Areopagus Special: The Peoples' Paintings

Seven short lessons every someday.

Welcome one and all to another special volume of the Areopagus. Last week I asked you to send me your favourite paintings and so this week I share with you a little selection of these submissions. The usual seven lessons will return, of course, next week.

Where to begin? With Robert Browning, I think:

Their works drop groundward, but themselves, I know,
Reach many a time a heaven that's shut to me,
Enter and take their place there sure enough,
Though they come back and cannot tell the world.
My works are nearer heaven, but I sit here.
The sudden blood of these men! at a word—
Praise them, it boils, or blame them, it boils too.
I, painting from myself and to myself,
Know what I do, am unmoved by men's blame
Or their praise either.

That comes from Andrea del Sarto, published in 1855, a dramatic monologue inspired by the eponymous Renaissance painter. Browning, through the figure of del Sarto, explores religion, love, and art. For now we shall focus on the third of these three things alone — though,…