Parmigianino, selfportrait in a convex mirror rosso fiorentino, the dead christ with angels bronzino an allegory with venus and cupid portrait of eleonora di toledo with her son giovanni bronzino and the mannerist portrait sofonisba anguissola, self portraits. But night, the reserved, the reticent, gives more than it t. Asberys self portrait the american poet john ashberys 1927 2017 book selfportrait in a convex mirror received extraordinary accolades upon its publication in 1975. Selfportrait in a convex mirror is certainly one of the most sustained performances in american writing. Self portrait in a convex mirror academy of american poets. Selfportrait in a convex mirror, 1984, arion press, san francisco, author. In selfportrait in a convex mirror we get the impression that the artist is the hero of the piece and that the painting celebrates his youthful talent. Selfportrait in a convex mirror is ashberys most popular and most critically honored poem, and it brings together some of the best and some of the most annoying elements in his work.
Selfportrait in a convex mirror questions and answers. The mannerist painter parmigianino painted his selfportrait in a convex mirror in 1524 when he was 21 years of age in fact, he may have. Portrait of a woman inspired by lucretia created around the same time. Parmigianinos selfportrait in a convex mirror is a. Selfportrait in a convex mirror poem by john ashbery poem hunter. August 1974 john ashbery, alfred corn, rosamond dauer, laurence lieberman, estill pollock, gerrit henry selfportrait in a convex mirror by john ashbery poetry magazine agenda. This flemish artist painted the portrait of giovanni arnolfini and his wife. Francesco mazzola, called parmigianino date created. The opening of an early draft of john ashberys selfportrait in a convex mirror. John ashbery, more than any other contemporary, is the poet of the momentary, the transitory. This painting includes a tiny self portrait of the artist in a convex mirror. John ashbery reads selfportrait in a convex mirror. Selfportrait in a convex mirror original draft by john.
It is housed in the kunsthistorisches museum, vienna, austria. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Selfportrait in a convex mirror, a 1984 portfolio featuring the eponymous poem by john ashbery, with eight images by his artist friends, layers allusion and inspiration in a cycle that parallels its circular. Parmigianino is portrayed as contemplative but there is also an emphasis placed on his hand and it is this. Excerpt first 57 lines from selfportrait in a convex mirror 1975 as parmigianino did it, the right hand bigger than the head, thrust at the viewer and swerving easily away. The book won all three of the major prizes awarded to collections by american poets.
Selfportrait in a convex mirror is a 1975 poetry collection by the american writer john ashbery. In the first strophe a distinct division within a poem that is similar to a stanza, ashbery describes the method by which the renaissance painter parmigianino created the painting known as selfportrait in a convex mirror. Selfportrait in a convex city university of new york. Selfportrait in a convex mirror belongs primarily to his middle period. The title, shared with its final poem, comes from the painting of the same name by the late renaissance artist parmigianino. This preoccupation animates everything he writes, and what he writes is some of the best poetry of our day. Selfportrait in a convex mirror is counted among the masterpieces of latetwentiethcentury american poetry, and it is certainly regarded as. A few leaded panes, old beams, fur, pleated muslin, a coral ring run together in a movement supporting the face, which swims toward and away like the hand. Francesco mazzola, called parmigianino, selfportrait in a convex mirror, 1523 24 kunsthistorisches museum, vienna speakers. John ashbery, more than any other contemporary, is the poet of the momentary. Self portrait in a convex mirror 1524 by parmigianino since brunelleschi created linear perspective early in the 15th century, thousands of painters have created the illusion of credible threedimensional.
Book corner selfportrait in a convex mirror wyatt allgeier discusses the 1984 arion press edition of john ashberys selfportrait in a convex mirror, featuring prints by richard avedon, alex katz, elaine. The litograph hand with reflecting sphere, also known as self portrait in spherical mirror, depicts a hand holding a reflective sphere where we can see the artist and his surroundings. Self portrait in a convex mirror, from which the above is a short extract, is an ekphrasis description of a work of art about a painting of the. Parnassus, disputa, and jurisprudence are the titles of three paintingsalong with raphaels school of. Selfportrait in a convex mirror c152324, parmigianino culture.
