The Feeder Feed: caged in the museum edition

Posted on 4 February 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Yesterday I felt compelled by a Strong Inner Voice to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Some old/news stuff is back, btw.  More on that elsewhere.

In any event, I enjoyed this little moment.

Manuel Osorio Manrique de Zuñiga painted by Goya, in turn being painted by this young lady.

The painting itself.

Manuelito is splendid in his little red suit.

I thank my lucky stars everyday that I didn’t grow up in an age when kids were dressed like that.

The ominous cats are very interested in the pet magpie, which is walking about with Goya’s calling card in its beak.

There is a cage full of finches.  These are the usual European finches which don their “Christological” guise in some paintings, usually of Madonna and Child.  Here they are in a less than Christological setting.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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6 Comments

  1. traditionalorganist says:
    4 February 2011 at 10:50 AM

    This reminds me Father, Have you seen this amazing site?

    http://www.googleartproject.com

    Gigapixal images.

    I particularly like viewing the Uffizi.

  2. irishgirl says:
    4 February 2011 at 11:11 AM

    One of Goya’s best-known paintings. Very nice.
    The cats have their eyeballs focused on the birdies in the cage-look out, goldfinches!
    I would love to go to the Met Museum of Art someday-what a cool place to spend time when the weather’s lousy outside!

  3. AnAmericanMother says:
    4 February 2011 at 9:08 PM

    I think they’re watching the magpie with an eye towards an early supper.

    Goya’s cats always look so scary!

  4. abiologistforlife says:
    5 February 2011 at 1:40 PM

    What is the Christological significance of finches? That’s something I’d never heard of… sounds interesting.

  5. Fr. John Zuhlsdorf says:
    5 February 2011 at 3:02 PM

    biologist:

    I have written several times about the symbolism of finches in Italian paintings. If you are new here, you might not have seen these posts. Try a search on “christological goldfinch” in the search bar at the top of the right sidebar. Also, try this link for a rapid explanation.

  6. jules1 says:
    6 February 2011 at 5:39 PM

    Thanks Fr Z for your informative posts. Unless we study art, iconography,or Christology how would anyone know? I think it is wonderful and can’t wait to go see these works in the galleries around the world. Did the young lady reproducing the painting know about the finches??

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