The story of a masterpiece; J.B. Van Loo: The Holy Family

We present the story of a masterpiece. Another in a series of programs recounting the historical background of world famous artistic mice. If you. Didn't. Today Gianbattista Venlo paints the Holy Family. With the woman. On this particular day in August 17th seven young beast van Lowe was a happy man and he had good reason to be the only 23 years of age he was already a well-known painter. The pride and joy of his native city example evolves in spite of this obviously Dutch name. He was a typical Southerner with big black eyes a singsong accent. But what made him particularly happy on this

fine summer day was the fact that he was putting the finishing touches to the painting which he felt was his greatest masterpiece and which later generations remembered as one of his finest works. What's more he had been granted the unheard of privilege of having a young nun sit his model for his Holy Virgin. But the Mother Superior relying perhaps on her own experience of the dangers of worldly life had been careful to separate the pater from his young model. She supervised all the details herself in the parlor of the convent which had been divided into by a tall grill. When in her heart and soul she felt there was no danger. She calmly returned to her saintly occupations. You know how little I knew it had nothing to be afraid of the big bad wolf Venlo was safely locked up in his cage but a tall iron grating never stopped anyone from talking. And why should it.

Especially as the strange pair had plenty to talk about as they sat on opposite sides of the fence in the parlor of the convent of sunny X on post office. Yes mind that. This is the third time I'm paid to go home. Don't you get tired of doing the same thing the time. It's not just the same thing all the time. Just think how strange life is. I was feeling desperate when I began this painting. And now as I'm about to finish it. I feel nothing but joy. What do you think of it. I just. I like this painting very much

especially the Archangel Gabriel. It's almost as if I recognize him. As if. I'd met him before. He looks so. But what about the Madonna. Don't you like her. She's so beautiful afterall. We'll yes but what do you mean. But don't get mad. What bothers me is the fact that well it's me you paying her so you recognize yourself. Well of course but I'm not as beautiful as you are 100 times more beautiful. Now it seems I'll never be able to do justice to your features. You must understand whenever I look at the painting. I feel wonderful. But whenever I look at you I see how much difference there is between this version and my model and it seems a hopeless task. Oh it's your own fault. You should have painted the Virgin from your imagination as you normally do.

You didn't really need me and I had this curse of bars between us will drive me crazy. I won't let you hold my hand if you use that kind of language. Don't be mean. Give me your hands. Thank you. Her hand so soft so gentle. How do you expect me to paint such marvelous hands. And the nails hoping to see shows. I know your mind you don't know a thing about it. You won't learn to appreciate these things and the shit that you can be sure of. And if one day you do take your vows if you become a Carmelite if I do these if it's. What you're getting at the moment more I want to have a good look at them. I want to know. I want to know

them as if they were my own before I try to paint them. Look at this small purplish vein then at rest you can hardly see it. I hadn't even noticed it. It's time for dress blues. I routinely chattery. Father Benjamin hadn't dispensed me from going. I prayed that you should come here instead. Strange kind of prayer. One present good as the next. Let's get to work. You see I know that. I've only taken six steps from this cousin group to my pain being. In my eyes already have forgotten what they just saw a moment ago. How do you expect me to do your hands well.

The feeling I want to remember is too short lived too fragile. But you did succeed in doing my face now as well as me. And the hardest part still remains to be done. Haven't you finished yet. I thought I had finished it. But now I must start all over again. I don't understand what the dollar is showing with downcast eyes. In all my paintings years film with downcast eyes. But this time I want her to open her eyes and look at the archangel. Because never before have I seen or imagined eyes as beautiful enough to look at the archangel Gabriel in the face. I think you have your man the contrary. I know exactly what I'm talking about. You're such a deep blue. So limp and so pure.

Never mind I can explain it to you. I'd have to be a poet and I'm only a painter. Yeah look at this. What is it. A precious stone. It's beautiful isn't it. Yes give it to me for a moment. I want to have a closer look. It's lapis lazuli. Oh how beautiful. I've never seen anything so beautiful before. You see those little particles of gold mixed with it. Do you expect this guy have a pulse and I want some a night. And you know what I'm going to do with the stone. I'm going to crush it grind it into a fine powder. You know please don't give it to me. I put it on the crown of the Virgin over the great altar of our chapel. It would be criminal just to destroy this.

No no not if it's going to make something even more beautiful out of it. You see in that it's difficult to accomplish anything worthwhile in this world of ours without crushing something or someone. Oh you've certainly missed your venue. And what do you think you're going to do that will be more beautiful than Easter. You'll see. Look I think the stone and I crush it. I grind it into fine dust. If. I can't do that now there is no need to come up here is my little dove. It's all over. But what are you doing now. I'm mixing this precious powder with the white of an a sink. Yes and you see the pine unctuous paste use yes as pleasant to peel as it is to look at here.

