Messalina in the arts Messalina

1 messalina in arts

1.1 later painting , sculpture
1.2 stage productions
1.3 films , television
1.4 novels

messalina in arts

peder severin krøyer, messalina, 1881, gothenburg museum of art

to call woman messalina indicates devious , sexually voracious personality. historical figure , fate used in arts make moral point, there prurient fascination sexually-liberated behaviour. in modern times, has led exaggerated works have been described romps.

the ambivalent attitude messalina can seen in late mediaeval french prose work in j. paul getty museum illustrated master of boucicaut, tiberius, messalina, , caligula reproach 1 in midst of flames. recounts dialogue takes place in hell between 3 characters same imperial line. messalina wins debate demonstrating sins far worse hers , suggests repent of own wickedness before reproaching had done.

while messalina s wicked behavior towards others given full emphasis, , exaggerated in works, sexual activities have been treated more sympathetically. in 1524 illustrations of 16 sexual positions known modi, each named after couple classical history or myth, included messalina in booth of lisisca . although editions destroyed religious censorship, agostino caracci s later copies have survived (see above).

later painting , sculpture

messalina, eugène cyrille brunet (1884). museum of fine arts of rennes.

one of few avenues drawing moral lesson story of messalina in painting picture violent end. example francesco solimena s death of messalina (1708). in scene of vigorous action, roman soldier pulls arm stab empress while fending off mother. witness in armour observes calmly shadows in background. georges rochegrosse s painting of 1916 reprise of same scene. mourning woman dressed in black leaves face covered soldier drags messalina s head, watched courtier order execution in hand. earlier french treatment victor biennoury (1823 – 1893) makes lesson plainer identifying scene of death garden had obtained having former owner executed on false charge. crouches @ foot of wall carved name of lucullus , denounced dark-clothed figure soldier advances on drawing sword.

other artists show scenes of debauchery or, italian a. pigma in when claudius away, messalina play (1911), hint follow. follow depicted in federico faruffini s orgies of messalina (1867–1868). more private liaison treated in joaquín sorolla y bastida s messalina in arms of gladiator (1886). takes place in interior, empress reclining bare breasted against knees of naked gladiator.

juvenal s account of nights spent in brothel commonly portrayed. gustave moreau paints leading man onto bed while exhausted prostitute sleeps in background, while in paul rouffio s painting of 1875 reclines bare-breasted slave offers grapes. dane peder severin krøyer depicts standing, full body apparent under thin material of dress. ranks of customers visible behind curtain against stands (see above). 2 drawings aubrey beardsley produced private printing of juvenal s satires (1897). 1 titled messalina , companion shows on way brothel, while rejected drawing titled messalina returning bath.

alternatively, artists drew on pliny s account of sex competition. brazilian henrique bernardelli (1857-1936) shows lying across bed @ moment of exhaustion afterwards. eugène cyrille brunet s dramatic marble sculpture, dating 1884 (see above), while czech jan Štursa s standing statue of 1912 shows holding last piece of clothing @ side @ outset.

stage productions

hans makart s painting of charlotte wolter in adolf wilbrandt s tragedy, arria und messalina

one of earliest stage productions feature fall of empress tragedy of messalina (1639) nathanael richards, depicted monster , used foil attack roman catholic wife of english king charles i. treated equally villainous in venetian pietro zaguri s la messalina (1656). 4-act prose tragedy 4 songs, described opera scenica, revolved around affair gaius silius brought death. carlo pallavicino follow full blown venetian opera in 1679 combined eroticism morality.

during last quarter of 19th century idea of femme fatale came prominence , encouraged many more works featuring messalina. 1875 saw german verse tragedy arria und messalina adolf wilbrandt in charlotte wolter starred empress. year hans makart painted in role. followed 2 years later in italy pietro cossa s tragedy, in messalina figures totally unrestrained woman in pursuit of love, , luigi danesi s ballet. in usa there 5-act tragedy algernon sydney logan (1849–1925), had liberal views on sex.

isidore de lara s opera messaline (1900) inspired henri de toulouse-lautrec series of paintings, including messalina seated , messalina descending staircase. in 1914 there 3-act german expressionist tragedy hermann kesser, kaiserin messalina. in 2009 theme updated benjamin askew in uk play in bed messalina, features final hours.

