The Infinite Art Tournament Left Bracket Third-Round Elimination: Canova v. Carrà!

Antonio Canova lost his very first Tournament match, but has since run up four consecutive victories to stay alive into Third Round Elimination.  Meanwhile, Carlo Carrà lost in the second round, but has still managed to reach the present stage of the proceedings with a similar 4-1 record.

What we want to pay attention to here is the Carpaccio Factor.  Canova just knocked Carpaccio (2-2, 18vf, 31 va) out of play, but back in September 2012 it was Carpaccio who handed Carrà his second round loss.  Does this mean that Canova is a sure thing in the present match?  No way.  He has to win the votes.

Also leaving the Tournament this week is French landscape artist Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (2-2-1; 29 vf, 36 va).

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Antonio Canova
1757 - 1822
Italian

• Put up a fair number of votes in losing to big-name Caravaggio in Round 1.
• Took out Robert Campin in First Round Elimination.
• Came from behind to take out Edward Burra in the Left Bracket Second Round by a two-vote swing. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
• Outsculpted Alexander Calder in Left Bracket Second Round Elimination.
• Beat Vittore Carpaccio in the Left Bracket Third Round.

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Carlo Carrà
1881 - 1966
Italian

• Defeated 16th century Italian Annibale Carracci by a landslide in Round 1.
• Lost to 16th century Italian Vittore Carpaccio in Round 2 by a single vote.  YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!
• Made it past American George Catlin in the Left Bracket Second Round by a two-vote swing. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!
• Won easily against Sir Anthony Caro in Left Bracket Second Round Elimination.
• Beat "quiet Corot" soundly in the Left Bracket Third Round.

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Vote for the artist of your choice in the comments, or any other way that works for you. Commentary and links to additional work are welcome. Polls open for at least one month past posting.

The Infinite Art Tournament Round 1: Martini v. Masaccio!

Simone Martini
c.1284 - 1344
Sienese

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Masaccio
1401 - c.1428
Florentine

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Vote for the artist of your choice! Votes go in the comments. Commentary and links to additional work are welcome. Polls open for at least one month past posting.

Saint of the Month: Saint Martinian the Hermit!

Ebenezer Cobham Brewer’s A Dictionary of Miracles: Imitative, Realistic, and Dogmatic claims
that “Martin de Vos has a famous picture called Photina saved from the Wreck, where she is
represented climbing the rock with the help of the hermit.” Alas, I have not been able to find
it.  Instead, here's de Vos's Saint Luke Painting the Virgin.  Followers of this feature
will recognize St. Luke from context, and from his cow.

St. Martinian the Hermit

Not to be Confused With: Saint Martinian of Belozersk, Saint Martinian of Rome, Saint Martinian of Mauretania, Saint Martinian of Milon, or Saint Martinian of Saints Processus and Martinian fame, or Saint Martinian of Saints Martinian, Saturianus, and others fame.
Feast Day: February 13.

Really Existed? Almost certainly not.
Timeframe: Late fourth century; dates vary widely.
Place: the Eastern Mediterranean.

Credentials: Recognized by tradition.
Martyrdom: None, although there's plenty of self-inflicted suffering involved.

Patron Saint of: No tradition of patronage that I've found.
Symbolism: Supposedly dolphins, or a man standing on an island, although in truth I haven't found any images of him that aren't generic icons.


It’s the feast day of St. Martinian the Hermit, who is a saint with two good stories. Almost every account begins by saying that he was from “Caesarea, Palestine,” by which they probably mean the Roman city of Caesarea Palaestina. But don't let's get bogged down. He is a fourth century figure, and the one key fact of his life is that he really, really didn’t want to lose his virginity.

Now, details of St. Martinian’s pursuit of chastity vary considerably from telling to telling, but it’s clear that Zoë was his first temptress. She is described variously as a harlot, a strumpet, or just “a profligate woman” trying to win a mischievous bet with some pals. For whatever reason, she wants to get in the sack with Martinian. In a storm, she arrives at the cell in the desert (or forest) near town where he has been living the contemplative life of a holy hermit and asks him for shelter. When he allows her to stay with him for the night, she begins trying out her moves.