And what are you adding on now. Our fish bowl which gives even more substance even more brilliance to the color but you didn't answer my question. What are you going to do with it. Couldn't be more BUF for the Mr New crash. You keep asking and you know it as well as I do. Here take a close look at the space you will find. Throughout the length and the breadth. Of the purest. Gold in the world. The purest blue and that purest. Those specks there are constellations of gold dust. What else do you expect me to paint with that but your heavenly eyes. Oh you're talking nonsense again nonsense. Ask your mirror whether its reflection is nonsense.

You know very well that we have no merit in ourselves. You really make me laugh with your ideas. It's a good thing my ideas make you laugh because I've just had another. What's that. Don't look so worried. There's nothing to be afraid of. Listen you saw how difficult it was for me to paint your hands. And what a bad job I did. How do you expect me to paint your eyes. The living quality I see in them. If I have to run back and forth 20 times from this room to my canvas. What do you want me to do that it. There's only one way for us to solve the problem. It's to bring your easy life to the bone. Don't be defining it that way 300 pounds at least. No the simple solution would be to bring a net closer to the easel. But you're not allowed to go out of this cloister you know that very well.

But why you're only a novice. You haven't even taken your vows in any case. This grill would stop me from going over to your side. Even if if if I wanted to know that you haven't taken a good look at it. I've been studying this problem probably now. For several days that is to say ever since you agreed to pose for me. You mean since since the Mother Superior and father Benjamin agreed to that as you like. I must tell you also that this group is not very high and it has only logical bars you think. Course I see that. But that's not going to make me go over to the other side. Well there my man. Good luck. Now it's long enough. And I think

it will slip right through these books. It's already on the other side grab it. We want you to know what are you doing remove this letter and I will me take it I tell you what it's going to fall and make an awful lot of noise. The good excellent. Now lean it against the wall. Perfect. And now climb up. Now you see that empty look in the wall just over the top of the boards. You're going to hold on there for a moment while I bring the ladder back to the other side. Now I know it's sinful you suffer the pains of hell for this. Please take the ladder away I'll take you away as soon as you're over on this side. You know think that that's impossible and you are that. You must know something too.

I want this painting to be my greatest masterpiece. I want the precious stone I crushed into a fine powder to serve a noble purpose. Now listen to me. If you don't come over immediately. I'm going to climb over the grill and I'll bring you back here myself. You wouldn't do that I'll do it if you don't obey me. Pity on me. Think a little and what am I asking you to do. Would you to come over on this side while I paint your eyes. It's easy to get here. It will be even easier to get back. But what if someone no one will come. A space of just begun everyone is in the chapel. No I won't do it unless you give up this mad idea. I'm not climb up the slab. Never have enough courage I can get dizzy up there. And. I don't want to do it if you don't climb up at once. I'm coming over to get you one I'll force you to do it.

No no no no no. Since I must since it's for the sake of your painting. But if this be a sin I'll take full response. Bravo. You see it's not as complicated as all the earth. Because people don't rip on your skirts they hang on to the bars there. Don't be afraid. To put your knee down on the edge of the world. And I stand up. So no. Other lovely picture you made. Oh look at you have. I can look at you for hours if I in my paintings do now push the lot away so I can pull it back to my side. See it's easy.

It's out now. The move now that I lean it against the wall on the side so that you can get what you dress. Give me the other one now not too quickly. It hurt at what an acrobat you don't make fun of me miss you then don't make me feel so I thought I'm doing what. You want me to sit here on this too. A little closer then just wait a moment while I put the letter back in place. Now then let me take a good look at you. I feel as if I were looking at you for the first. The first and last time. Why the last time. Your painting will be finished

tonight. Didn't you tell me that. Yes that's true. And I won't see you again except when I come to have a look at my Holy Family. But you must not think of me when you look at the virgins. It would be wrong. Will it be possible for me not to. And those who look at my painting will feel just like me. They too will think of you. You're like this is fixed on this portrait for centuries to come and your name will live on. You know Mr. Ventnor but that isn't what the faithful will be looking for in this portrait. What they will see is the Mother of God and you know purity and beauty but the beauty they will see there is your beauty and the purity that will stir them is your purity a little I don't know what this is blasphemy. I don't want to listen to you one minute more but. I must go back to the class now. I don't want you getting so upset about.

You've changed your position here. Lean your head forward a little. You're holding your neck to stay relaxed. I can't understand you. Everything you say frightens me and everything you paint is wonderful to me. It's as if God were guiding your brush. Sometimes I tend to believe that. Oh Annette if you only knew what goes on in the mind of an artist and in your heart I feel constantly torn between conflicting desires. It's a painting isn't simply a pleasure for me you know it's a necessity. When I paint I cleanse myself. The best of me finds expression in my painting. Now I don't dare say that God inspires me. But.

It's perhaps my guardian angel who guides my brush as you say. Only what. Only when he gets to my guardian angel as a demon who takes hold of me and makes up for lost time. I'm far from being a saint and if I told you that. Well you haven't told me many things. They tell me do they talk about me in your convent. Yes. Curiosity is one of our greatest. I'm not. But there are newcomers who gossip away like this wives and you don't mind that a bit now you know. So they talk to you about me. And you weren't frightened. When I had them ask you if you wanted to pose for the Madonna. What you said yes but I said neither yes no no. You know very well that it was the Mother Superior and father Benjamin who said yes for me I have but come now.

