We had a quiet day today, browsing the National Gallery while London did what it does best: rain.
My pattern recognition was firing up fairly quickly in the pre-1600s halls. Madonna and child, pin the pointed stick on the saint, we three kings (complete with entourage), Madonna and child... Oh, and did I mention Madonna and child? Of course, this focus on the nativity was always for religious meditative purposes; if couldn't possibly have been motivated by a desire to paint naked breasts and little boys' penes.
We looked further. Another pattern emerged: Venus, Cupid, assorted bacchanalia, more Venus, more Cupid, and now here's Paris with a golden apple, choosing whether to offer it to Hera, Athena or Aphrodite (i.e. that Venus woman again). Of course, our three lovely contestants for Apple of the Century are dressed by... oops, no. They're completely undressed. What a surprise! Anyone would think that the myths selected as subject matter were an excuse to paint naked lady parts.
We walked until our feet grew tired. We covered but a fraction of the gallery.
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