Saint Rose's machine
Original title: Macchina di Santa Rosa ("Saint Rose's machine")<br /><br />The Macchina di Santa Rosa is a tower used in Viterbo, Italy to venerate the patron Saint of the city, Saint Rose of Viterbo. The tower has been made of different materials throughout the centuries, stating in the 13th century.<br /><br />Gender perspective: The origin of this papier maché architectural structure celebrate the tranasfer of the body of the saint dating back to the 13<sup>th</sup> century. The day before her preserved heart is ceremonially paraded. This symbolic structure acts as a material substitute for the whole body of the saint, which becomes a locus of adoration deprived of all human or generic attributes.
Macchina di Santa Rosa, Viterbo, Italy.<br />Wikipedia:<br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchina_di_Santa_Rosa">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchina_di_Santa_Rosa</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201007184141/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchina_di_Santa_Rosa">https://web.archive.org/web/20201007184141/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchina_di_Santa_Rosa</a><br /><br />Image 1:<br /><span>“Fiore del Cielo” ("Flower of the Sky") </span>(2009)<br />Wikimedia Commons<br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:La_Macchina.JPG">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:La_Macchina.JPG</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201007184121/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:La_Macchina.JPG">https://web.archive.org/web/20201007184121/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:La_Macchina.JPG</a><br />
<p>Image 2:<br /><span>“Fiore del Cielo” ("Flower of the Sky") </span>(2009)<br />Wikimedia Commons<br /><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FVL_8951_Macchina_di_Santa_Rosa_Fiore_del_Cielo_Foto_di_Riccardo_Spinella.jpg">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FVL_8951_Macchina_di_Santa_Rosa_Fiore_del_Cielo_Foto_di_Riccardo_Spinella.jpg</a></p>
Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201126022953/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FVL_8951_Macchina_di_Santa_Rosa_Fiore_del_Cielo_Foto_di_Riccardo_Spinella.jpg">https://web.archive.org/web/20201126022953/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FVL_8951_Macchina_di_Santa_Rosa_Fiore_del_Cielo_Foto_di_Riccardo_Spinella.jpg</a><br /><br />Image 3:<br />"Ali di luce" ("Wings of light") (2003)<br />Wikimedia Commons<br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ali_di_luce_20070903n_by_dd11.JPG">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ali_di_luce_20070903n_by_dd11.JPG</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201126023046/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ali_di_luce_20070903n_by_dd11.JPG">https://web.archive.org/web/20201126023046/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ali_di_luce_20070903n_by_dd11.JPG</a><br /><br />Image 4:<br /><em><span class="">3 SEPTEMBER 2019 | </span>VITERBO - “Lift and Stop”… the Santa Rosa Machine is back! </em>by Cilo, Tommaso (2019) in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Event della Tuscia</span> webpage. <a href="https://www.eventidellatuscia.it/3-settembre-2019-viterbo-sollevate-e-fermi-torna-la-macchina-di-santa-rosa/#prettyPhoto">https://www.eventidellatuscia.it/3-settembre-2019-viterbo-sollevate-e-fermi-torna-la-macchina-di-santa-rosa/#prettyPhoto</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200926110209/https://www.eventidellatuscia.it/3-settembre-2019-viterbo-sollevate-e-fermi-torna-la-macchina-di-santa-rosa/">https://web.archive.org/web/20200926110209/https://www.eventidellatuscia.it/3-settembre-2019-viterbo-sollevate-e-fermi-torna-la-macchina-di-santa-rosa/</a>
Vanitas bust of a lady with a crown of flowers on a ledge, by Ykens (1688)
This vanitas plays with the confusion of <em>naturalia</em> and <em>artificialia</em>, deconstructing the markers of femininity alluded to the image. This is a fragment of an elegant woman presented as an object, a bizarre statue that emphasizes her breasts, which serves as the feet or stand of the statue. Her fleshed neck and breast contrast with her head, a darkened skull. The whiteness of her teeth reflects the whiteness of the pearls in her necklace, a typical example of <em>naturalia artificialia</em>. The vegetable decorations of her earrings and broaches, possibly made from precious stones, attract a bird that takes them for natural fruits. The rose, a symbol of beauty and fragility, has survived the general decay thanks to its artificial nature, as well as the elegant wig, which is not her true hair. Death has rendered this beautiful woman bust into an artificial decorative object, questioning the reality of her markers of beauty and feminine attractiveness while alive.
