Sonnet on the Winged Victory.
I find it hard to comprehend the Louvre giving space
to damaged sculpture like the Victory of Samothrace
which has no head and, therefore, obviously lacks a face.
I do admit the wings are fine but it is without arms
and, I confess, it couldn’t less display its female charms.
(Would a six-foot, swaddled seraph provoke prurient gendarmes?)
I’m told that it originally graced the ancient prow
of a Rhodean ship two thousand years ago, fixed on somehow.
(It’s stuck atop of a flight of stairs in a sort of archway now.)
Like lots of other tourists I can’t see that it’s so great
though, carved from Parian marble, it must be a hefty weight.
(It likely sank that ship somewhere within the Rhodean Strait.)
To charge poor folk to see bust statues seems, to me, unfair.
I think, with modern superglue, they should attempt repair.
Hugh Wyles, January 2nd. 2006.
Author notes
This is the third sonnet in this "Louvre Trilogy" but, after wandering around the Louvre, I have decided that some other
masterworks merit attention, so there will be more to follow.
Written January 9th, 2006
In a list
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What did you think
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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Dear Laba,
Did you ever, by any chance, call yourself "Olympia"?
NOOOOO! Of course not!
The reason I ask will become apparent in my next sonnet.
(Posting tomorrow.)
Love and hugs, XXX Kingy Poo.
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Brilliant Sonnet on Art
Dear Hugh, I am so pleased to see you've posted the next one, why would they make such a beautiful statue and then not put arms and a head on it?
unless of course as you said she had been on the prow of a ship and lost her head then! I am enjoying these send ups of the art pieces tremendously, gal is right about the "Modern Art" they gush over it, but haven't got a clue what it's all about! it's like the one our former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam purchased when he was in, it just looked like blobs of colour, but it was resold for Millions! it's beyond me. 
I think it was called "Blue Hills" or something like that. Will look forward to the next one my Friend.
Love and hugs.
Bea. xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Applause. -
You know what i love about these writes Hugh, what makes me giggle hysterically..you're penning what most people think when they look at it but think it too uncouth to express... instead they pretend to be in awe ...why it's the cultural thing to do
She dont need no stinkin head
Same with modern art...they exclaim and gush over it and make all the right noises - but havent the foggiest notion of what they're looking at Bravo..enjoyed this very much!
gal -
This is such a wonderful series and I am ever so glad that you are continuing with them! The dry humour in them provide me with endless amusement...the irreverent nature of them add quite a bit too! I, too, do not see the reason for a headless statue...it is rather odd. How in heaven's name do they know how old it is?! And it probably DID sink a ship! Now, I must run away for I am in class and not supposed to be on here.
Bye!
Elisa
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Lol... Hmmmm.... you do make a valid point, Hugh. But then on the other hand, where might we be if we only viewed the ancient world in its perfection ...well, I suppose they could possibly at least do 'before' and 'after' statues...unless of course they started off in disarray to begin with (that's quite possible you know, just look at some of todays artwork ...or at some of our own childrens artwork...which we KNOW is absolutly perfect, even without arms, feet, hair and/or various other body parts and in the case of their of non-human or animal art...like a house with no windows, a flower with no petals...well, you know what I mean... but hey, they're perfect, just ask the parents )
I'm so enjoying this series, Hugh, and glad to see that you may be adding to it
luv and
Dee
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