It's all about flesh, baby....

 

Picking up on the theme of Jesus as the ultimate combo of human and divine, I have to say something about …. The penis.  And I’m sorry, but this just has to be said.  There are BOOKS written about this in art history and it is all very interesting.  The difficulty for the medieval artist in depicting the Christ child is just that: how do you render ‘God made man’ and still hold on to both categories: the human and the divine?  So, in the history of art, there was much discussion and controversy surrounding the penis.  There were issues with complete nudity, frankly, because it was considered just TOO pagan, i.e., it harkened to the art of pagan Greece and Rome. So many artists chose to sublimate the human nudity of the Christ child like this:

 

Giovanni Battista Salvi. "Virgin and Child". Early 17th century.

And from the same time, you have this:

This "Virgin and Child," by Carlo Dolci, practically features the penis, and it is not just for kicks.  It is important because it speaks of Christ's total humanity because what is more 'ground zero' than the ability to reproduce? which is what the 'reveal' is all about.  It is part of the miracle, and an interesting way of revering the human, the flesh, the potential and the potency.  

Featuring some works from La Galleria Borghese (the most beautiful abode in the world thanks to Cardinal Scipione Borghese), let's consider the beauty, the fragility, the exquisiteness of the human body:

Bernini's "Rape of Proserpine" marble at its most breathtaking....

Ruben's "Suzanna and the Elders"... unmatched in glory and beauty.......

A stunning collection of Roman marbles.......beyond fab.

And then, the most, absolutely fabulous and marvelous belly button in the world:

Ponder it and ponder YOURS... this is the locus of your existence.  This was your mouth.  From this point, you were created and nourished.  It is so very marvelous:

Enjoying Il Giro d'Italia tonight.  Perfetto!

A presto!