films , television

messalina has been portrayed many times in movies , television films or miniseries, played these actresses:

maria caserini in 1910 italian silent film messalina, directed enrico guazzoni.
rina de liguoro in 1924 italian silent film messalina, alternatively titled fall of empress, directed enrico guazzoni. cut version dubbed dialogue released in 1935.
merle oberon in 1937 uncompleted film of i, claudius, directed josef von sternberg.
maría félix in 1951 italian film messalina, directed carmine gallone. carried titles empress of rome , affairs of messalina.
ludmilla dudarova during flashback in nerone e messalina, (italy, 1953), had english title nero , burning of rome
susan hayward in 1954 biblical epic demetrius , gladiators, fictionalized interpretation in reformed messalina bids penitential public farewell christian gladiator lover, demetrius, , takes place on throne next husband, new emperor claudius.
belinda lee in 1960 film messalina, venere imperatrice.
lisa gastoni in italian l ultimo gladiatore, titled messalina vs. son of hercules (1964), directed umberto lenzi.
nicola pagett in 1968 itv television series caesars. series noted historically accurate depiction of roman history , personages, including less sensationalised portrayal of messalina.
sheila white in 1976 bbc serial i, claudius.
anneka di lorenzo in 1979 film caligula, , 1977 comedy messalina, messalina, used many of same set pieces earlier-filmed, later released caligula. alternative european title 1977 production messalina, empress , whore.
betty roland in franco-italian caligula , messalina (1981), directed bruno mattei.
raquel evans in 1982 spanish comedy bacanales romanas, known nights messalina. directed jaime j. puig.
jennifer o neill in 1985 tv series ad.
kelly trump in 1996 adult film messalina, directed joe d amato.
sonia aquino in 2004 tv movie imperium: nero.
tabea tarbiat in 2014 film nymphomaniac volume ii, lars von trier.

novels

an fiction concerning empress, la messalina francesco pona, appeared in venice in 1633. managed combine high degree of eroticism demonstration of how private behavior has profound effect on public affairs. nevertheless, passage such as

messalina tossing in turbulence of thoughts did not sleep @ night; , if did sleep, morpheus slept @ side, prompting stirrings in her, robing , disrobing thousand images sexual fantasies during day had suggested

helps explain how novel @ once among popular, , banned, books of century, despite moral pretentions.

much same point catastrophic effect of sexuality made gregorio leti s political pamphlet, amours of messalina, late queen of albion, in briefly couch d secrets of imposture of cambrion prince, gothick league, , other court intrigues of 4 last years reign, not yet made publick (1689). yet satire on stuart queen, mary of modena in case, camouflaged behind character of messalina.

a 16th-century cameo of messalina , children

in 19th century france, story of messalina subject literary transformation. underlies la femme de claude (claudius wife, 1873), novel alexandre dumas fils, hero claude ruper, embodiment of french patriotic conscience after country s defeat in franco-prussian war. in contrast, wife césarine (the female caesar) creature totally corrupt @ levels, sells husband s work enemy , shot him. alfred jarry s pataphysical novel messaline of 1901 (titled garden of priapus in louis colman s english translation), though lightly based on historical account, chiefly product of author s fanciful , extravagant imagination , has been compared treatment of classical themes art nouveau artists.

a treatment in english of messalina s liaison gaius silius , subsequent death appears in fictionalised story included in american author edward maturin s sejanus , other roman tales (1839). part plays in robert graves novels i, claudius, , claudius god (1934–35) better known. in portrayed teenager @ time of marriage credited actions mentioned in ancient sources. attempt create film based on them in 1937 failed, adapted successful tv series in 1976.

more sensational fictional treatments occur in vivian crockett s messalina, wickedest woman in rome (1924) , jack oleck s messalina: novel of imperial rome (1959). oleck s novel went through many editions , later joined kevin matthews pagan empress (1964). both have since been included under genre toga porn . more recently, there has been 2002 german novel siegfried obermeier, messalina, die lasterhafte kaiserin (the empress without principle).