#francesco zuccarelli

[illustratus]

Macbeth and the Three Witches by Francesco Zuccarelli

[eshra27two]

Cadmus Killing the Dragon, 1765 by Francesco Zuccarelli (1702--1788)

[agatharkn3ss]

AAA is retelling the story of Macbeth

Note: Yes, this is a very long post.

I believe Jac Schaeffer is telling us a version of Macbeth. The ballad lyrics use a quote from the play “Fair is foul and foul is fair”. There is also the painting in Agatha’s living room – “Macbeth and the three witches" by Francesco Zuccarelli. The painting clearly meant something to Agatha’s consciousness and it feels like it was meant to be seen, whether foreshadowing or reflecting emotional state (I wrote more about it here). Yet, Jac herself has not mentioned Macbeth in her interviews even once, which is interesting.

A huge question explored (but not answered) in Macbeth has always been about who is in control of our actions. Do we have free will or is already written for us by someone else? Can only one person be held responsible, and if so – is it the doer or the enabler who is to blame?

A quick play summary: Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare. It starts with Three witches telling the Scottish general Macbeth three prophecies: that he will be the Thane of Cawdor, that he will become a King of Scotland and that children of Banquo (his friend) will become kings. Shortly after, Macbeth really is appointed the Thane. Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth kills the king and becomes the new king. But he descends into paranoia, worried about the third prophecy, so he kills Banquo too. He seeks the witches out again, looking for reassurance. They show him 3 apparitions, which he interprets in his favour, giving him false sense of security. Civil war erupts to overthrow him and Macbeth is eventually killed.

When you compare the play with what we’ve seen in the show, the parallels become more and more obvious, and I think we can even identify who the characters are meant to be. My interpretation is:

Teen = William Shakespeare, the author

Agatha = Macbeth

Rio, Lady Death = Lady Macbeth (or Lady Macdeath?)

Banquo = Jen (but also Wanda)

The three witches = Alice, Evanora and Lilia (Maiden, Mother, Crone)

Detailed analysis:

Teen = William Shakespeare

The first obvious connection is the shared name and the fact that Vision actually said he wanted to name his son after William Shakespeare quoting “All the world’s a stage. All the men and women are merely players.”

This goes well with the implication that Billy has indeed “written” the Witches Road. I don’t think he is deliberately controlling it though – I believe his intentions are just so strong that the Road reflects everything we see in his room. He set the frame but he is not in charge. In fact, it feels more like the influence comes from William Kaplan rather than Billy Maximoff.

It is worth noting that the Macbeth play is set in a morally ambiguous society that judges others in black and white, while allowing shades of grey for themselves – very reminiscent of Billy’s attitude about witches in ep.5 when he said he is not like them at all – immediately followed by him lashing out. Lilia also reminds him in ep.7 of how much in common he has with this idea of a witch that he so vehemently rejects. I think in the end, when he realises that he is both Billy and William, he will also understand that he is not just a “writer”, but also a “player” of the story.

It is also interesting how there is no sun in the painting – similar to the perpetual night we see on the Road. The painting’s interpretations often suggest that the dark sky represents the theme of death lurking around (fitting that Jen calls Rio a “creepy lurker”). So I do believe that just as we have the symbolism of the Moon, there is also meaning to the Sun and the lack of it. This is why during Billy’s tarot reading, his card for “what’s missing?” is the Sun. At his bar mitzvah William Kaplan is in a white shirt. But when Billy returns home from the hospital, he’s wearing a stripy black and white top – but the white stripes are thin – only glimpses of William. Eventually Teen becomes this goth kid – suggesting that darkness has overtaken him. But in a promo we see him wearing a different top – again with black and white stripes but they are more equal and uniform. I think this symbolises that he realises he is both, Billy and William and it’s no longer murky to him. The Sun and the Moon are in balance. (And to that point – in ep.1 in Nicky’s bedroom we see wallpaper prominently showing both Sun and Moon elements. And the child’s drawing has the Sun at its centre)

Three Witches = Alice, Evanora and Lilia

This one is a more loose interpretation, but I think it ties well with the ongoing theme of “Maiden, Mother, Crone”. In Macbeth, it’s the witches that open the play, portraying them as those mysterious but powerful witches, controlling the events. But throughout the play, the audience realises they might not be as powerful – in fact, it is questioned whether they actually have the power to make things happen, or they merely have the ability to see the future. Eventually, they have less and less presence, and are not even there when the prophecies are fulfilled – suggesting that they were merely an illusion of control.