Although tempted – Zoë is apparently pretty good-lookin’ – Martinian will have none of it. He lights a vigorous fire, and when it’s good and hot he thrusts his feet and legs into it. He tells the startled Zoë that if she succeeds in her carnal mission, he’ll go to hell, and that if he’s going to spend eternity suffering the torments of hell, he should at least be ready to handle a few minutes with puny earthly fire. It’s an impressive demonstration, and logically impeccable, and a repentant Zoë heads off to Bethlehem to take up her own religious vocation. She becomes St. Zoë, and it is also her feast day today.

After he heals up, Martinian decides that he needs to get some more distance between himself and temptation, so he finds a rocky island in the sea and commissions a fisherman to bring him supplies every once in a while. For a time, things go well in this hermitage, but in a storm a ship is wrecked on Martinian’s rock with the loss of all hands – except one woman. Martinian rescues her from the sea, tells her that about the arrangement with the fisherman and the supplies, and before anybody can start to feel at all tempted by the flesh, jumps off the island into the sea. A pair of dolphins carry him to Greece – a two year trip, in some sources, which would indicate some incredibly slow dolphins – where he spends the rest of his life in Athens, or perhaps as a wanderer. The woman left on the island decides to stay there, continuing the arrangement with the fisherman and living a life of holy contemplation. She becomes St. Photina, and today is her feast day too.

St. Martinian seems to have a much larger constituency in the Eastern Church than in the Roman. Internet sources are not all convinced of the details: “Some have questioned whether this story is entirely fictitious,” says one, and another says that in these accounts “the line between fact and a good story probably blurs a little.”

If you would like to purchase a sacred relic of St. Martinian the Hermit, I was surprised to see one available on the internet for what strikes me as a very reasonable price.  I do not know the seller, however, and make no representation to the authenticity of the item.

The Infinite Art Tournament, First Elimination Round #35/64

Faceoff #1: Cozens v. Longhi

John Robert Cozens
1752 - 1797
English

Tied with Tony Cragg in his initial Round 1 outing, in September 2012.
Lost decisively to Thomas Hart Benton in a second try at Round 1.

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Pietro Longhi
1702 - 1785
Venetian

Lost a close one to Richard Long in Round 1.

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Faceoff #2: Lorenzetti v. Louis

Ambrogio Lorenzetti
1319 - 1348ish
Siennese

Lost to Lorenzo Monaco in Round 1 by a two-vote swing. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!

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Morris Louis
1912 - 1962
American

Lost to Lorenzo Lotto in Round 1.

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Vote for the two artists of your choice! Votes generally go in the comments, but have been known to arrive by email, by postcard, or in a sealed envelope.

Please note that you may vote only once in each face-off.  Opining that both of the artists in one of the two face-offs is superior to the other is fine, but casting your votes for two artists in the same face-off is not permissible.

The Wednesday Post

See California once more
It seems impossible they know so much about the earth and sky.

NOTE: I notice that three of these cards, and a number of cards I've used recently, were originally sent to the Jones family in Chicago.  I have no idea who they were, or even how I ended up with so much of their old mail.

QUEEN ANNE COTTAGE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY ARBORETUM
ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA
An original dwelling on the famous Lucky Baldwin estate, Rancho Sanata Anita.

Dear Harriet,

Well here I am in Calif.  [illeg.] Jr insisted I go and see California once more. at least he [paid/said]  you will be away from the ice & snow for a while, I feel fine, we may have a little Rain not too much where I am at West Covina.

Love, Ella

Hope you are well

Hope you folks are well


PIER FISHING AT PISMO BEACH, CALIFORNIA 
Jack Smelt are easily caught and are excellent eating.  Up to 21" in length and weighing 1 to 1 1/2 pounds, they may be taken with either ocean reel or bait casting rods.  Snag lines are used also and it is not too uncommon to see 6 to 8 fish pulled in at one time.

