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Sunday, October 7, 2012

Pure Love

  
In the United States September 9th was Grandparents Day. The event passed without fanfare; I wasn’t aware of it until today. Mrs. Chatterbox and I aren’t grandparents yet but we haven’t given up hope. In the meantime, I’d like to share an interesting painting with you.
      
A few years ago Mrs. C. and I were in Paris.While walking through the endless galleries of the Louvre, Mrs. C. felt the call of nature and headed off to find the ladies’ room. I waited for her in a nearby gallery where I noticed this painting by Ghirlandaio (Gear-land-eye-o). Like so many of the paintings in the Louvre, I’d seen this one reproduced in art books. Quite frankly, I never thought much of it, but I was stuck waiting for my wife to return and decided to take a closer look.
      
Ghirlandaio is not a household name; his claim to fame comes mostly from being one of Michelangelo’s teachers. This modest painting from 1490, An Old Man and his Grandson, was painted on wood with tempera. Tempera, popular before the invention of oil paint, was made from ground pigment mixed with egg yolk. It’s difficult to work with but the paint sticks very well to a surface, as anyone who has ever tried to scrape a dried egg from a plate can tell you. Like so many paintings from the Renaissance, the title of this work is based solely on the subject matter, and the figures certainly appear to be grandfather and grandson.
      
As I waited for Mrs. C, my attention turned to the grandfather’s misshapen nose. What the hell is going on with it? Is that a carbuncle?  Leprosy? Rinophyma? Why would anyone allow themselves to be painted this way? But the grandson clearly doesn’t see the monstrous affliction. His eyes see only kindness and virtue, the man behind the deformity. He places his doll-like hand on his grandfather’s chest in a gesture of unadulterated love. I hope that one day a grandchild of mine will look at me this way.
      
Today I treasure my moment standing before this manifestation of pure love. And I have my wife’s weak bladder to thank for it. 
      

20 comments:

  1. Are you sure the kid isn't thinking, WTF is wrong with your nose, Grandpa? That is not to say the kid doesn't adore the man in spite of wondering about the nose.

    I think being adored as a Grandparent is mostly in the "hands of the grandparent". We adore our two grandsons and would do anything for them. They know we are on their team. Your day will come and every post of yours leads me to think that you and Mrs. Chatterbox are going to be the creme de la creme of grandparenting.

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  2. I was thinking the same thing as Cheryl that the kid is probably trying to give the number for a good plastic surgeon. For the most part I think people like being grandparents because you get all the good stuff of being a parent but not the responsibility. I mean when the kid gets fussy you can usually just go home. Hooray!

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  3. I dunno I kind of think that kid is checking out his nose. My sister-in-law, who happens to be very beautiful has a mole on her face, and the first thing any young baby or child does is put their finger on her brown spot. Kids miss nothing. :)

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  4. The child is perfection and the grandfather the opposite. That was my first thought although I did notice that nose. Makes you wonder what the kid was really thinking from that vantage point.

    Have a terrific day. :)

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  5. Erma Bombeck said, "Grandchildren are God's reward for letting your own children live." This old grandma couldn't agree more!!

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  6. That's love in the truesst sense. ;)

    S

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  7. beauty is skin deep, right?!
    I think the beauty of children is they do not judge by appearances...they learn to though.

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  8. No grankids here, either, just grandcats. Maybe someday, though, but not soon -- we need some rings exchanged, first.

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  9. And is that a line of chest hair below his chin? Yuck. Sorry, I missed the point, like most of the other comments.

    PS Thanks so much for your support.
    xoRobyn

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  10. When you think of tempera and egg, he got some amazing colors. He did get the kindness in this old man. forget about what the affliction is.

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  11. You summed this up as I was thinking, A grandchild does not see deformities and imperfections, they love you unconditionally and it is such a blessing, you will so enjoy being a Grandparent when it is your time and I have a feeling you will be good at it.

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  12. My son loves his grandparents, imperfections and all.

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  13. Beautifully observed and written Stephen.

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  14. Grandchildren do notice your imperfections...at least some do. But that does not interfere with the love they have for you, thank goodness! That painting appears to be in remarkable condition. Personally I think the grandchild is too perfect, but perhaps that is the way we see them.

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  15. Ahhh. LOVED this post- so true! Weak bladders can bring good things~

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  16. Ah, Stephen, you are such a lovely man! I think children notice everything, but they also know what is important and who is deserving of their love.

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  17. Hoping you have a grandchild in your future too--I think you would be fantastic with the little guy/gal!

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  18. I doubt the nose matters to the boy. Looks like a bunch of warts or something, as he has one on the side of his forehead, too. But it doesn't matter to the grandson, so it doesn't matter to me. ;)

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  19. you owe your wife's weak bladder for a love of this painting. my husband owes my bladder infection for his knowledge of his family genealogy. weird story, but true.

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