The attorney general during Bush 2’s first administration, John Ashcroft, was so affronted by the bare breasts of the statue of Justice in front of which he spoke that he had her draped in blue fabric to cover her nakedness. It’s like he’d never heard of Europe.
They do, apparently, allow private parts in Washington, D.C. Ashcroft must have had a mental list of "allowable" sights and other than those he kept his eyes shut very tight.
List of "Allowed" (partial):
Neptune Fountain, Independence Avenue: No
Neptune Fountain, Independence Avenue: No
Kandinsky, West Wing, National Gallery of Art: Queasily unsure
"Anarchy" Mosaic, Library of Congress: No
Chick at base of stairs, Library of Congress: Yes
Early Man, Natural History Museum: Oh! Oh! My good lord!
My trip to Italy last autumn helped me figure out the source of the premise that the fall of the Roman Empire was caused not only by the lead in their pipes and wine jugs, but also becuase of their depravity. For a few hundred years, the more graphic art that was found in Pompeii and Herculanium was hidden away in the "Gabinetto segreto" literally secret gallery in the Naples Museum. Now, you don't have to beg the guards to see it, but they do have staff hanging out around the entrance to make sure that youngsters don't have their minds permenantly warped by mistakenly wandering into the Gabinetto. My guess is that Ashcroft probably spent several long hours going through the small living-room size gallery, and that he probably convinced himself that he would do everything he could to keep the US of A from suffering a similar fate.
ReplyDeleteThe vast majority of the frescos, sculptures, and mosaics that were not in the Gabinetto Segreto, would probably make Ashcroft blush. Since I was sweltering in the 75 degree heat of October, it is easy to understand why the women are portrayed as either wearing a gausey drape on top or nothing at all, and the men were often shown like the Greek Olympians they emulated. The heat would kill you otherwise!
I wonder if Ashcroft has ever left the US.
ReplyDeleteCan adults get their minds permanently warped by the work? Ideas one may not have considered?
Since mosaics are time-consuming to make and very expensive you wonder how one commissioned the work. Did wives surprise their husbands when they came home after years of killing Galls? Hey, honey! Look at the artsy porno I got for you!
Since when was 75 degrees hot?
Time consuming yes, expensive, not so much. Already paying room & board for those slaves, might as well have them do something.
ReplyDeleteFor Alaskans 75 degrees is sweltering.