Ykens, Catharina (1659- c. 1737)
Private collection. <br />Wikimedia commons:<br /><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catarina_Ykens_II_-_Vanitas_bust_of_a_lady_with_a_crown_of_flowers_on_a_ledge.jpg">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catarina_Ykens_II_-_Vanitas_bust_of_a_lady_with_a_crown_of_flowers_on_a_ledge.jpg</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200707012646/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catarina_Ykens_II_-_Vanitas_bust_of_a_lady_with_a_crown_of_flowers_on_a_ledge.jpg">https://web.archive.org/web/20200707012646/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catarina_Ykens_II_-_Vanitas_bust_of_a_lady_with_a_crown_of_flowers_on_a_ledge.jpg</a><br /><br />Auctioned at <span>Sotheby's:<br /><a href="http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/lot.115.html/2017/old-masters-day-sale-l17034">http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/lot.115.html/2017/old-masters-day-sale-l17034</a><br /></span>
1688
Oil on panel.
Dimensions: 21 × 21 cm
Dance of Death, by Wolgemut (1493, c.)
Five skeletons are depicted in this illustration dancing around a grave. one of the skeletons is in the grave in a state of decomposition while covered by a shroud and with snakes crawling around its body. On the left, another skeleton is playing the flute while covered with the same shroud that covers the skeleton in the grave. This skeleton also has some flesh, especially in his arms and legs. Two skeletons dance in the middle of the picture. These are represented without flesh but with hair, unlike the skeleton playing the flute. Lastly, on the right, another skeleton appears joining the dancing. This one is represented in an earlier stage of decomposition, as some organs and guts are coming out of the body. Similar to the other two skeletons that still have flesh, this one is also partially covered by a shroud. This last skeleton is represented with long hair.
Wolgemut, Michael (c. 1434-1519)
Illustration in The <em>Liber Chronicarum</em> (or <span>Nuremberg Chronicle) </span>by <span>Hartmann Schedel, 1493.<br />Other title: <em>Registrum huius operis libri chronicarum cum figuris et imaginibus ab inicio mundi. </em>Image 573, page 264r.<br /><em><br /></em>In University of Cambridge Digital Library, UK<br /><a href="http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PR-INC-00000-A-00007-00002-00888/573">http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PR-INC-00000-A-00007-00002-00888/573</a><br /><br />Classmark: Inc.0.A.7.2[888]<br /><br />Wikimedia Commons:<br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nuremberg_chronicles_-_Dance_of_Death_(CCLXIIIIv).jpg">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nuremberg_chronicles_-_Dance_of_Death_(CCLXIIIIv).jpg</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200121175917/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nuremberg_chronicles_-_Dance_of_Death_(CCLXIIIIv).jpg">https://web.archive.org/web/20200121175917/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nuremberg_chronicles_-_Dance_of_Death_(CCLXIIIIv).jpg</a><br /></span>
1493, c.
Woodcut.
Dimensions: Unknown
A struggle conversation between death and natural life, by Wandereisen (printed by) (1538)
<span><span>Original title: Ein Kampfgesprech zwischen dem Todt und dem Natürlichen Leben ("A struggle conversation between death and natural life").<br /><br />"Death; holding a scythe, standing to right; an hourglass on a tree stump at right; the body of two men on the ground; woodcut illustration only from the title-page to 'Ein Kampfgesprech zwischen dem Todt und dem Natürlichen Leben', Nuremberg: Hans Wandereisen, 1538." (Description from The British Museum webpage,<br /><a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1865-0610-415">https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1865-0610-415</a>)<br /></span></span>
<p>Gender perspective: Death as the Grim Reaper is normally understood in English as a male figure and often presented with indirect masculine symbols. In this case, the long hair and neck make the figure look feminine or at least ambiguous. The area of the genitalia is visible and the lack of any mark points towards a feminine figure.</p>
Wandereisen, Hans (printed by) (1512-1550)
<span><span>The British Museum, London, UK:<br /><a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1865-0610-415">https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1865-0610-415</a><br /><br />© The Trustees of The British Museum<br />Asset number: 75644001<br />Museum number: 1865,0610.415<br /><br />Also found in the Digital German Library:<br /><a href="https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/L4GXYP2IMVKT4H5AVHTGIDR7VWXN53SJ">https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/L4GXYP2IMVKT4H5AVHTGIDR7VWXN53SJ</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200710204721/https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/L4GXYP2IMVKT4H5AVHTGIDR7VWXN53SJ">https://web.archive.org/web/20200710204721/https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/L4GXYP2IMVKT4H5AVHTGIDR7VWXN53SJ</a></span></span>
<p class="col-sm-4 ">URN: urn:nbn:de:gbv:3:1-137675</p>
1538
Woodcut on paper.
Dimensions: 8.4 × 8 cm
Saint James the hermit and female skeleton, by de Vos (1600, c.)
