Proust has given us a glimpse of Odette's likeness in the form of a famous Botticelli fresco in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel. Swann's infatuation is heightened by her resemblance to Jethro's daughter, Zipporah, above. Swann has a picture of the painting on his table."He stood gazing at her, traces of the old fresco were apparent in her face and body... And when he was tempted to regret that...he had done nothing but see Odette, he would assure himself that he was not unreasonable in giving up much of his time to an inestimably precious work of art... When he had sat for a long time gazing at the Botticelli, he would think of his own living Botticelli, who seemed even lovelier still, and as he drew towards him the photograph of Zipporah he would imagine he was holding Odette against his heart."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botticelli
Great connection and relationship, Teresa. I will now need to refer to Proust when touring the Botticcelli at the Museum. I love the phrasing " traces of the old fresco were apparent in her face and body..." It is soo descriptive I can see her her cool, white skin with traces of pink color. Very cool.
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Having just read about Swann's fascination with Jethro's daughter, I was searching out an image and came upon your blog. Very nice and thanks for having it.
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DeleteProust’s description of Odette in the context of the fashion of her times made it difficult to envision her, but the comparison to Boticelli’s Zipporah solved the problem. Thanks
DeleteMe too. I shall explore this blog further. Thank you.
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DeleteI saw Ruskin’s picture of Zipporah at Tate Britain in 2000. My wife and loved the picture and her name. My daughter was born in 2000 and we named her Zipporah. Thrilled when I then read Proust’s masterpiece a few years later comparing Zipporah with Odette.
Delete*My wife and I…
DeleteThank you for this!
ReplyDeleteWonderful !
ReplyDelete"Rome, thou art a whole world, it is true, and yet without love this
World would not be the world, Rome would cease to be Rome..."
I can imagine how delighted Odette (or any woman) would be to told that there were traces of an old fresco apparent in her face and body! Proust seems a rather ambiguous writer to me :-)
ReplyDeleteditto above. Enlightened to see Swann's description of Odette from your entry.
ReplyDeleteStrange thing is Swann finds Odette beautiful only because of the resemblance to a painting, and otherwise finds her ugly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this lovely blog!
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