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CTyankee

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58. Yes, and the Italians kept this repository a secret from the Germans. They never got their hands

Sat Jul 13, 2013, 07:35 AM

Jul 2013

on these treasures.

Moving art is always delicate. Art is safest when it is kept in a museum. Unless great care is taken, artworks can be greatly damaged in transit. Under wartime conditions, it was nearly impossible.

The story of its discovery is recounted in Robert Edsel's book, Saving Italy, and in other books. Australian/British officers, billeting their men in Monegufoni as they were pushing through Italy, noticed a great number of paintings, out of their frames, leaned up against the walls of the castles, painted side out. At first they thought they were just very good copies, but soon it became apparent they were the originals. Finding Primavera was the giveaway. The officers quickly notified the Monument Men, a unit of the Allied army whose mission it was to save and protect art all throughout the war zones of WW2. Montegufoni was immediately placed under armed protection. However, other repositories were not so fortunate and were plundered by the German army.

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Hi, DUers. Time for your Friday Afternoon Challenge: �The Connection�! [View all] CTyankee Jul 2013 OP

K/R and my initial "shot in the dark" guess about the connection was... NYC_SKP Jul 2013 #1

Not stolen. CTyankee Jul 2013 #3

No shoes!!! valerief Jul 2013 #2

Thanks. Nice to see you here! CTyankee Jul 2013 #4

#1 looks like Zimmerman, #2 is Snowden, #3 shows a drone strike, #4 ... wait, what ... 11 Bravo Jul 2013 #5

Yeah, I thought everybody needed a little break. I was getting a bit Zimmerman deranged myself... CTyankee Jul 2013 #14

And that's why you are a DU treasure! 11 Bravo Jul 2013 #28

Yeah, I know #5 is problematic. But actually, it's part of a good, not a bad, story... CTyankee Jul 2013 #42

Wayell, let's see, Benton D Struckcheon Jul 2013 #6

no, that is not a "connection." But it sure is nice to see you here, Benton! CTyankee Jul 2013 #8

I thought the Annunciation for some reason (but #5?) but that seems to be a no-go. Shrike47 Jul 2013 #7

I love them (maybe not the battle scene so much)... CTyankee Jul 2013 #10

Foreigners! Nevernose Jul 2013 #9

well, pink was a big deal color back in the century the ones with all the pink were painted. CTyankee Jul 2013 #12

Jesus wrote the Constitution, though jberryhill Jul 2013 #26

Naw, you know me better than THAT, jberryhill! CTyankee Jul 2013 #35

some are pre-Renaissance and others are later Renaissance so I'll guess Pretzel_Warrior Jul 2013 #11

They are not all in the Uffizi or any other one collection... CTyankee Jul 2013 #13

I don't think #1 is in the Uffizzi Nevernose Jul 2013 #16

You are right. Where does it reside? And who painted it? CTyankee Jul 2013 #19

Is it a Vermeer? Nevernose Jul 2013 #22

well, I hope she comes back soon...you need a little help here... CTyankee Jul 2013 #37

Okaayyy... ananda Jul 2013 #15

You got that part right! CTyankee Jul 2013 #20

I see a lot of angels ... oldhippie Jul 2013 #17

Quick guess Tansy_Gold Jul 2013 #18

I think St. Elizabeth is only in #1, based on the painting's title... CTyankee Jul 2013 #21

Well, i told you it was a quick guess! Tansy_Gold Jul 2013 #24

Thanks. There will be a major hint later if the mystery here is not solved...so drop by later... CTyankee Jul 2013 #27

I thought Tansy_Gold Jul 2013 #36

You are on a pretty good track...but keep going... CTyankee Jul 2013 #39

That's what I thought too. Kingofalldems Jul 2013 #25

I know. This one is vexing. But I thought art folks would enjoy doing a bit of sleuthing around CTyankee Jul 2013 #29

They all have people in the background? Nevernose Jul 2013 #23

I never thought of that...interesting, but not the connection I am seeking here... CTyankee Jul 2013 #30

all have illusion of depth from vanishing points to foreshortening, etc. Pretzel_Warrior Jul 2013 #31

one in particular represents a deviation from the Renaissance ideal of linear perspective... CTyankee Jul 2013 #33

2 are medieval and the rest are Renaissance or early modern. Deep13 Jul 2013 #32

Most do, but it is not the connection that these have in art history... CTyankee Jul 2013 #34

1.The Visitation by Jacopo da ontormo, 2.The Ognissanti Madonna by Giotto, avaistheone1 Jul 2013 #38

Yes. They are all in Florence but that is not the connection. Lotsa art in Florence... CTyankee Jul 2013 #40

Gee well how did I do identifying the art? avaistheone1 Jul 2013 #41

You got 'em. How didja do it? Or didja just know them? CTyankee Jul 2013 #43

Remembered most of them from my art history class a lifetime ago. avaistheone1 Jul 2013 #44

wow. that was one helluva good art history class! I wish I had had that...altho I've loved my CTyankee Jul 2013 #45

Something to do with the Medicis? Benton D Struckcheon Jul 2013 #46

good guess, but it is not anything to do with the Medici. CTyankee Jul 2013 #47

Here is your major HINT CTyankee Jul 2013 #48

That is Sandro Botticelli's La Primavera pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #49

I think this is the connection. ananda Jul 2013 #55

Yes, and the Italians kept this repository a secret from the Germans. They never got their hands CTyankee Jul 2013 #58

You are RIGHT! CTyankee Jul 2013 #57

The story of the rescue of the art treasures is impressive pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #59

Thanks! I hadn't seen the article. However, I did read Brey's book, "The Venus Fixers." CTyankee Jul 2013 #60

Thank you! Tansy_Gold Jul 2013 #61

Id love to see that movie again! CTyankee Jul 2013 #63

40+ years apart Tansy_Gold Jul 2013 #77

Just found it on Youtube! The whole movie! CTyankee Jul 2013 #78

I thought googling wasn't allowed? BainsBane Jul 2013 #65

I try to explain that there is a way to cheat directly by finding the image location and pasting it CTyankee Jul 2013 #68

This message was self-deleted by its author BainsBane Jul 2013 #66

It's funny .. ananda Jul 2013 #50

BEAUTIFUL???!!!! elleng Jul 2013 #51

REACHING! TOUCHING! elleng Jul 2013 #54

That's one of the most beautiful paintings ever BainsBane Jul 2013 #64

Also fuck Savonarola BainsBane Jul 2013 #67

I'm of two minds about Savonarola. While I am repulsed by his zealotry, he was also trying to CTyankee Jul 2013 #70

It's the Bonfire of the Vanities I hold against him BainsBane Jul 2013 #73

No, I am retired from Planned Parenthood of CT where I was director of Major Gifts. CTyankee Jul 2013 #74

What a wonderful way to spend your retirement BainsBane Jul 2013 #75

A few years back I toyed with the idea of getting an art history masters but the memory of CTyankee Jul 2013 #76

I wish I could go with you! chervilant Jul 2013 #79

That's great! I sometimes need a travel companion, but since I often use Road Scholar, they do offer CTyankee Jul 2013 #80

Variations of the Isis/Mary/etc. stories? nt ZombieHorde Jul 2013 #52

In Botticelli's "Spring", Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #53

No, #1 is The Visitation. However, it does resemble the renderings of the 3 graces in other CTyankee Jul 2013 #56

Grat challenge ...... oldhippie Jul 2013 #62

What was the connection? Kingofalldems Jul 2013 #69

See my post #57 for an explanation. CTyankee Jul 2013 #71

Yes it is quite a story. Kingofalldems Jul 2013 #72