The fact remains that the witches are literal harbingers of doom – with their symbolism of number three (that is also heavily explored in this show, post here). They did share the prophecies, giving Macbeth the information he didn’t ask for. And later, when he comes for reassurance, they show him 3 more apparitions (well, 4, but he doesn’t take the last one in). The significance here was that the message here was so vague and deceptive that it could have one of two completely opposite meanings – and their interpretation proves crucial to the final outcome. The apparitions were telling Macbeth to be afraid, but instead he read what he wanted to see. He left feeling reassured, secure and justified in his actions. Again, the witches could be represented here as being deceptive, driving Macbeth’s demise. It feels like they had this insider knowledge that should’ve shared with Macbeth that would completely change the context of the message. But they didn’t and it’s a question if they ever even could.

Interestingly, in Act 3, Scene 5, the witches behave very differently to how they were before and it is believed that this is because this particular scene was not actually written by Shakespeare but by the actors themselves – if true, this would be an excellent parallel to episode 5 (and Agatha’s wearing a jersey with no.3). I believe Agatha’s trial was hijacked by Vertigo from Salem Seven. There were many inconsistencies with the previous trials, but I think the biggest tell was that the aspect ratio didn’t change – thus Vertigo taking over Billy’s story.

So, with all this in mind, I think that the show’s Three Witches are not active messengers to Macbeth/Agatha. It’s more about her interpretation of what they each represent in terms of her own destiny. I linked this with the Mother, Maiden, Crone - i.e. the Triple Goddess Hecate because in the play she us actually the “boss” of the Three Witches.  

Let’s start with the obvious – the Mother element is Evanora, Agatha’s own mother who has always prophesised her that she will be evil. Then we have the Maiden. I think it makes sense that this is Alice. Not just because she is the youngest, but also because she serves as a fresh reminder to Agatha that she is actually evil, because she is the one who killed her. However, there is duality in here, because it is also an example that Alice protected Agatha BECAUSE Agatha was worthy of saving. That she didn’t actually think of her as evil, especially when recognising Alice’s own complicated history with her mother. Finally, we have the Crone – this Lilia, always complaining at how Agatha is the embodiment of the evil witch stereotype. And yet, in ep.7 Lilia gives Agatha an advice for her future – akin to a prophecy. Whether Agatha follows it or not, we don’t know yet, but it’s important to show that Lilia chose to help Agatha in the end, showing her she accepted her.

Banquo = Jen (also Wanda)

In Macbeth, the character of Banquo is Macbeth’s friend as is meant to serve as his foil – i.e. a person or thing that contrasts with and so emphasizes and enhances the qualities of another. Banquo has a lot of parallels with Macbeth and he is also present for the prophecies. Yet, he reacts differently to them as ultimately he is not interested in power.

So I think in the show, the foil is Jen – she is shown to be just as snarky and selfish as Agatha. She is also an exceptional witch that is at least a century old. But in the past she used her powers for the good before she became bound. She said she tried everything possible to unbind, but it seems she eventually accepted her fate, though she is still very much angry about it. Her business is false and people are harmed as a result, yet she knowingly continues that path.

This is parallel to Agatha, as we can predict that the myth of the witches road is her own fraud business, perpetuating it so she can steal power from the “undeserving” witches, not caring she causes harm. She probably could’ve ended up similarly to Jen or worse, had it not been for Billy pushing them both down the Witches Road.

It is interesting that they both seemingly passed their trials and yet neither of them recovered their powers. They both believe someone else is responsible for this (and to be fair, I think in Agatha’s case she is right – Vertigo stole her trial). There are many more similarities we can notice, but I wonder what this means for the future. I wonder if there will be confrontation between the two of them. I think Jen will be able to resolve her inner conflict and exit the Road, and she will become the literal High Priestess (i.e. head of her own coven) – similar to Banquo’s character, whose children became the kings, not Macbeth.

An honourable mention to another foil couple from the past – Wanda.

Both Agatha and Wanda were powerful witches, misunderstood by the society (“there will always be torches and pitchforks for ladies like us”). Both lost their children, but dealt with them differently. Both are told they were destined to be bad – Evanora calls Agatha evil and Wanda is prophesised as the Scarlet Witch who will destroy the world. It is interesting to debate who’s Macbeth and who’s Banquo in this pairing – while Agatha didn’t seem to be entirely under Darkhold influence, it was Wanda who eventually claimed Agatha’s power and the Darkhold, then become corrupted before her ultimate demise (and redemption).

