Humanities desk
< September 27	<< Aug \| September \| Oct >>	September 29 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Humanities Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

September 28[edit]

Finale - Self-portrait of Nadja Malacrida[edit]

Who painted the artwork on the cover of the 1934 book Finale - Self-portrait of Nadja Malacrida (above)? Does the painting have a title? Does it depict Malacrida? A Google image search find no other versions. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 13:56, 28 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Dunno. But that is the ("rare") dust jacket copied from here: [1]. It appears to be signed, lower-right, but way too small to discern. The likeness suggests that it depicts her. 2606:A000:1126:28D:884E:DE47:19EE:3DC1 (talk) 18:35, 28 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Looks to me to be made in the style of classic religious art, including the "cherub" (no wings, though). SinisterLefty (talk) 18:39, 28 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

The wingless cherub seems to be covering himself with tomato plants. What's up with that? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:58, 28 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

That would be taking the place of the traditional modesty fig leaf. SinisterLefty (talk) 21:03, 28 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Tomato: Dubbed the “love apple” in early European times, this fruit was deemed an aphrodisiac because of its numerous seeds.

Orange: A symbol of virginity and fertility.^[2] 2606:A000:1126:28D:884E:DE47:19EE:3DC1 (talk) 21:59, 28 September 2019 (UTC) Edit:17:09, 29 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I should think being red and sometimes even shaped like a heart would help. SinisterLefty (talk) 22:49, 28 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I think the book will have attribution for the cover and there is a copy in the British Library. I think the dress existed and was possibly worn by her, if not for the wedding then a party associated with the wedding. The tone makes it seem like a watercolour, possibly purpose made for a wedding invitation or announcement of some kind. The design of the dress seems well-defined, like a fashion illustration. I would think the dress and the artist were both in the circle of the bride or groom and are dated circa 1922. Throughback to some pageboy look with interesting neckline. Cherub holds oranges, not tomatoes. Jane (talk) 10:37, 29 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I had assumed it was an allegorical, posthumous portrait and she is wearing her mythical grave clothes while being escorted to Heaven by cherubs or putti. I don’t have access to the book and don’t feel inclined to pay £150 for the cheapest copy available to find out. Giano (talk) 16:02, 29 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Courtesy link: putti (singular: putto) -- Vocabulary Word of the Day 2606:A000:1126:28D:81A6:6E86:228C:19F8 (talk) 16:53, 29 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you, that’s most helpful; but I suspect I don’t need to link to putti on this page. Giano (talk) 18:43, 29 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Well, it is a new word to me -- great for Scrabble. ;) 2606:A000:1126:28D:81A6:6E86:228C:19F8 (talk) 19:19, 29 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

It is indeed a very useful word for scrabble, but the putti escorting and leading her are very symbolic of death, especially in Southern European culture - her husband (the author and publisher of the work) was Italian. If that picture were painted while she was alive and in good health, then I would say the artist were clairvoyant. Giano (talk) 19:44, 29 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

The symbolism is interesting. Also note that she is literally crossing a threshold onto a carpeted path (being lead by the putto). Which of course, references the title: Finale The orange motif is further expressed by the orange blossom garland, etc., which (to me) suggests that she wishes to enter the next world "virtuous" (in her wedding dress?). 2606:A000:1126:28D:69F0:AEB4:365B:6338 (talk) 18:09, 30 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I've just examined the Bodleian Library copy, where this image is the frontispiece. It is captioned "From the painting by Ettore Tito in the library of Duneckt House, Aberdeenshire." So it's this guy, also the painter of this. There is no other attribution for the image. MartinPoulter (talk) 12:50, 2 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you, Martin, that's very helpful in moving things forward. Duneckt (or Dunecht) House was owned by Nadja's uncle & aunt, Viscount(ess) Cowdray. I wonder where the artwork is now? Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 16:35, 2 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not completely satisfied about this Andy Mabbett. I think the "from" in the attribution is masking a great deal. It looks very much to me as though the head from Tito's ball gown portrait has been lifted and placed into an allegorical scene by another hand. Tito worked in oil, the allegory looks to be water colour and the styles are completely different. Giano (talk) 11:39, 3 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I've provided a comparison of the faces from the two works, above. Here's evidence that Tito also worked in watercolour. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 08:26, 4 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]