Selfportrait in a convex mirror background gradesaver. As parmigianino did it the right handbigger than the head thrust at the viewerand swerving easily away as though to protect. Selfportrait in a convex mirror is a long poem in free verse, its 552 lines divided into six verse paragraphs of unequal length. The book won the pulitzer prize, the national book award, and the national book critics circle award, the only book to have received all three awards. Selfportrait in a convex mirror winner, national book awards 1976 for poetry. It, of course, famously won many awards, including the pulitzer prize for poetry. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Selfportrait in a convex mirror poem by john ashbery. Selfportrait in a convex mirror opens immediately with an explanation of ashberys subject. Selfportrait in a convex mirror by john ashbery poetry. Selfportrait in a convex mirror 1524, parmigianino. Francesco mazzola, called parmigianino, selfportrait in a convex mirror, 152324 kunsthistorisches museum, vienna speakers.
Parmigianino, selfportrait in a convex mirror video khan academy. These two observations seem right, and are helpful in thinking about selfportrait in a convex mirror. Selfportrait in a convex mirror francesco mazzola, called. John ashberys most renowned collection of poetry winner of the pulitzer prize, the national book award, and the national book critics circle award first released in 1975, selfportrait in a convex mirror. August 1974 selfportrait in a convex mirror by john ashbery. It is housed in the kunsthistorisches museum, vienna. Selfportrait in a convex mirror quotes by john ashbery. Selfportrait in a convex mirror gagosian quarterly. Selfportrait in a convex mirror study guide contains a biography of john ashbery, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full. Selfportrait in a convex mirror as parmigianino did it, the right hand bigger than the head, thrust at the viewer and swerving easily away, as though to protect what it advertises. Selfportrait in a convex mirror original draft the opening of an early draft of john ashberys selfportrait in a convex mirror. He accordingly caused a ball of wood to be made by a turner, and having divided it in half and brought it to the size of the mirror, he set himself with great art to copy all that he saw in the glass, chiefly his reflection, of which the portrait is the reflection, of which the portrait. Parmigianino, selfportrait in a convex mirror smarthistory.
The mannerist painter parmigianino painted his selfportrait in a convex mirror in 1524 when he was 21 years of age in fact, he may have been slightly younger. Parmigianino selfportrait in a convex mirror, 1524. Selfportrait in a convex mirror was the first of john ashberys books to be published in britain by carcanet, and this is its third printing. The question and answer section for selfportrait in a convex mirror is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. The author of over twenty books of poetry, ashbery received many prestigious. I own this edition of the work and it has held up well. Ashbery may be best known for selfportrait in a convex mirror, an elusive consideration of the parmigianino painting that spirals into a 15page magnum opus about perception, art, and.
He purposely chose to paint the mirror instead of a straightforward selfportrait and in doing so, he made a statement about the nature of art and what is can reveal. Self portrait in a convex mirror, from which the above is a short extract, is an ekphrasis description of a work of art about a painting of the same name by parmigianino. Parmigianino, selfportrait in a convex mirror video. Parmigianino, born girolamo francesco maria mazzola in parma, italy, became italys most influential mannerist painter in his brief. Self portrait in a convex mirror by ashbery abebooks. In the poets response to the self portrait, leckie finds an anxiety over consciousness and reality, over the ability of language to reflect meaningful. Selfportrait in a convex mirror national book foundation. Selfportrait in a convex mirror supplemental recommended. The title refers to a 1524 painting by the italian artist. Parmigianinos direct gaze holds the viewers attention and the light literally falls on and illuminates the artist. Like van eyck in the arnolfini portrait that hangs in londons national gallery, parmigianino was fascinated by the idea of the convex mirror, and the image that such a mirror throws back at the. Selfportrait in a convex mirror c152324, parmigianino. Born in rochester, new york, in 1927, john ashbery had a distinguished and lively career.
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