Abstract
The title of Zbigniew Herbert’s poem “Fra Angelico: Martyrdom of Saints Cosmas and Damian” suggests that the poem is a typical ekphrasis. Such descriptiveness seems to be confirmed by the author's segmentation of the text (and at the same time of the presented world) into the left side, background and the right side of the picture. Such division is characteristic for verbal description of a picture as a work of painting and is used by historians of art. But by reading more attentively it reveals that Herbert's poem should be treated not only as a description of the picture, but its interpretation. Herbert refers not only to the picture, but to external information (hagiology). Division of the world in the poem causes stratification on another levels of the text such as narrators. While “left side of the picture” is presented from external perspective indefinite in details, “right side of the picture” deals with the presented world from the viewpoint of the characters from the described picture. That's why instead of neutral utterance of an external narrator we have utterances of the characters (as in masks lyrics).
Highlights
The title of Zbigniew Herbert‘s poem ―Fra Angelico: Martyrdom of Saints Cosmas and Damian‖ suggests that the poem is a typical ekphrasis
Such descriptiveness seems to be confirmed by the author's segmentation of the text into the left side, background and the right side of the picture. Such division is characteristic for verbal description of a picture as a work of painting and is used by historians of art
Nie jest on bowiem poetyckim opisem dzieła Fra Angelico, lecz jego interpretacją, a jeśli przyjmiemy inny jeszcze punkt widzenia – interpretacją interpretacji wymienianego w tytule obrazu
Summary
Wiersz Fra Angelico: Męczeństwo świętych Kosmy i Damiana jest jednym z wcześniejszych utworów poetyckich Herberta. Na podstawie zawartych w tekście wiersza elementów świata przedstawionego obrazu możemy z dużą dozą prawdopodobieństwa stwierdzić, że przedmiotem wypowiedzi lirycznego podmiotu jest jeden z serii obrazów Fra Angelico prezentujących męczeństwo tytułowych świętych, znajdujący się obecnie w zbiorach podparyskiego Luwru (1438–43, tempera na desce 36x46 cm).
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.