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Kerry's Gallery
Kerry:
Yet another “Ecstasy of Saint Teresa.” Again inspired by the Bernini sculpture of the same name, this painting is rendered in oils on canvas and is 120cm x 90cm (4ft x 3ft).
Painted within the composition is this image of the Regina Coeli, a traditional Roman Catholic representation of the Virgin Mary, crowned as Queen of Heaven. It is deliberately painted in such a way as to give the impression that it is collage, adhered to the surface of the paint. It is, in fact, painted within the composition.
Also within the composition is a representation of another madonna and child. This time, not THE Madonna and Child. Rather, it is a painted copy of a photograph of me and my mother.
Here’s the original. I can remember this photograph being taken. I was 4 and Mum was 43. It was late in the afternoon and I can still distinctly remember how displeased I was about having to squint into the bright sunlight while this photo was being taken. Despite that, it is one of my favourite pictures of Mum. I remember she was holding my hand, in an endeavour to get me to wave at the photographer, a family friend. I can even remember the colour of Mum’s dress. It was green. Mum was very fond of green.
Cross section detail:
sel:
Hi Kerry,
The Bernini's sculpture seemed to have had a big impact on you. May I ask you why you added the two small paintings, the meaning behind it?
The pic with you and your mother is really beautiful, you look like her very much.
Kelda:
oooh! I love this one!! And the little photos..
Kerry:
--- Quote from: sel on June 18, 2009, 03:21:48 am ---Hi Kerry,
The Bernini's sculpture seemed to have had a big impact on you. May I ask you why you added the two small paintings, the meaning behind it?
The pic with you and your mother is really beautiful, you look like her very much.
--- End quote ---
Again the angel has been transformed into a spiraling beam of light (fairy dust), which has its beginning and end where the two mother and child images are located at the top and bottom of the painting. It circuitously envelops (caresses) Saint Teresa in the process.
This picture was painted not long after the death of my mother and I was in deep mourning at the time. It seemed appropriate to me that I should include an image of my own blessed mother in a painting which incorporated also an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Specifically, of the Regina *Coeli - the Queen of Heaven. Heaven, where my mother now resided.
Saint Teresa of Avila was a member of the Carmelite Order of the Catholic Church, an Order with which I also have close links. The Carmelites are a Marian order. That is, their primary devotional focus is on the Blessed Virgin Mary, hence her image within the composition. The fact that both blessed mothers are incorporated within the same painting and are mystically linked by the transfiguring band of light (angel) joining them, probably has more to do with the depth of my own mourning at the time, rather than with any legitimate, or otherwise, interpretation of Roman Catholic catechetic doctrine.
* (pron, Chay-lee)
Kerry:
--- Quote from: Kelda on June 20, 2009, 04:48:12 am ---oooh! I love this one!! And the little photos..
--- End quote ---
Glad you like it, Kelda. It's one of my favourite photos of my Mum.
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