Posted on 12/06/2007 7:49:29 PM PST by blam
Edited on 12/07/2007 2:32:32 PM PST by Lead Moderator. [history]
Did Da Vinci hide God's face in painting?
By Aislinn Simpson
Last Updated: 2:54am GMT 07/12/2007
A new storm is brewing in the world of Da Vinci theorists after a mysterious group claimed it has used mirrors to uncover hidden biblical images in some of the great master’s most famous works.
The Mirror of the Sacred Scriptures and Paintings In recent years, art history scholars have unveiled Templar knights, Mary Magdalene, a child and a musical script hidden in the Italian’s paintings.
[Mod: Images removed due to threat of legal action from source]
These images, from the group's website, show how the original The Virgin and Child sketch (left) can be manipulated with mirrors to supposedly show the ancient Old Testament god Jahveh (right)
It is well-documented that Da Vinci, who lived between 1452 and 1519, often wrote in mirror writing, either in an attempt to stop his rivals stealing his ideas or in a bid to hide his scientific theories, often deemed as subversive, from the powerful Roman Catholic Church.
But now a group known as The Mirror of the Sacred Scriptures and Paintings World Foundation believes that he applied the same technique to some of his best-known creations, including the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, to conceal mysterious faces and religious symbols.
When applied to the sketch The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist, which hangs in London’s National Gallery, the authors say the mirror image reveals the ancient Old Testament god Jahveh, who "protects the soul of the body’s vices" and wears the Vatican’s crown.
Their theory would explain why many of Da Vinci’s characters seem to be pointing or staring into space, as if searching for the Divine.
The group claims they are indicating where the mirror should be placed to reveal the painting’s secrets.
In the Virgin and Child sketch, they say, it explains why John the Baptist appears to be staring past Jesus into the distance.
A similar face appears when a mirror is applied to the right hand shoulder of Mona Lisa, and the experts also claim to have found an upturned holy grail on the table in front of Christ in the celebrated Last Supper fresco.
The mirror-technique is applied to another painting of John the Baptist to reveal the four-legged image of creation and the Tree of Life in Adam and Eve’s Garden of Eden.
Again, John is pointing with both hands to the place where the mirror needs to be placed to reveal the "hidden" image.
According to the group, the same technique was used by Michelangelo and Raphael, in artwork exhibited in the Vatican, and Renaissance artists including the neoclassicist Jacques Louis David. Similar images have also been found in famous paintings and sculptures of Buddha.
The Mona Lisa supposedly shows a similar face
The study’s authors wrote to the Vatican last year to explain their discovery, but received a lofty reply saying that while their findings would no doubt be the object of much discussion in the art history world, their ideas required "solid proof" and needed to be supported by a general consensus among art critics before they could be taken seriously.
Critics of the project will claim the authors want to cash in on the worldwide fascination with Da Vinci conspiracy theories, brought to a head by the publication of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code and the subsequent Tom Hanks film.
These featured the theory that the male figure on Christ’s immediate right is actually Mary Magdalene and the couple had descendants living in the modern world, and multiplied visits to sites all over the world to which Da Vinci was linked.
The latest theory, expounded by The Mirror of the Sacred Scriptures and Paintings group, whose website www.mirrorandart.com, is owned by the Sacred and Divine Reason and Foundation Corp, follows the revelation in July by an Italian amateur scholar that the Last Supper contained a hidden image of a woman holding a child.
The figure, he said, appeared when the fresco was superimposed with its mirror image and both were made partially transparent.
Exactly what I thought. Darth Vader... or Dark Helmet.
Didn’t I see this on an episode of Alias?
ELVIS-JESUS SIMILARITIES
Jesus said: “Love thy neighbor.”
(Matthew 22:39)
Elvis said: “Don’t be cruel.”
(RCA, 1956)
Jesus is the Lord’s shepherd.
Elvis dated Cybill Shepherd.
Jesus was part of the Trinity.
Elvis’ first band was a trio.
Jesus walked on water.
(Matthew 14:25)
Elvis surfed.
(Blue Hawaii, Paramount, 1965)
Jesus’ entourage, the Apostles, had 12 members.
Elvis’ entourage, the Memphis Mafia, had 12 members.
Jesus was resurrected.