This engraving represents the scene when Saint James the hermit looks at a female skeleton. This is one of the few cases where the skeleton's gender is identified as feminine, and this can be seen in the lettering: "Dextera ne flamma(m?) rapiat, cremat igne sinistram, Sic Iacobe manu tacta puella calet. Vicisti iuuenis, canum qui foemina vicit. In thalamo peccas; corrigis in tumulo."
Vos, Maarten de (1532-1603)
<span>Saint James the hermit beating himself with a stone as he contemplates a skeleton in a tomb. Engraving by G. Piccini after Martin de Vos. Credit: Wellcome Library, London, UK<br /><a href="https://wellcomecollection.org/works/qddggtew">https://wellcomecollection.org/works/qddggtew</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200904225014if_/https://wellcomecollection.org/works/qddggtew">https://web.archive.org/web/20200904225014if_/https://wellcomecollection.org/works/qddggtew</a><br /><br />Wellcome Library number: 34634i<br /></span>
1600, c.
Engraving.
Dimensions: 15 × 19.7 cm
Illustration in <span>an edition of Vesalius' </span><em>De Humani Corporis fabrica Epitome,</em><span> with annotations by Fontani (1642)</span>
This illustration depicts a naked young man on the left holding an apple in his left hand, and a naked young woman on the right covering her lower abdomen with her right hand. On the ground between the two people, what appears to be a skull and a snake crawling out of it.
This illustration is reminiscent of the story and punishment of Adam and Eve, for the presence of the young naked couple, the apple in the man's hand and the snake.
Vesalius, Andreas (1514-1564)
Fontani, Nicolai/ Nicolaas Fontanus (annotator)
Illustration <span>in an edition of Andreas Vesalius' </span><em>De humani corporis fabrica epitome</em><span> with annotations by Nicolai Fontani (1642)</span><br /><a href="https://search.wellcomelibrary.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1297539?lang=eng">https://search.wellcomelibrary.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1297539?lang=eng</a><br /><br /><span>Wellcome Collection:<br /><a href="https://wellcomecollection.org/works/vnwfgcqj/images?id=vzaw8evp">https://wellcomecollection.org/works/vnwfgcqj/images?id=vzaw8evp</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201111155537if_/https://wellcomecollection.org/works/vnwfgcqj/images?id=vzaw8evp">https://web.archive.org/web/20201111155537if_/https://wellcomecollection.org/works/vnwfgcqj/images?id=vzaw8evp</a><br /><br />System number: b12975394<br /></span>
1642
<span><a href="http://deathandgender.celpyc.org/items/show/118">Skeletons and a bisected woman, by García Hidalgo (1691, c.)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deathandgender.celpyc.org/items/show/119">Title page of second edition of <em>Historia de la composicion del cuerpo humano</em>, by Valverde de Amusco (1560)</a><br /></span>
Illustration.
Dimensions: Unknown
Cover of an edition of Vesalius' <em>De Humani Corporis fabrica Epitome,</em> with annotations by Fontani (1642)
The illustration on the cover of this edition shows two naked children on the top of the illustration with two skulls next to them. In the center, a man on the left and a skeleton on the right hold a cloth with the title of the book. The bottom section of the illustration represents five men examining a dead woman's body, whose stomach is cut open to show the organs.
Gender perspective: The human figures, a male semi ecorche figure, an undifferentiated skeleton with a shovel as the representation of death and a female body anatomized for the internal organs. An implicit reading is that the three figures are interchangeable, representing different stages or forms of the human condition.
Vesalius, Andreas (1514-1564)
Fontani, Nicolai/ Nicolaas Fontanus (annotator)
Cover in an edition of Andreas Vesalius' <em>De humani corporis fabrica epitome</em> with annotations by Nicolai Fontani (1642)<br /><a href="https://search.wellcomelibrary.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1297539?lang=eng">https://search.wellcomelibrary.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1297539?lang=eng</a><br /><br />Wellcome Collection:<br /><a href="https://wellcomecollection.org/works/vnwfgcqj/images?id=w9apauyv">https://wellcomecollection.org/works/vnwfgcqj/images?id=w9apauyv</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201111010230if_/https://wellcomecollection.org/works/vnwfgcqj/images?id=w9apauyv">https://web.archive.org/web/20201111010230if_/https://wellcomecollection.org/works/vnwfgcqj/images?id=w9apauyv</a><br /><br />System number: <span>b12975394</span>
1642
Illustration.
Dimensions: Unknown
Death killing envy represented as a female allegory, by Veen (1612)
Death, represented by a skeleton with hair and a beard and holding a scythe, kills a woman who is lying on the floor.
