Well it is almost as good as the real thing, Rodin’s stunningly erotic statue of The Kiss, now on show at The Royal Academy of Arts.
It seems fitting to give it a plug today, my wedding anniversary. I’m not sure whether my husband Stephen would have said “I do” if he had known 17 years ago that he was marrying an addicted blogger.
Can you imagine the vicar saying: “Do you take this blogger to be your lawful wedded wife?” He might have run a mile had he known.
Back to The Kiss, the entwined couple are the adulterous, doomed lovers Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Rimini, who were slain by Francesca’s outraged husband. They appear in Dante’s Inferno, which describes how their passion grew as they read the story of Lancelot and Guinevere together. The book can just be seen in Paolo’s hand.
A tragic ending for such passion which grew over their shared love of literature, one I can totally understand, though I would have preferred a happier ending…..
Happy wedding anniversary Ellee!
I was unaware of the background information to ‘The Kiss’, and that they represented figures from Dante’s Inferno, part of ‘The Divine Comedy’. It’s a book I’ve been thinking of getting for some time.
Jean-Luc, These two lovers certainly suffered a cruel fate, it reminds me of that smoochy song: “It started with a kiss, I never knew it would end like this,” how poignantly phophetic for Paola and Francesca, maybe a few other doomed lovers too …
Happy anniversary, Ellee.
Paolo and Francesca, yes, doomed to be blown about by the wind forever, as they were blown about by the wind of passion in life.
One of my favourite places in Paris is the Rodin Museum. It’s a great setting for a museum and because it’s not on the main tourist tours, not too busy.
Great to see that you can enjoy it here, though.
Hey Elle,
17 years! Just had my 20th…. well done…
Tim:- I love Paris. feel right at home there.
Happy Anniversary Ellee! My parents’ 35th is tomorrow, Sept 25th.
This is very interesting about “The Kiss.” I’m flying to Paris in about 3 weeks and look forward to taking in all the its beauty and culture.
Take care,
Robyn
Tim, it seems a few bloggers will be heading to the Rodin Museum in Paris on your recommendation, wish I was. I have seen The Kiss at The Tate and it is stunning.
Favourite Things about Paris…
Following a discussion about Rodin over at Ellee Seymour’s place, I’ve decided to do a quick brain dump of som……