A painted breadcrumb

ebaeschnbliah:

isitandwonder:

ebaeschnbliah:

stillgosherlocked:

thepineapplering:

So as some of you know, I’ve been asking for a subtextual clue (because a textual one would be a) too much and b) impossible to find before S4? TAB?) of Mycroft’s knowledge/frankly nonsensical inaction about “Mary Morstan/AGRA” past activities. Or a symbol, a subtextual breadcrumb left for us to rely on something “tangible (i.e. left for the writers for us to see) besides logic.

So I think I found it. The breadcrumb. The subtextual proof.

Okay… If you say so?

Ehm, what are we looking at?

This painting is called “Peacocks”. Made by Melchior 

d'Hondecoeter. This dutch guy lived in the XVIIth century. Quoting the wikipedia page on his work,  “he painted virtually exclusively bird subjects, usually exotic or game, in park-like landscapes. Hondecoeter’s paintings featured geese (brent goose, Egyptian brent and red-breasted brent), fieldfares, partridges, pigeons, ducks, magpies and peacocks, but also African grey crowned cranes, Asian sarus cranes, Indonesian yellow-crested cockatoos, an Indonesian purple-naped lory and grey-headed lovebirds from Madagascar.”

What do we have on that painting? Peacocks, obviously. The African grey crowned crane (the big white bird with the red head). A squirrel. A turkey. Also a spider monkey. And what is that, flying free? A MAGPIE.

Please notice the birds he almost exclusively painted. This guy knew his market. He knew where the money was, so he mastered his themes catering to his clients’ taste. His repertoire was limited. If you see a bird flying on a Melchior painting, chances are that is a magpie you’re seeing.

And pray tell, what on earth has that painting to do with the show? Well, since you’re asking…

That painting is hanging on the walls of Mycroft’s house. 

Mycroft has a painting of a magpie mastering the skies.

Shown on the same episode “Mary Morstan” marries John Watson, breaks Sherlock’s heart metaphorically, while Mycroft, knowing who she is (ok, who she definetely isn’t, for sure) does nothing to stop her/tells anyone the truth.

Mycroft is shown running while going nowhere. Watched by a magpie.

Is that the same painting? It is.

If you read my last meta M for mutant (and let’s face it, even if you didn’t), you know magpies are a symbol for the villain “Mary Morstan”. So there it is. The breadcrumb I was referring to. An arrow to the link (or the lack of). 

Tagging people who were very helpful

Weiterlesen

Thank you so much for tagging me, @thepineapplering. This is an amazing find and I am in awe of what clues people are still able to find after all this time. All this subtextual bird imagery summed up in one painting, hanging in Mycroft’s home. And I love your remark about Mycroft running while going nowhere. This may be taken as one of those clever moments where superficial amusement (the British Government working out and checking their tummy) is subverted by the symbolism of the treadmill. Brilliant!

Check this out, @ebaeschnbliah.

Thanks for tagging @stillgosherlocked . To find this painting in the first place, recognize it and assign it to the artist is indeed great work @thepineapplering . About the bird - sorry, but I’m sure this is no magpie. As you stated, the artist is incredible talented in depicting characteristic attributes of different species. A flying magpie shows a very specific flight silhouette - especially the tail and the wings. I anwered a similar quesstion not long ago on this meta (x) and added pictures of flight silhouettes of magpies and swallows. Because of the forked tail, the sickle-shaped wings and the auburn colored spot near the beak I’m sure the bird on the painting is a barn swallow. Did some pictures for comparison:

The black and white bird above in the middle is a flying magpie. Below is the bird painted by Melchior  d'Hondecoeter. Left and right are barn swallos.

Sorry

@ebaeschnbliah @thepineapplering But then the Birds behind Mary on the wall at the Wedding reception are swallows as well? There would be a connection between Mary and Mycroft, especially as both scenes transition?

@isitandwonder @thepineapplering @stillgosherlocked  Did a bit of research about swallows and their symbolism:

“For sailors, swallow tattoos have specific meanings. Typically, a sailor who has traveled for more than 5,000 nautical miles will get a swallow tattoo to demonstrate that he is well-experienced. Swallow tattoos are also considered lucky for seafarers, as they believe that if they drown, the swallow will carry their soul away safely. The birds were also associated with working-class pride in England, and many fighters tattooed swallows on their knuckles or fists to symbolize their strength and swiftness.

In ancient Greece, the swallow was associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of Love, and was believed to bring good luck and happiness. The ancient Romans believed that the swallow was a totem bird for mothers in sorrow, and that it embodied the souls of children who had been lost in childbirth. Modern Christians see the swallow as a symbol of sacrifice and rebirth, as well as a symbol for new beginnings.

No matter what cultural belief you choose, swallows are seen as a symbol of hope. The birds are protected in many cultures, and are rarely hunted or harmed.” (x)

My favourite picks would be  ‘sailor - love - luck - happiness - sacrifice - rebirth - hope  and carry the soul away into safety’ …. all of this with the ’real couple’ in mind, of course. :)))