Sounds like a lame excuse to post photos of my kids, doesn’t it? Yeah, well, only partially. In fact, here’s one to get us started.
But what I really wanted to post was a few that involve depictions of non-human primates.
The following depicts St. Dominic with the Devil in the form of a monkey. St. Dominic apparently seized the The Devil & made him hold the candle for him.
The story of the Devil’s appearance to St. Dominic in the form of a monkey derives from a medieval legend, according to which the saint seized his tormentor & forced him to hold a lighted candle while he studied. St Dominic released him only after the candle burned down & singed his fingers.
I really like the portrayal of the monkey. I wonder what species it’s supposed to be? Kinda generic. Here’s a close-up.
In the African Art hall, I found this statue of a baboon.
Among the Baule people, baboon-like figures represent supernatural forces that provide protection to the community. Substances encrusted on the surface come from sacrifices made to the figure in order to combat sorcery & ensure success in hunting, farming, & disease control.
In the Asian Art Hall, I heard Japanese music playing & thought I heard a lecture, as they woman’s voice carried over the top of everything. I kept looking & finally found her here. Not a lecture but doing some loud talking that reverberated throughout the gallery. If she’d been upstairs in the Modern Art wing, I’d have thought she was an installation (& wouldn’t have been allowed to take photos of her).
