Le Morte d'Arthur by James G Archer
The thing is this: Ever since I was a young child, the Romantic
Arthurian canon (forget the quest for the historical character, the existence
of whom can never be more than speculative) has been absolutely central to the
Romantic side of my nature. What’s more, the transfer of Arthur from earth to
Avalon has been the most potent element. I assume it’s how I came by my
near-fixation with the three women motif in all things Romantic, mystical, and
even mundane. But there’s a mystery here that I’ve been unable to solve.
Tradition has it that Arthur was conducted to Avalon by
three queens. Two of the women in this picture – those closest to his head who
are each wearing a crown – obviously represent two of them, but which of the remaining
women is the third? Is it the one leaning against the tree, or the one on whose
thigh the King’s feet are resting? The former is more pictorially prominent,
but the latter is making physical contact. And why is it that neither of them is
wearing a crown? Should we, perhaps, assume that Archer intended that four queens accompany Arthur on his last
journey? That would throw me completely (even if you think I should have better
things to waste my time on…)
So, if there are any experts in art history or artistic
symbolism in the auditorium, I would welcome an opinion. Odd though it might
seem, such things matter to me (quite a lot.)
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