Miller J; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9; 5: 883 (abstract no. Th.E.P.61).
University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
In 1987 London-based Canadian artist Andre Durand depicted the Princess of Wales as a royal healer touching American PWA Sunnye Sherman in "Votive Offering," a large (6' x 12') oil painting in Renaissance style displayed in several British churches in 1988. The icon includes portraits of saints traditionally associated with plagues and healing miracles (George, Sebastian, Catherine of Genoa) as well as images of doctors, nurses, and gay male PWAs. OBJECTIVES: To account for the revival of Renaissance plague inconography in the Age of AIDS; to discuss the healing function of "Votive Offering" as a magical talisman; and to consider the political implications of Durand's representation of PWAs as martyrs. METHODS: A Panofskian iconological approach to Durand's imagery will be adopted to reveal its origins in Florentine theurgy (Neoplatonic magic). Slides will be shown. CONCLUSIONS: Mystical/magical notions of healing tend to flourish during plague-times when faith in the power of the medical and political establishment wanes. Durand's arcane art of healing is comparable to modern 'imaging' therapy.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Art
- Canada
- London
- Magic
- Male
- Medicine, Traditional
- Paintings
- Plague
- Portraits
- Saints
- Wales
- therapy
Other ID:
UI: 102180629
From Meeting Abstracts