Veen, Otto van (1556-1629)
<span><span>Emblematica Online - Resources for Emblem Studies.<br /><a href="http://emblematica.grainger.illinois.edu/oebp/ui/#/results?ekeywords=death&tab=emblemdetail&eskip=36&emblemid=va1612083&bookid=huygens.knaw.nl_3Aemitx_3Ava1612">http://emblematica.grainger.illinois.edu/oebp/ui/#/results?ekeywords=death&tab=emblemdetail&eskip=36&emblemid=va1612083&bookid=huygens.knaw.nl_3Aemitx_3Ava1612</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201003203919/https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/static/images/va1612/pictura/01040173.jpg">https://web.archive.org/web/20201003203919/https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/static/images/va1612/pictura/01040173.jpg</a><br /><br />Image from the book <i>Q. Horatii Flacci Emblemata </i>(1612) by Veen, Otto van. </span></span>Post mortem cessat invidia. [83]<br /><a href="https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/va1612083.html"><span><span>https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/va1612083.html</span></span></a><span><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201003203944/https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/va1612083.html">https://web.archive.org/web/20201003203944/https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/va1612083.html</a><br /></span>
1612
Emblem.
Dimensions: Unknown
Soul as a female with a man, by Veen, Ledesma and Hattronius (1615)
This image represents a little girl being burnt on a stake by a man. A winged cherub is holding the girl.
Veen, Otto van (1556-1629)
Ledesma, Alonso de (1552-1623)
Hattronius, Carolus Philippus (Unknown)
<span><span>Emblematica Online - Resources for Emblem Studies.<br /><a href="http://emblematica.grainger.illinois.edu/oebp/ui/#/results?ekeywords=death&tab=emblemdetail&eskip=18&emblemid=v161535&bookid=huygens.knaw.nl_3Aemitx_3Av1615">http://emblematica.grainger.illinois.edu/oebp/ui/#/results?ekeywords=death&tab=emblemdetail&eskip=18&emblemid=v161535&bookid=huygens.knaw.nl_3Aemitx_3Av1615</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201003173434/https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/static/images/va1615/picturae/77.jpg">https://web.archive.org/web/20201003173434/https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/static/images/va1615/picturae/77.jpg</a><br /><br />Image from the book <em>Amoris divini emblemata</em> (1615) by Veen, Otto van, Ledesma, Alonso de and Hattronius, Carolus Philippus. Publisher: Martinus Nutius. </span></span>Constans est [35]<br /><a href="https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/v161535.html">https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/v161535.html</a><span><span><br /></span></span><span><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201003192801/https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/v161535.html">https://web.archive.org/web/20201003192801/https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/v161535.html</a><br /></span>
1615
The theme presented in this illustration is similar to elements <a href="http://deathandgender.celpyc.org/items/show/94">Soul as a female with a gender-neutral skull, by Veen, Ledesma and Carolus Hattronius (1615)</a><span> and <a href="http://deathandgender.celpyc.org/items/show/95">Soul as a female and king death as male, by van Leuven (1629)</a>. In all these illustrations, the soul is represented as a little girl accompanied by an angel or cherub and death is represented as either a male skeleton, a skull or a man. </span>
Emblem.
Dimensions: Unknown
Soul as a female with a gender-neutral skull, by Veen, Ledesma and Hattronius (1615)
The image represents a little girl lying and sleeping on top of a skull while cupid looks at her. Although the child is represented as a little girl, the skull is represented as neutral, stripped off of any gender identifiers.
Veen, Otto van (1556-1629)
Ledesma, Alonso de (1552-1623)
Hattronius, Carolus Philippus (Unknown)
Emblematica Online - Resources for Emblem Studies. <br /><a href="http://emblematica.grainger.illinois.edu/oebp/ui/#/results?ekeywords=death&tab=emblemdetail&eskip=0&emblemid=v161555&bookid=huygens.knaw.nl_3Aemitx_3Av1615">http://emblematica.grainger.illinois.edu/oebp/ui/#/results?ekeywords=death&tab=emblemdetail&eskip=0&emblemid=v161555&bookid=huygens.knaw.nl_3Aemitx_3Av1615</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200919174904/https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/static/images/va1615/picturae/117.jpg">https://web.archive.org/web/20200919174904/https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/static/images/va1615/picturae/117.jpg</a><br /><br />Image from the book <em>Amoris divini emblemata</em> (1615) by Veen, Otto van, Ledesma, Alonso de and <span>Hattronius, Carolus Philippus</span>. Publisher: <span>Martinus Nutius.<br /><a href="https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/v161555.html">https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/v161555.html</a><br /><br />Archived in:<br /><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200919175307/https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/v161555.html">https://web.archive.org/web/20200919175307/https://emblems.hum.uu.nl/v161555.html</a><br /></span>
1615
Emblem.
Dimensions: Unknown