The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Articles
    • Starting From Scratch
    • Common Wardrobe
    • Packing
    • Start With Art
    • Project 333
    • 4×4 Wardrobes
    • Weekly Timeless Wardrobes
    • Archives by Date
    • Archives by Categories & Tags
  • Support The Vivienne Files
    • Books, Clothes & more
    • Templates & Color Planners
  • Contact
Home » Leonardo da Vinci and Jeff Koons

Leonardo da Vinci and Jeff Koons

Selling off some of my goodies turned out to be (a) successful beyond my wildest hopes, and (b) time-consuming! But that of course doesn’t meant that I wasn’t thinking of you all…

Sundays, when we are in town, we have breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien, and then visit the Art Institute of Chicago for an hour or so. Today, for the first time, I saw this piece, by Jeff Koons. It’s quite large – maybe 5 feet tall – and really pretty, in an abstract and rather baroque way.

Christ and the Lamb by Jeff Koons

Oh, that’s pretty, I thought, but didn’t really “get” it….

THEN, one of the guards stopped me. “Do you have a cell phone?” she asked. Actually, I very rarely take my phone with me on Sundays, but I had it with me because I wanted to get some notes about work to use here on The Vivienne Files, or in my book.

“Google The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, by Da Vinci” she told me…

The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne by Leonard da Vinci

Look at the two works of art together…. 

I didn’t get it… 

detail from The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne by Leonard da Vinci; Christ and the Lamb by Jeff Koons



She she started pointing out the parallels to me. And suddenly, it was all SO CLEAR…
 

detail from The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne by Leonard da Vinci; Christ and the Lamb by Jeff Koons



If you still struggle to see it, stand back a little bit, or make the images smaller.

I was gobsmacked, and HAD to share it with you. What WILL artists think of next?

love,
Janice

Alibris: Books, Music, & Movies
Tweet
Pin3
Share
3 Shares

05.16.16 23 Comments

<<Change is Difficult…A Six Pack Travel Capsule Wardrobe: Red, White and Blue for Uncertain Weather>>

Comments

  1. Taste of France says

    May 16, 2016 at 8:43 am

    What an excellent museum guard! It's often so worth it to do a guided tour or to get the headphones so you don't miss these details that aren't so obvious. I don't approve of the folks who wear the headphones and who ignore everything in a room but the thing they're pointed to. The headphones have a pause button! Museums aren't for speeding through, unless you have a membership and plan to come back many times. (I used to go to the Met in NY for just an hour, and just look at one corner of it, like Grecian urns, and not try to do too much).
    Thanks for pointing out this beauty.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    May 16, 2016 at 11:25 am

    So cool! Thank you for sharing it! Judy

    Reply
  3. Julie Bower says

    May 16, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    Incredible! Thank you.

    Reply
  4. Shrebee says

    May 16, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    Janice,
    Art is truly in the eye of the beholder !

    Reply
  5. Madame Là-bas says

    May 16, 2016 at 12:12 pm

    Amazing!

    Reply
  6. SewingLibrarian says

    May 16, 2016 at 12:44 pm

    I love this piece! Is it new at the museum? I've never seen it there – but I haven't been to the Art Institute in quite a while.

    Reply
  7. Scottie says

    May 16, 2016 at 12:52 pm

    Super cool and what a great guide!

    Reply
  8. Kelly says

    May 16, 2016 at 1:05 pm

    Oh, wow! I can see it — the features on his little upturned face, Mary's hand around his waist. That's amazing.

    Is it a mirror?

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    May 16, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    Here is a quote from the artist:
    "Anything that reflects has a kind of spiritual transcendence because it involves the viewer. It acknowledges your presence. Every time you move, the reflection changes; it always acknowledges you."

    -Jeff Koons–

    xoxoKaren

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      May 16, 2016 at 9:36 pm

      Very cool. Thanks for sharing, Karen!

      Reply
  10. Terry A. says

    May 16, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    Oh, wow – that is so cool! Thanks for this.

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    May 16, 2016 at 3:06 pm

    I will continue to appreciate the original.
    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      May 16, 2016 at 3:34 pm

      As is your right – don't ever let anybody tell you what you should admire or love!
      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
  12. webb says

    May 16, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    way cool!

    Reply
  13. lrlincks says

    May 16, 2016 at 5:24 pm

    Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  14. Joyce P says

    May 16, 2016 at 5:52 pm

    Wow! Not only did he re-interpret the form of the painting, he did the same for the framing. Super interesting. Thanks! (And pass on our thanks to that guard, if you get a chance.)

    Reply
  15. Pam @ over50feeling40 says

    May 16, 2016 at 7:14 pm

    I am so glad you shared this Janice! I love learning things like this! How very cool! Glad you had your phone with you…

    Reply
  16. Lori estes says

    May 16, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    Wow! I looked at the first picture trying to see how the title worked in it. So cool the guard shared with you and then you shared with us! I can totally see it now. Thank you to both!

    Reply
  17. Gail Finke says

    May 17, 2016 at 12:55 am

    WOW!!!

    Reply
  18. Gail Finke says

    May 17, 2016 at 12:55 am

    WOW!!!

    Reply
  19. Lorrie says

    May 17, 2016 at 3:21 am

    That's astounding! Thank you!

    Reply
  20. Duchesse says

    May 17, 2016 at 11:17 am

    Next? Probably having a crew make his art, while he signs the piece, makes millions and they work anonymously and are paid by the job, not on the sale. Oh wait, he already did.

    Reply
    • GeckoHiker says

      May 18, 2016 at 7:07 am

      Yes. And for some strange reason I really don't like his "work". It looks like like a hot mess. As Madonna would say, it is reductive, and I'd much rather see Leonardo's master piece.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

logo
The Vivienne Files is a unique personal style blog with carefully-selected capsule wardrobes based on color palettes drawn from works of art, nature, and more. It helps women buy less clothing, and to love what they buy. Read more...
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

STAY UP TO DATE

Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

  • Build a capsule wardrobe starting with a bracelet in aquamarine and amberBuild a Travel Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a Bracelet: Forget-Me-Not Bracelets by Fierce Lynx Designs
  • Build a Warm Weather Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art Wagen in Silberner Strasse by August MackeBuild a Warm Weather Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Wagen in Silberner Strasse by August Macke
  • Japanese 24 Seasons of the Year – Shunbun – Vernal EquinoxJapanese 24 Seasons of the Year – Shunbun – Vernal Equinox
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 The Vivienne Files | All Rights Reserved - Built with ♥ by RockFort Media

THE VIVIENNE FILES IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR US TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON.COM AND AFFILIATED SITES.