Skeletons were popular subjects during the Renaissance. I don’t recognize the source for this etching , but the subject seemed appropriate for a Halloween theme. Note the two on top having a chat.
Continuing my Halloween series on the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular of Providence, Rhode Island, I will feature art-carved pumpkins with a Renaissance touch today in my photos. The written content will include another of my ghost ‘encounters’ that are always good subject matter for the season. Again, if you have been following this blog for a while, you may have heard these stories on Halloween pasts.
I grew up next to a cemetery that was filled with weed-like Heavenly Trees. Cut them down and they grew back so thick that the tombstones disappeared, which was a good thing.
During the day, it took little imagination to change this lush growth into a jungle playground populated with ferocious tigers, bone crushing boas, and half-starved cannibals. My brother Marshall and I considered the Graveyard an extension of our backyard. Since it was within easy calling distance of the house, our parents apparently had a similar perspective. Or maybe they were just glad to get rid of us. The jury is still out.
Night was different; the Graveyard became a place of mystery and danger. Dead people abandoned their underground chambers and slithered up through the ground as ghosts. A local test of boyhood bravery was to go into the Graveyard after dark and walk over myrtle-hidden graves, taunting the inhabitants. Slight depressions announced where they lived. When I was six, Marshall, who was eight, persuaded me to accompany him there on a moonless night. I entered with foreboding: fearing the dark, fearing the tombstones and fearing the ghosts. Half way through I heard a muzzled sound. Someone, or thing, was stalking us.
“Hey Marsh, what was that?” I whispered urgently.
“Your imagination, Curt,” was the disdainful reply.
Crunch! Something was behind a tombstone and it was not my imagination. Marshall heard it too. We went crashing out of the Graveyard with the creature of the night in swift pursuit, wagging its tail.
“I knew it was the dog all of the time,” Marsh claimed. Yeah, sure you did.
This ghostly skeleton dog we found at the Spectacular was much closer to what we thought was chasing us than the family pet.
The only thing scary about Mona Lisa is people are always wondering what sort of mischief she might have been up to.
Laocoön and his sons being attacked by snakes for warning the Trojans was a sculpture created by the early Greeks/Romans and dug up during the Renaissance. It’s scary.
The headless Medusa having a bad hair day is even scarier.
Venus emerging from the ocean with her oyster shell transportation. Not scary.
I’ve always liked this Renaissance depiction of day and night.
Treed pumpkins.
Pumpkins are reflected in water while a big-eyed fellow lurks behind.
These fellows seem a bit confused. I think they are stumped. (grin)
Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile has nothing on this guy. Mischief is almost guaranteed.
NEXT POST: I will tell the story about a demon that lived with us while we were growing up. It doesn’t get scary until the last sentence! Art-carved pumpkins will range from King Kong to Popeye.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Can you imagine how much time went into the Renaissance one? Wow!
It all sort of boggles my mind, Rebel Girl. Peggy and I are carving traditional pumpkins this afternoon, and we have to set aside a chunk of time for even that. 🙂 –Curt
But if you go in there at night, you asked for it!
Absolutely right! 🙂 But the judgement of six-year-olds isn’t always the best. –Curt
I’m not a big Halloween fan (nothing philosophical – I just don’t like to be scared!), but I have to admire the artistry here.
More unbelievably detailed pumpkins! Oh, my. Love Medusa, Laocoon, et al. And your story of being scared in a cemetery. I don’t have such a story since I’ve never even been brave enough to go into one after dark! Happy Halloween!
I can still feel a bit of unease at walking past a graveyard on a dark night, Rusha. Silly, maybe, but… Medusa would fit right into a nightmare!. –Curt
Wow!!! You guys went all out with your pumpkin carving. Spectacular! I like the Renaissance day & night best.
At some point in my life, I remember seeing the original it was based on. I was impressed as well, Juliann. –Curt
Nowadays people rarely take the time to be quite so creative. Designing a program for a computer robot to carve it is another story. Waa-ha-ha
I can see it now, G, people turning to their household computer and saying, “I’m too busy to carve a pumpkin today, Alexa. Would you do it for me.” 🙂 –Curt
You’ve got to admire your brother for this nightly expedition in the graveyard. But you were only 6!!! It must have been so scary. Love the happy ending. Maybe your dog (was it yours?) knew he had to protect you.
When I took my kids to Le Louvre the first time they were fairly young but who has not heard of Mona Lisa? So they wanted so badly to see her. They were very disappointed. My oldest one found her small. She meant the painting. Her sister found her creepy. She meant her smile. Yeah, I suppose all of us have always wondered about that smile.
The dog indeed would have protected me from something dangerous. His mom probably would have thrown me to the ghosts. 🙂 I don’t think Tickle felt that there was anything dangerous in the graveyard, however.
Fun reaction from your daughters. Although we recognize the artistry and the genius behind it, your girl’s reaction was more like, “Gee, Mom, the emperor has no clothing!” –Curt