Antonio
INTJ at the ARDHGB discovered this very interesting photo of AR on Flickr today. It's AR as Antonio, at the Nottingham Playhouse in 1979. He would be 33 years old! He looks like a freaking teenager!!
Now it's much clearer where the inspiration for this self portrait Playbill cover that AR did came from.
The photographer, Gerry Murray, has uploaded a number of other photos from old UK play productions.
Forgive me, but is the play Antonio about Shakespeare's Antonio? If so, I found this information interesting, which may explain the interesting 'look' of the above photo:
Antonio’s sexuality, a controversy
There is controversy related to the sexuality of Antonio. Many gather from the writing of Shakespeare that he was gay, in a relationship with Bassanio. In the time period of the play homosexuality was a public practice with not only the lower class but even with high officials. Lines by Antonio such as “my person…lie[s] all unlocked to your occasions,” (MOV 1.1.46) are indications of a deeper love for Bassanio (O' Rourke). However there is also evidence that they may have been brothers indicated from the line “…Bassanio, your most noble kinsman…” (MOV 1.1.60) Alan Bray’s book, “Homosexuality in Renaissance England,” argues in the time period of The Merchant of Venice homosexuality was not an identity but strictly an act. There may have been some behind the scenes relations between Antonio and Bassanio but it would have been strictly a sexual ritual as opposed to an actual love between the two.
Also, I have unscreened comments on the Hecate artwork post. You may want to go back and read the interesting interpretations that people had. For the record, my 'official' list of HP inclusions were:
- Snape
- Dark Mark
- Bat (Snape compared to bat in HBP)
- Nagini (made the snake green with green eyes)
- Unicorn
- Lily (long red hair to the left of Snape, his right)
- I made the owl more Hedwig-like
- Slytherin locket peeking from under book
I'd have to say that mnoga and a_mesmerized came closest to matching that set of clues. However, there were a lot of other great observations and interpretations (which just goes to show that art appreciation is very subjective!):
- captivebird: The two other female characters put me in mind of Narcissa and Bellatrix and the Unbreakable Vow threesome
- captivebird: Is the unicorn chewing on a dragon's wing?
- captivebird: A spell book/Half-Blood Prince's potion book/diary
- captivebird: The cave like setting, reminds me of the LV's hiding place for the locket
- captivebird: Actually that makes me think that the two other figures could be Inferi attacking
- lilyginny27: Well, that red head sure looks like a Weasley to me. Probably Bill. He always did need a haircut.
- lilyginny27: And that curly blonde can only be Gilderoy Lockhart. Bill must be keeping him busy otherwise surely he would be looking at the artist.
- portiareigns shared some interesting and insightful thoughts on Hecate, the high priestess.
Thanks for participating! I have another artwork in mind, but it may take me some time to get it just right.
