Zeus of Urbino

Titian. Venus of Urbino (1538) 

Having recently learned that Zeus is a kitty vampire, I am now more apt to believe him when he tells me about some of his friends from centuries ago. When he told me that Titian had painted a picture of him in 1534 that was identical in every way to the Venus of Urbino I naturally thought that he was telling me a lie. He informed me that he and Titian had been great friends, and that Guidobaldo II della Rovere (the Duke of Urbino) loved the painting so much that he tried to buy it from Titian. Titian refused to sell his portrait of Zeus to the Duke of Urbino, but offered instead to do something similar with the Duke's wife (Giulia Varano). After great protestation the Duke agreed, and that is how the Venus of Urbino came about. You can still see that glorious painting at the Uffizi, but the portrait of Zeus was lost to posterity because it was stolen from Titian's personal estate after his death. There has been an exhaustive ongoing search for this painting for nearly 500 years, and Zeus and his "friends" from the underworld feel they are getting closer to recovering it. In the meantime he commissioned a photograph of himself as a reminder of Titian's portrait- though it clearly lacks all of the Cinquecento fineries that one would expect to see.

I Love the Theatricality of Illamasqua: The Theatre of the Nameless is an Intertextual Dream Come True!

The other day when I was drooling over so many of the products on the Illamasqua website I decided to have another look at the Theatre of the Nameless Collection (Fall/Winter 2011), and was immediately struck by a bolt of lightning! These images were so hauntingly familiar, where had I seen them before-- what glorious theatrical reference was being made (either unconsciously or intentionally)? Then I had my Aha! Moment that led me right back to my childhood..."Dammit Janet"

Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

The similarities between Tim Curry's character Dr. Frank-N-Furter from Rocky Horror and the Illamasqua Theatre of the Nameless campaign imagery is remarkable and fantastical. This Collection is an intertextual delight for those who like Rocky Horror Picture Show, but is an artistic and theatrical marvel even for those unaware of the film. I love Illamasqua's theatrical approach to makeup, and while I would not dare to wear my makeup with this type of verve I certainly do appreciate their daring artifice.

Illamasqua Theatre of the Nameless

Illamasqua Theatre of the Nameless

From Leda and the Swan to Catherine Deneuve, Björk & Ellen Degeneres: Intertext of the Absurd.

 

Leda and the Swan (Cesare da Sesto Copy after Leonardo da Vinci) (c. 1512-20)

Catherine Deneuve with Flamingo (1968) by David Bailey

Björk's Swan dress (Designer Marjan Pejoski) worn to the 2001 Oscars.

 

Ellen Degeneres spoofs Björk's Swan dress at the 2001 Emmy Awards.

Daphne Guinness for MAC Launches December 26th! Don't Be Scared- She Won't Bite!

I am on pins and needles waiting for the launch of heiress Daphne Guinness's collaboration with MAC. Her choice of a strong and cool palette really resonates with my personal aesthetic, and while I'm not nearly as daring as she is- I plan on getting many pieces from her MAC Collection.

Guinness claims that her color story was inspired by things as disparate as pigeon's blood, and the paintings of Titian, Zurbarán & Michelangelo. She also claims that she detests trends, and prefers classic things. There are many who claim that this trend-setting fashionista is eccentric and scary, but I tend to think that her daring fashion choices are interesting works of art. She has an innate sense of how to put things together, and really approaches fashion from the perspective of an artist. Check out her interesting interviews here and here about her MAC collaboration.

I imagine that the people who have claimed that she is a little scary see her as something of a Postmodern Bride of Frankenstein, and while there is an undeniable similarity between these images- I think writing her off as scary is to miss the point. I appreciate her willingness to seek the greatest expressive potential through her fashion and makeup choices. As an artist she uses herself as the canvas for her most interesting creative endeavors- part painter, part performance artist, but 100% true to her own vision.

I suspect that this collection will be selling out very quickly-- so don't drag your feet on this limited edition collection!