ANIMAL COLOR SERIES From the San Diego Zoo
Indian Elephant

October 9
Dear Albert and Harrietta

 I've been having a kidney infection, but much better now.  Will have a checkup Friday.  Will leave here Oct 24 & get home Oct 25th.  I've been over to my friend Rhoda's for ten days.  This is an active household with six childre

Sincerely, Mabel


SOUTH VIEW OF THE DOMES OF THE SOLAR TELESCOPE, PLANETARIUM THEATRE AND TWIN REFRACTING TELESCOPE OF THE GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Saw thru this.  It seems impossible they know so much about the earth and sky.

love, Ella


ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA

This swinging bridge across the Arroyo Grande Creek is a well known landmark in a pleasant community.

Dear Friend,

This seems to be the card nearby so I am going to send you greetings and the wish that your husband is so much better all the time.  and that you are well and can enjoy the children too.  I now have 2 great grounddaughter.  I see the Dawsons & Mrs. Hansen.  She is better.  Hope I see you both when I come to Chicago  

Love, Josephine

The Infinite Art Tournament, Round Two: Lorenzo Monaco v. Lotto!

Lorenzo Monaco
c.1370 - c.1424
Siennese; worked in Florence

Beat Lorenzetti in Round 1 by a two-vote swing. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!

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Lorenzo Lotto
1480 - 1556
Venetian

Defeated abstract American Morris Louis in Round 1.

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Vote for the artist of your choice in the comments, or any other way that works for you. Commentary and links to additional work are welcome. Polls open for at least one month past posting.

The New Monday Quiz, Very Romantic Valentine's Day Edition

The New Monday Quiz loves you very much.

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1. In theory, St. Valentine's day celebrates one, or maybe a few, people named St. Valentinus. This or these early Roman Christian(s) would have died at roughly the same time that, far to the east, people in China are said (although this is also historically murky) to have been figuring out what you can make from sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. What can you make from sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate?

2. It sounds like it would be really old, but St. Valentine's Church in Rome was built for a important secular international event held in 1960. What was it?

3. Our modern association of Valentine's Day with romantic and sexual love is thought to have been started by a 14th century English poem called Parlement of Foules. Its author, a successful and influential diplomat and civil servant, also wrote literary works like The Book of the Duchess, The House of Fame, the Legend of Good Women, Troilus and Criseyde, and then also one that is still widely read today. What was his name?

4. The disorder once called Saint Valentine's Malady has been seen as a strange divine blessing and as a curse from the gods. It's characterized by uncontrolled jerking movements due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity. What do we call it these days?

5. In the country that has the greatest number of Catholics, February 14th is close to a very important celebration and gets little attention. An equivalent romantic holiday, Dia dos Namorados, is celebrated on June 12. What's the country?

6. The feast day of Saint Valentine (February 14th, of course) was removed in the Roman General Calendar of 1969. This document, which is the most recent revision to the Catholic liturgical year, was released under the authority of a Pope who served for the 15 years between John XXIII and John Paul I. What was his papal name?

7. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, there is a St. Valentine's Day celebrated on July 6. On July 6, 1885, a rabies vaccine was used for the first time. The little boy was saved -- before the vaccine, you know, rabies was almost invariably lethal -- and happily, the extremely brainy French scientist who administered it was never prosecuted for practicing medicine without a licence. Who was this key figure in the history of microbiology?

8. On Valentines Day 1900, 20,000 British troops invaded the Orange Free State. The Second __________ had begun.

9. The victims of the “Saint Valentine's Day Massacre” were members of the North Side Irish gang. The perpetrators were presumably connected with the South Side Italian gang. Who was the boss on the South Side?

Hilarious reconstruction of the event in Some Like it Hot.

10. On Valentine’s Day 1989, the Ayatullah Khomeini introduced the word fatwa to a mainstream Western public through his virulent objection to a contemporary novel. What was the book?

11. Will you be my Valentine?