You want us to say yes but you could have said no and you didn't say it. I didn't say no. Why. Why did you accept. You knew that I was a wicked person. So you should have refused. You should have been horrified at the thought of it. Why did you accept. Well. Look me straight in the face. You're going to tell me something which is not easy to say but I know you will tell the truth. Those eyes of yours which I'm going to paint now don't know how to live. I must have the truth in order for the Virgin's eyes to reflect this truth. So probably. I was probably too curious. They often talk to us about sinners. They tell us to love them. To modify ourselves to do penance for them but we never see any sinners.

So. I wanted you see what I want you to see this extraordinary man I've heard them talk about so often is this man they said possessed divine grace and was besieged by countless. Yes I was curious. I've already confessed my sin. Go on talking. You see it doesn't stop me from working. But I haven't only been curious. I've promised myself since it was given to me that I should know a great sin and that I would do penance for him. That is my prayer for him would be particularly fervent that I would that I would love him. And I have made great efforts to hold my tongue. This is how I want you to look. When I know just one moment when I catch all the light in your eyes he

is upon me. Tom Morton you promised you've given me the very spirit of your lies. And God has grabbed me the grace of recording this forever you're my oh you're a great painter and some very learned men have told me that my name will live on for centuries to come. But there's one thing you can be sure of. If my name achieve everlasting fame. Yours will too. All those who knew you before my portrait will know that this version is the beautiful metal of. Generation upon generation will repeat these syllables. I met ha. I cannot say that now do you frighten me you know it's not me you think that this virgin is truly superhuman. She is the Mother of God. No it's you. It's generations to come will play before your image knowing that their prayers are inspired by.

I've met Lovecraft but this is let's go NE. It's not if it's your demon talking how I really believe what you say I would tell this thank you sure. No no this virgin resembles me too much and I'm a man worthy of her. It would be criminal to pray to this image. It's a sacrilege I I don't want people to pray to me. I don't want her necklace or plan to be remembered. It mustn't happen. I don't want it to happen. Let me just do I decide which gives offense to the law it's not that you little full stop. Me. It's your own fault. Are you strong or that I am. Oh men are cowards. You must be responsible and yet reasonable be reasonable. Why is it so important to you this Madonna. You paint another one you are beautiful that's impossible and you know oh my god. Whom shall I turn to. Who will deliver me from this pain.

It's no use calling your mother superior father Benjamin or even your father. All three gave their consent. You think you know more than the three of them put together. They don't know they haven't seen the thing that makes them that. But who is shall I pray to if not that they are huge in herself the only one who understands me. I can at least take that to mean none of. You realize what you just said. You've just done exactly what I said others after us will do. You've just implored this Madonna and the pedo isn't even bright. Belt people. You see how much stronger your faith is than your reasoning. It's true this is terrible news about the human beings who do the same.

I was wrong with that. But if you don't let me destroy this image I have no choice other than to do away with the model. Yes I would put an end to this sacrilege. Yes. Future generations will hear about and they're right but it won't be too brave before her. Yes she was beautiful they would say. But her so was simple. She was the opposite of this burgeoning with the innocence. What on earth are you to worry about. And that you're dreaming you're talking nonsense it's my turn to talk nonsense now it's my turn to listen to the demon. But what you want to do and I I won't go back to the convent. I won't go past this grill. Be quiet. You don't know what you're talking about. No. Good talking about it. And I want it this way. I want to be completely detached from this virgin you painted. Me. That's prison over. There. You must go back now. No. This

will be my punishment for having listened to you. I've broken my vow and now come back to your senses I beg you Someone's coming. What's happening to me. I do. Want to stay here. Take me away I want to go with you. You can leave the convent with a man like me a sinner. Haven't I told you. Any man who paints such holy images. Cannot be such a great sinner. Even if you were as wicked as you make out to be. I want to follow you to lose myself with you. Or to atone for your sins and I never do this. Then. In walked the Mother Superior. Needless to say there was a king sized scandal. But this story which may strike some for its immorality did end in most virtuous fashion after calling down all the curses of heaven on the two after

thundering forth the powers that be quietened down. The Mother Superior father Benjamin in the father of a novice finally acknowledged themselves in the wrong. What had happened to find it wasn't so dramatic after all. She was simply in love and seeing which he hadn't yet taken her vows. It was decided that the wisest course to follow consisted in marrying her off to the handsome young Van Lowe who after all was a great painter and in spite of all his faults was such a charming man. Worshiped by her husband and encouraged by him and that she even became a talented miniature painter that they lived happily together and had many children goes without saying but as saying it goes even better with this story. You've been listening to the story of a masterpiece. Today is

Gianbattista Venlo paints the Holy Family with Alexander a climbing go in the title role with Ziska Baum as Annette with Carol Jonathan beer and of Lyle Joyce as your narrator. This program was written by Patrice gullable adapted into English by Benjamin Zimet and directed by Pierre Christiano. Again do you drum scribed from or to the French Broadcasting System in. This programme was distributed by the national educational radio network.