Comments on: Altar http://www.rlcresearch.com/2009/08/08/altar/ All there is to know about the mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau. Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:15:57 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Chris http://www.rlcresearch.com/2009/08/08/altar/comment-page-1/#comment-8546 Chris Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:29:05 +0000 http://www.rlcresearch.com/2009/08/08/altar/#comment-8546 As mentioned in my previous post I personally have not seen the original Flatz painting yet. But, incidentally, in an old local newspaper from 1869 i found a (german) detailed description of a steel engraving copy (probably one of the 500 free exemplars mentioned before). The description says: - Atoning Mary Magdalene in the cave / grotto Sainte-Baume (close to Marseille). - In the farest background the Mediterranean Sea and the port town Marseille. - A little bit closer a desert landscape with probably grazing horses and mules. - In front of MM the book of books, especially psalm 50, Miserere. - Below the skull, symbol for Vanitas Vanitatum, material (human) vanity over vanity. The writer's name as well as his source are unfortunately not stated. Nevertheless, I would say that he provided some real facts. In the (low-resolution) images of different Flatz copies shown on this page, including the one of the RLC bas-relief painting, I personnaly cannot see a port town (Marseille). Maybe the copying artist have focussed on the foreground scene and slightly adapted the background to match local views. I also can not read the text in the books. Anyhow. I hope this information was helpful for somebody. As mentioned in my previous post I personally have not seen the original Flatz painting yet.
But, incidentally, in an old local newspaper from 1869 i found a (german) detailed description of a steel engraving copy (probably one of the 500 free exemplars mentioned before). The description says:

- Atoning Mary Magdalene in the cave / grotto Sainte-Baume (close to Marseille).
- In the farest background the Mediterranean Sea and the port town Marseille.
- A little bit closer a desert landscape with probably grazing horses and mules.
- In front of MM the book of books, especially psalm 50, Miserere.
- Below the skull, symbol for Vanitas Vanitatum, material (human) vanity over vanity.

The writer’s name as well as his source are unfortunately not stated. Nevertheless, I would say that he provided some real facts.

In the (low-resolution) images of different Flatz copies shown on this page, including the one of the RLC bas-relief painting, I personnaly cannot see a port town (Marseille). Maybe the copying artist have focussed on the foreground scene and slightly adapted the background to match local views. I also can not read the text in the books.

Anyhow.

I hope this information was helpful for somebody.

]]> By: Chris http://www.rlcresearch.com/2009/08/08/altar/comment-page-1/#comment-8542 Chris Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:48:49 +0000 http://www.rlcresearch.com/2009/08/08/altar/#comment-8542 Another copy of Johann Gebhard Flatz's (1800-1881, born in Wolfurt-Rickenbach, Austria, active in Rome, Italy) MM found in the internet under http://www.familieforberg.de/index_4_andere_forberg/forberg_maria_magdalena.jpg . It is a (horizontal flipped) (copper) engraving by Carl Ernst Forberg (1844-1915), art academy Duesseldorf, Germany. The open book here also has latin letters (like the J. Allgeyer (or A. Dietrich?) engraving from 1850). And the text below the image shows relation to France. Furthermore, in an old Vorarlbergian (Western Austrian) newspaper I just found that (at least) 500 approx. 18 inch high steel engraving copies of the Flatz painting were distributed as christmas gifts in December 1868. Based on all the findings it seems that Flatz's beautiful MM painting was just much-loved at that time and therefore (with approval of Flatz) copied and distributed many times. Which, of course, further increased the popularity of this "Marie Madeleine en penitence". Again, for me the bas-relief painting in RLC appears to be just another (close) copy of the original Flatz painting (which I personally unfortunately have not seen yet). However, it can not be excluded the Sauniere has deliberately added some hidden hints (for whatever). Another copy of Johann Gebhard Flatz’s (1800-1881, born in Wolfurt-Rickenbach, Austria, active in Rome, Italy) MM found in the internet under http://www.familieforberg.de/index_4_andere_forberg/forberg_maria_magdalena.jpg .

It is a (horizontal flipped) (copper) engraving by Carl Ernst Forberg (1844-1915), art academy Duesseldorf, Germany.
The open book here also has latin letters (like the J. Allgeyer (or A. Dietrich?) engraving from 1850).
And the text below the image shows relation to France.

Furthermore, in an old Vorarlbergian (Western Austrian) newspaper I just found that (at least) 500 approx. 18 inch high steel engraving copies of the Flatz painting were distributed as christmas gifts in December 1868.

Based on all the findings it seems that Flatz’s beautiful MM painting was just much-loved at that time and therefore (with approval of Flatz) copied and distributed many times. Which, of course, further increased the popularity of this “Marie Madeleine en penitence”.

Again, for me the bas-relief painting in RLC appears to be just another (close) copy of the original Flatz painting (which I personally unfortunately have not seen yet).

However, it can not be excluded the Sauniere has deliberately added some hidden hints (for whatever).

]]>