Thursday, January 17, 2008

I Can't Spend Any More Time Trying To Think of a Title For This Post

Today I did a rare thing. I dropped Will off at preschool (Richie was already at school) and headed to the college to drop in and say "hello" to my husband. I rarely get a chance to visit him at school because I usually have children with me and young children are not all that conducive to a collegiate learning environment, as I'm sure you can imagine.

But today one of the things on my errand list included a trip to the college. You see, Rich has a couple of photos in his office that are a little outdated, but only by about....5 years. There is one photo of me with Richie when he was about 9 months old and another of me with Richie when he was about 18 months old. To look at the photos in Rich's office, you would not even know that our youngest son (who is now 3 1/2 yrs old) even existed. For shame! Poor thing doesn't have a photo album of his baby pictures either. But he does have this. You might think that my main motivation for replacing the pictures would be because of this obvious injustice to William. But you'd be wrong. I really just didn't care for the way I looked in those pictures. Have you lost all respect for me now?

Anyway, as I was on my way out, I remembered that the college was hosting an art exhibit. Along with his teaching duties, my husband is also director of the art gallery there. He has been telling me about the amazing prints that they currently have on display there. We're talking big names like Picasso, Rembrandt, Durer, and more. I have always held an appreciation for art, but being married to an artist has, of course, increased my appreciation. I thoroughly enjoyed perusing the different works of art. I had a few favorites, but there was one piece in particular that caught my attention. It was by Annibale Carracci. I actually found the image online so I could share it with you. The image shows women grieving over Christ as they tend to his body following the Crucifixion. It is a stunning piece and evoked so much emotion from me. You can view the image here. I'd love to hear what you think of it. And if you live here in B-town...you must go by and see it for yourself!

22 comments:

Darlene R. said...

That's a beautiful piece of art. I couldn't imagine what those women were thinking and what that must have been like. In reality, his body was so torn...

How thankful I am for the cross and for the empty tomb! Praise God! I am forgiven because of that cross.

Teresa said...

It is a beautiful picture and it does make you really stop and think. Like Darlene said, you know his body was is such wretched shape once it was removed from the cross. He had been beaten severly and his beard had been torn out and he probably didn't look much like himself. All that just for me...and you...what amazing love.

Now I have a few artsy questions that I couldn't gather from the picture on the link:

What media was used for the picture? Is it pencil? Oil? Charcoal? I'd just like to know the texture of the picture...I know I'm strange, but I too love art! I majored it in (for awhile) in college and participated all throuhout HS. I'm such a 'fine arts' dork!!

Anonymous said...

Doh! I completely forgot about that and really wanted to make it out there!

Carissa said...

so cool alana. i had no idea this was going on. i am so out of touch with b-town happenings. how long do they have it? what are the hours? i may try to go saturday if it is open. who knew such a cool thing was happening here!!! i can't wait. give me details when you have a minute! thanks...me

Shelley said...

that is a beautiful piece, and one I don't think I've ever seen before. Thanks for sharing!

Oh, and I would've changed the pictures too, if I didn't like the way I looked in them!

Anonymous said...

Um ya, I so would have changed the pictures to:)

That is some beautiful art. He was so badly beaten beyond recognition...for us...amazing

I left you an award:)You have probably gotten it before...If so sorry!

ConservaChick said...

This is a beautiful, if not haunting picture. The expression on the face of the woman on the far left shows so much agony. I can only imagine her intense sorrows. What an amazing artist to capture such emotion. Thank you for sharing this. I love art... but rarely get time to enjoy it. ~Karlie

PS. I found you on Hisgirl's blog.

Darlene R. said...

Hey Alana! I gave you an award on my blog. I know that you've already received it, but you are truly a special bloggy friend!

Janelle said...

Simple. Beautiful. I must go see it. What are the details of the show?

I am so glad you FINALLY changed those pictures. Poor William! :)

Darlene R. said...

Okay, so this is my third comment on one post, but I needed to tell you that

BLOGLINES ROCK!

Thank you so much, Alana, for helping me out with that.

His Girl said...

Sounds like an awesome day. I too have walked in my husband's office and been SHOCKED at how old the pictures are on there. Once a couple of years ago, I found that he had up a GLAMORSHOTS picture of me in there. You know, those ones from the 90's where we thought it was fun to wear a feather boa and have WAY too much makeup on and big ol' hair. Yeah. one of those. *falls on the floor and dies*

Rochelle said...

Beautiful pictures. And I think I feel convicted about the pictures in my husband's office! I might have to pay him a visit soon!!

Heather C said...

Beautiful picture... and as to the other...

Ummm... lost all respect for you? Nah... now I just totally RELATE to you! ROFL

Heather

Earen said...

That picture was beautiful. I can only imagine what was going on in the hearts of those women as they watched the Lord die. I personally sometimes have a hard time as I'm taking communion & find I get all chocked up at the amazing sacrifice HE made for us...I can't imagine actually being there. Little did they know what He was doing for us all! Thank you Lord for your eternal salvation!!

Xandra@Heart-of-Service said...

OK...first of all, I have you beat in the "I don't like the pictures of myself in my husband's office" arena. I actually had my sister-in-law (who is a photographer) take me out on a photo shoot around Washington, DC in order to get a no double chin/bottom half of the body showing picture of me. I was happy with 3 out of the roughly 248 pictures she took. Yes, you may have read my recent post on pride....no stones here, my friend!

Moving on.

The piece with the women grieving over Christ...wow. I think it's the fact that they are so clearly grief stricken, yet they are comforting one another as well.

Xandra

His Girl said...

ps: if you have time, swing by my blog- i'd love if you'd weigh in on a topic for me :)

Fran said...

Just amazing.

And, good for you on changing the pictures in the frames....my husbands office pix are from 1999.
GROSS.

Anonymous said...

Atleast you can visit your husband's offce. Mine, works in a sealed vault underground, with a special badge and password to enter----needless to say, I'm not allowed in.

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

Oh, the pathos of their thoughts that moment. How could their LORD lay lifeless. His life was so short. What words that He spoke to them echoed in their minds?
"Didn't you know I was about my Father's business?"
"Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better."
"Let him without sin cast the first stone."
"Your many sins have been forgiven for you loved much. He who has been forgiven little loves little."

A plethora of pathos pours through their minds...

I wonder what they were thinking...

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

ps - can you e-mail me some help with bloglines...i did it, got it, and it won't bring up the blogs that are currently posting---only mine...

i tried technorati at Amanda's suggestion to find 'who's on' but can't get to work either...

uh-layya-nuh to the rescue...

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

"You have not set up a clip blog yet."

Alana...you are dealing with age here!

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

Since I'm completely ignorant about art, I've always wondered about what it would be like to take an art history class. When I clicked on your link to the image, I recognized it immediately. It must be interesting to be married to an artist! And I can totally relate to wanting to change the office pics. I see that you are a fan of FreeRice.com. I LOVE this "game." It is one game that I could become addicted to, although I can't I'm saying that!