Elvis had the famous 1968 “Comeback” TV special.
Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.”
(John 7:37)
Elvis said, “Drinks on me!”
(Jailhouse Rock, MGM, 1957)
Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights.
Elvis had irregular eating habits.
(e.g. 5 banana splits for breakfast.)
Jesus is a Capricorn. (December 25)
Elvis is a Capricorn. (January 8)
Matthew was one of Jesus’ many biographers.
(The Gospel According to Matthew)
Neil Matthews was one of Elvis’ many biographers.
(Elvis: A Golden Tribute)
“Jesus’ countenance was like lightning and his raiment white as snow.”
(Matthew 28:3)
Elvis wore snow-white jumpsuits with lightning bolts.
Jesus lived in state of grace in a Near Eastern land.
Elvis lived in Graceland in a nearly eastern state.
Mary, an important woman in Jesus’ life, had an Immaculate Conception.
Priscilla, an important woman in Elvis’ life, went to Immaculate Conception High School.
Jesus was first and foremost the Son of God.
Elvis first recorded with Sun Studios... which today are still considered to be his foremost recordings.
Jesus was the lamb of God.
Elvis had mutton chop sideburns.
Jesus’ Father is everywhere.
Elvis’ father was a drifter and moved around quite a bit.
Jesus was a carpenter.
Elvis’ favorite high school class was woodshop.
Jesus wore a crown of thorns.
Elvis wore Royal Crown hair styler.
Jesus H. Christ has 12 letters.
Elvis Presley has 12 letters.
No one knows what the “H” in “Jesus H. Christ” stood for.
No one was really sure if Elvis’ middle name was “Aron” or “Aaron”.
Jesus is often depicted in pictures with a halo that looks like a gold plate.
Elvis’ face is often depicted on a plate with gold trim and sold through TV.
Jesus said: “Man shall not live by bread alone”.
Elvis liked his sandwiches with peanut butter and bananas.
The one on the left immediately brings to mind Magritte's The Rape, and the one on the right brings to mind a different painting seen in the old softbound must-have "Fantastic Paintings". I'd identify the other one, but a friend of mine "borrowed" my copy about five years ago. What a beeotch.
In a perverted sort of way. The original Star Wars had several mythical elements, like Darth Vader is a play on Dark and Vader (Dutch)or Vater (German), meaning “Father” (Wikipedia).
So, Luke could be considered a sort of anti-Jesus.
In a way.
I guess.
It makes sense. Da Vinci and the others were such great artists, it would be easy to find examples of this phenomenon. Look for “un-natural” folds and wrinkles on clothes, and in landscape. Look at the green sleeve in the picture of the lady and the ferret (?) the darkened area does not really look like a ‘natural’ fold in the clothing. Same thing in post 41, athough the picture is a little small for me to confirm. If we look for these anomalies, we may find more.
Elvis dated Cybill Shepherd.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This I did not know
Jesus knows all
It looks like the Arbiter from the Halo games. And Darth Vader. Maybe if the Arbiter and Vader had a child...
ping
The phenomenon is called “Pareidolia”, which is the human brain’s tendency to make something significant out of something vague - usually visual or audio-based things.
Rorschach inkblot tests use Pareidolia to try to gain insight into the mind of the viewer. It is also what is at work when people think they hear things when records are played backwards or when religious figures show up in tortillas or on bridge underpasses.
Our brains tend to want order, so we sometimes perceive that we see and hear patterns (faces, words, etc.) where none may actually exist.
Either that, or George Lucas has some ‘splaining to do, because I see Darth Vader, too.
Link to the animated classic set to Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song.
You know, there was a particular Renoir painting that I swear I saw a box of Cornflakes. Was he a secret early owner of the Keloggg Company?
I suppose if you use a good selection of funhouse mirrors and perhaps a computer you can come up with most anything you want.
I see heraldry Llama-maids wuth guys in suits standing behind them.
(NO, I am not a "morning drinker". It is 9:50 p.m. here in Tokyo on a Friday night!!!!))
Actually it's neither. The simple truth is that its easier for a left handed person, like Leo, to write from right to left than it is from left to right.
Try it.
All of these art historians sitting around w/ nothing better to do than find hidden meanings where there are none would be better employed sweeping the streets.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
