото подчёркнута длина и выразительность рук, во всех картинах, написанных Россетти с Моррис руки играют важную роль.
Правая рука Моррис напоминает левую у Michelangelo's "Dawn" in Medici Chapel.
EPIMETHEUS was the Titan god of afterthought and excuses. He and his brother Prometheus were given the task of populating the earth with animals and men. However, Epimetheus quickly exhausted the supply of gifts allotted for the task in the equipment of animals, leaving Prometheus' masterpiece, mankind, completely helpless. As a result the Titan brother was forced to steal fire from heaven to arm them. Zeus was angered by this theft and ordered the creation of Pandora, the first woman, as a means to deliver evil into the house of man. Despite the warnings of his brother, Epimetheus happily received her as his bride, but as soon as she arrived she lifted the lid of a jar entrusted her by the gods, releasing a plague of harmful daimones (spirits) to trouble mankind. Only Hope (Elpis) remained behind to succor the unfortunate race. Epimetheus' name was derived from the Greek words epi-, epeita, and mêtis, and means "afterthought" or "late counselling." Pindar calls Afterthought (Epimetheus) the father of Excuse (Prophasis). He was the proverbial fool.
Epimetheus received Pandora as a gift from the gods; a human created by the gods specifically to punish the humans.
Pandora was given a jar which contained all evils of humanity; curious to see what was inside, she opened it and all evils were released into the world. Shocked, she closed it as soon as she could, but only Hope remained trapped inside.
В 1869 году Россетти пишет сонет на тему мифа о Пандоре.
What of the end, Pandora? Was it thine,
The deed that set these fiery pinions free?
Ah! wherefore did the olympian consistory
In its own likeness make thee half divine?
Was it that Juno's brow might stand a sign
For ever? and the mien of Pallas be
A deadle thing? and that all men might see
In Venus' eyes the gaze of Proserpine?
What of the end? These beat their wings at will,
The ill-born things, the good things turned to ill, -
Powers of the impassioned hours prohibited,
Aye, hug the casket now! Whithere they go
Thou mayst not dare to think: nor canst thou know
If hope still pent there be alive or dead.
Pandora, sketch
1869 (circa) Medium: pencil on lined note paper Dimensions: 19.7 x 13.2 cm
Medium: chalk
Dimensions: Oval, 18 x 16 in.
Signature: monogram
Date on Image: 1869
Pandora
1870 (circa)Medium: watercolour Dimensions: 39 3/4 x 24 1/2 in. Note: Monogram located at lower right.
1874-8
Данная версия отличается от рисунка 1869 года, плечи даже более массивные чем в Astarte Syriaca и напоминают Cumaen Sibil of the Sistine ceillng. На коробке теперь надпись VLTIMA MANET SPES и крылатая голова Надежды с подсолнухами. Угрожающее и маниакальное движение заменили летаргическую мрачность ранних версий.
ultima manet spes the last hope remains остаётся последняя надежда.
Учитывая, что Надежду забыли выпустить и она осталась на дне звучит двусмысленно. Почему "V" а не "U", непонятно. Латынь хреново знал?
Cumaen Sibil of the Sistine
людан_купол
