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Sunday, July 15, 2012

"Ganimede rapito dall'aquila" -- Michelangelo

Speranza

The "Ganimede" was the first drawing that Michelangelo gave Cavalieri, in 1533.

The composition shows the beahtiful shepherd boy dressed only in a loose cloak, being carried off by the eagle.

The eagle is positioned behind a languidly phlegmatic Ganimede, his claws clamped onto Ganimede's lower legs.

The eagle's head and beak bow down and are bent rather awkawardly round the front of Ganimede's torse, as though the eagle is trying to suckle at Ganimede's breast.

It is not a great flying position.

Michelange is more concerned to show Ganimede and the eagle fused toghether inseparably.

It also means that Ganimede's head and aoustretched arms become the crowing feature of the composition.

Ganimede's curly hair and cloack, billowing backwards and upwards, are like spune on the crest of a giant wake.

The motif CLEARLY has homoerotic connotations, but the sotry was frequently treated alegorically as a symbol for any kind of divine elevation into a union with God.

Eagles were also used as a general symbol of pedagogical nurturing.

The way in which Ganimede's arms are outstretched along the eagle's wings suggests that Ganimede may be learning to fly.

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