Robert Jones's Blog, page 10

Portraits of a Lady

I  did more than my average amount of writing in last week’s post. This week, I’ve decided to be lazy and rely on eye candy. I will simply say that I don’t think anyone has portrayed Wonder Woman with as much dignity and respect as Alex Ross. Consider some of the evidence: You may have … Continue reading Portraits of a Lady →

The Goddess Mentality – Part 3

Let me start by saying that I do not respect powerful people simply for being powerful.  I respect people for being humble, conscientious, empathetic, and compassionate and for doing what they can with what they have. I can’t recall how many times I’ve heard the following argument: “They resent her because she’s aggressive, abrasive, egotistical, etc. … Continue reading The Goddess Mentality – Part 3 →

The Goddess Mentality – Part 2

For those whose ire might have been raised by last week’s post, please keep in mind that I am posing questions to stimulate thought and that I have settled on few, if any, answers to which I would care to commit. The questions I am raising have occurred to me in the course of observing … Continue reading The Goddess Mentality – Part 2 →

The Goddess Mentality – Part 1

  I remember being a somewhat insensitive adolescent male – well, insensitive and confused, actually. I mean, why did some women object to traditional roles, and why did they reject pursuing what I had been taught they had always pursued? Why wouldn’t they want men to regard them as beautiful and attractive? Of course, who … Continue reading The Goddess Mentality – Part 1 →

The Modern Pantheon: Wonder Woman

  I finally got around to renting Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016, directed by Zack Snyder; image credits to Warner Brothers). Let me get my critiques out of the way first: 1)  It had an impressive ensemble cast (including Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Amy Adams, and Gal Gadot), … Continue reading The Modern Pantheon: Wonder Woman →

Graphic Mythology: Wonder Woman Revisited

It has been over six months since I have discussed this character from comics/graphic novels, and I have had sufficient time to reflect on comments made by my readers back then. A mainstay of DC Comics, Wonder Woman is truly iconic and immediately recognizable. In trying to come to grips with her true significance, I … Continue reading Graphic Mythology: Wonder Woman Revisited →

Mythological Model – Julia vs. Maria

I wasn’t originally going to do this post, but I’ve had an interesting and enjoyable exchange with a gentleman named Erick Verran. He suggested to me that the model for the Perseus cycle (more specifically The Baleful Head) by Edward Burne-Jones could have been Julia Stephen, another Pre-Raphaelite model, rather than Maria Zambaco. This intrigued … Continue reading Mythological Model – Julia vs. Maria →

Mythology On Canvas: Mythological Model (5)

Since this post is something of an epitaph for Maria Zambaco, I think it  more appropriate to leave her clothed and to make some attempt at examining her as a real woman rather than any of the mythological figures (save one) for which she was posed. With one exception, I believe that the images of … Continue reading Mythology On Canvas: Mythological Model (5) →

Mythology on Canvas: Mythological Model (4)

This week’s offering is the Perseus series painted by Edward Burne-Jones and featuring Maria Zambaco as model. In the first painting, Perseus receives his call from the goddess, Athena. It looks as if Maria was used as the face model for both characters. Her apparent profile (as Perseus) is seen again in the next painting… … Continue reading Mythology on Canvas: Mythological Model (4) →

Mythology on Canvas: Mythological Model (3)

It is difficult to see Maria Zambaco as a victim of exploitation when one gets a hint of how headstrong she seems to have been. That combined with her wealth and her skill as an artist push me toward believing that her life may have been more about psychology and morals than it was about … Continue reading Mythology on Canvas: Mythological Model (3) →