Lady Macbeth = Lady Death

Lady Macbeth is the figure that often gets the full blame for Macbeth’s crimes – people even going as far as absolving Macbeth from any fault (which I think in itself is a demonstration of internalised misogyny but hey ho). She is also seen practicing witchcraft, which served as another suggestion that she was the baddie in control.

She has this line that could be a nod to Rio’s dagger - “that my keen knife see not the wound it makes”. Perhaps a reflection that Rio doesn’t want to see the pain that her actions as Death bring, that’s why she’s heavily dissociating with her powers, calling them “her job”.

When Macbeth is torn by the prophecies, he eventually decides that he will not kill the king. That very second, Lady Macbeth enters and very quickly manages to change his resolve. Later on, whenever he wavered, she was the one who would take over control. She was the ultimate enabler to his crimes, even getting the servants drunk, unlocking the King’s door, preparing the daggers etc.

She is seen as powerful but also completely loyal to Macbeth. She is devoted to the point that when she pleads with the spirits for his success, she offers them her own femininity (“unsex me”) in return, i.e. the one thing that makes her her. She doesn’t seek the power directly for herself  (though she would have it through his actions), immediately accepted Macbeth’s prophecy, understood that’s what he desired and supported him throughout. I think this probably reflects Agatha and Rio’s relationship really well. In ep.4 it is Rio who is impatient to “do some damage”.

However, despite his early signs of deep affection, as Macbeth descends into his downward spiral, he is less and less bothered by his wife. Eventually, he is the one to continue all the killings, and Lady Macbeth fades into a background. To the point where she eventually commits suicide from all the shame, yet Macbeth barely notices it. Perhaps that disconnection happened for Agatha and Rio too. Agatha was lost to Rio when she hid behind the dark magic and it was painful to her, after all these centuries.

Agatha = Macbeth

Finally, Agatha, just like in the show, represents the titular character. Even when committing murders, Hecate describes Macbeth as “a wayward son, spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do, loves for his own ends, not for you”, which I think really represents what the creators are showing us here. The setting of the play is in a world where your rights don’t matter – but instead it is the strongest that holds the power.  

Macbeth’s demise doesn’t so much come from knowing the prophecies (because Banquo heard the same), but from his fatal flaw of ambition. He read the prophecies and apparitions how he wanted them to read. They were his imaginary permission to do the killings to reach the goal. After initial doubts, he convinced himself it was the right thing to do, he became “wicked” and drove to his self-destruction.

(side note: there is also this ambiguity in the play, where there is mention of Macebth’s child, yet people think him childless, suggesting there is a story of child loss behind it – link with Nicholas Scratch?)

As explained above, the Three Witches serve as Agatha’s ingrained belief about her role. She is surrounded by number three, showing her as the harbinger of doom. She might not think this is who she is, but it is still the role she chose to play, and eventually it became self-fulfilling. Her fatal flaw is her addiction to power and she believes in that “might, not right” world. So she has this wall around her and pursues that quest for power, because what else is there left? She is unapologetic about this, but we also start seeing the layers coming off.

I think the story in the show will ultimately come down to whether Agatha understands that she is the one standing in her own way and that she is not above the rules. That no matter the circumstances and the reputation and people enabling her, she is the one ultimately responsible for her own actions.

I think she will drive herself to self-destruction and will be willing to die to gain back her powers. I think she will be left on the Road so it is “Agatha all Alone”. However, there must be some growth from her Witches Road journey, so I think in her process, she will have some meaningful resolutions with others and actually help them escape the Road. And maybe this time she will even follow the rules.

I think this will make a mark on the others so that they will actually try to bring her back somehow. She might feel alone, but the power of the coven will be the one to save her.

EDIT: Just wanted to add, yes, there is also the character of Macduff. He is meant to be this incorruptible, noble character, serving as a complete opposite to Macbeth. He is always very clear on abiding by what's right and wrong, but after Macbeth kills his family, he swears revenge. To the point that he ultimately sacrifices his own morality to restore order to the country by killing Macbeth, thus committing regicide (an act he despised Macbeth for).

While it does sound like it could point to Billy, I just don't think it fits. While Billy certainly saw himself as this "good" character, we see in the later episodes that he does actually have some darkness in him - to the point where is very happy to be Maleficent. He is more similar to Agatha than he thinks. He doesn't mind breaking the rules when it suits him ("stealing" William's body, breaking into Agatha's house, drowning Jen and Lilia) and his internal struggle seems more around finding his own identity rather than revenging a family he hardly remembers (and it isn't really Agatha's fault that they were gone). And if he truly wanted revenge, all he had to do was leave Agatha in her Agnes spell forever.

