The Model and the Mannequin (1873) by Giovanni Boldini* has nothing to do with dead writers, reading, writing, books, film, or any of the other usual suspects found on A Small Press Life. I just dig the painting. It’s one of those images that I’d love to jump right into; life would be interesting on that side of the canvas. Look at the colours! Look at the patterns! Look at the textures! The mannequin would have to go (burn it! burn it with fire!), but the model can stay. She’d be a fun, if unpredictable, roomie.
The Model and the Mannequin by Giovanni Boldini, 1873
*Although Giovanni Boldini is one of my favourite 19th century genre and portrait painters, every time I see his name I always think of the Erik Rhodes character from the Astaire-Rogers film Top Hat (1935): Alberto Beddini.
Alberto Beddini: “I promised my dresses that I would take them to Venice and that you would be in them!”
That’s actually a decent companion quote for this piece, isn’t it?
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I agree with just about every point you make in this post. Except the mannequin. I’d keep it. But I’m a bit of a trouble maker, I suppose.
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It works out perfectly, then. You may have the mannequin. It’s all yours!
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Love the Beddini quote. Perfect for this piece.
And the gorgeous blue on that dress!! The colours here are dazzling.
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I love this painting! Love it…even though the mannequin is quite dead-behind-the-eyes creepy. I thought that the Beddini quote was quite fitting, in a couple of ways. 🙂
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