Picking and grinning

[jasona]

So, there I was, wandering the Louvre a few weeks ago, when lo, I did spy a Madonna and child (and no, it was not Lourdes and her mum). Around the blessed couple an angelic choir did play. Very solemn angels, playing for the god child.

[jasona]

...except for the mandolute playing angel. Look at that face! Picking and grinning, for sure! But is that an appropriate way to gaze at the baby Jesus? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[pjlama]

Look at that smile! That's pretty funny, I thought I was the only only one who grinned like a fool while playing. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[LateBloomer]

The angel with the mandolin was probably painted by an apprentice, notice the small and awkward hands. Her expression is somewhat archaic (forced). That being said - yes it is a comical expression (or even somewhat lusty) to modern eyes!

[Ken Berner]

The only reason that the mandolin picker has that "forced" look is 'cause there is a banjo just out of sight to the right.

[hendrix2]

Little Jesus seems a bit old in that painting http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
He's even getting bald!

[MandoSquirrel]

Looks like HE's not too sure about that smile, too! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[LateBloomer]

It was normal for "baby" Jesus to be painted as a minature adult (but this is the first time I've seen him with a receding hairline!). The artists and their patrons just couldn't image him as a babbling infant, like the one they held in their own arms. Many times he is portrayed giving a blessing, or eating grapes (a little foreshadowing). Yep, I teach this stuff.

So Jasona - when are you going to take us all to the Louvre? I'm thinking a field trip is in order. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[jasona]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Italian Paintings, 13th-15th century, room 4, west wall. Its in between all of the crucifixes with showering blood out of the side wound. And FWIW, while Da Vinci has perhaps the greatest skill of capturing real facial expression, I thought the Titians were the most impressive on that floor. But, sadly, no mandolins in eithers works.

[JeffD]

The facial expressions people make, often unconsciously, while playing can be quite comical. That expression looks so appropriate to mandolin playing I have to think the artist is a genius in capturing the reality of it - rather than limited in his facial painting.

[Duc Vu]

That confirms it: mando players are happy people. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

From the Louvre site (http://cartelen.louvre.fr/cartelen/visite?srv=car_not_frame&idNotice=1232)