I do wonder though, if maybe to some extent we are getting William Kaplan as Shakespeare and Billy Maximoff as Macduff?

In the show there is also this ongoing theme where each of the witches are self-sabotaging and are actually their own enemies when it comes to getting "what's missing".

But if I had to choose anyone for Macduff, I think it would be Vertigo - revenging both the Salem mothers and her Salem Seven coven and seeing Agatha as the threat to the witches world, especially because she experienced it first hand. I have a theory that Salem Seven were originally Agatha's own coven that she formed after she killed their mothers, but through her cowardice, she betrayed them and left them on their own Witches Road. After that, Agatha kept conning other "undeserving" witches pretending she'd take them to the Road, while the Salem Seven became trapped and have gone "feral", thus losing their morality.

[isagrimorie]

The recent episode (1x06) reinforced the feeling the painting about Agatha's fireplace is significant somehow. It's a Chekov's gun.

Just as the Teen in Agatha's head kept asking: "Why do you keep looking at that painting?"

And we see 'in real life' Agatha moved closer to the painting and touched it.

Apparently, the painting is called Macbeth Meeting the Witches by Francesco Zuccarelli

A slightly clearer look at the painting:

This painting, specifically, is called "Macbeth Meeting the Witches", not "Macbeth and the Three Witches", which is a slightly different painting from what Agatha owns.

For some reason, Agatha as Agnes is very drawn to this painting where Rio is, in her mind, situated.

It's also interesting that Rio seemed to be 'Detective Agnes's' conscience during this interrogation in Agatha's mind.

During the interrogation scene, in real life, Agatha keeps glancing at the painting whenever she's not speaking to Billy:

Also, Billy is the second person on the same night to imply that at this point of Wanda's Hex spell, Agatha is the only one keeping herself in the Hex.

Rio implied the same thing a few minutes earlier.

As for the question of Rio being there or not, Rio is the Schrodinger's Rio Vidal. Because she is and isn't in the house.

Anyway, Agatha is very much connected to the imagery of the Triple Goddesses and the number 3.

And I just learned today that it's also somehow connected to the moon imagery.

The "Triple Goddess" symbol of the waxing, full, and waning moon, representing the aspects of Maiden, Mother, and Crone (source: Wikipedia)

This finally explains why there's so much moon imagery within the Road Trials.

I think we will get clarification on what the painting means in episode 8--foreshadowing paid off.

And answer, finally, why the painting is so important to Agatha. I think, if I'm right, the painting will be a key part of Agatha Bad Wolfing herself an escape route out of the Hex spell.

Except she wouldn't take into account that Agatha herself, and again, would be the biggest detriment to ending the spell.

[mask131]

The Dionysos gallery (2)

Next on our travel down the Dionysos museum, we have an entire section dedicated to the Bacchanals in painting - with a few analysis here and there.

Titien's The Bacchanal of the Andrians

The Museum's website adds that this depicts the legend of how Dionysos gifted the inhabitants of the island of Andros with a river of wine. It was one of the numerous "miracles" attributed to the god by folk-belief when he became the god of the grapevine. Already in his "Bacchants" Euripides had told how, by touching a stone with his thyrsus he created a stream of fresh water, and where his narthex had touched the ground a stream of wine flowed ; and those that sought milk only had to scratch the ground near the god to see it flow, and from the god's thyrsus honey dropped...

In Ionia, on the island of Teos, a similar legend existed: it was said, by Diodor of Sicily and Pline the Elder, that at a fixed date in a calendar a stream of wine regularly flowed. At Elis, on the eve of the god's feast-day, empty jars and jugs were sealed and left alone in Dionysos' temple: by the morning, when they were opened, they were filled to the brim with wine.

Giovanni Bellini and Titien's The Feast of the Gods

The museum adds this mention: the painting is a depiction of the legend of Lotis collected by Ovid. One night, as the gods had a feast, the nymph Lotis fell asleep. Priapus got close to her, and with his famous ithyphallic nature, he decided to rape her. But as he was about to touch her body, the donkey of Silenus started making loud noises - waking up everybody, including Lotis. Lotis fled from Priapus' embrace, and all the gods laughed and mocked the god.

This painting was most notably the favorite painting of Fernand Botero.

Dosso Dossi's Bacchanal with a drunk Silenus and Bacchants frolicking around grapevine

Niccolo Frangipane's Bacchanal

Nicolas Poussin's Bacchanal

Nicolas Poussin's Bacchanal with a guitar player ; also called "Great Bacchanal"

Nicolas Poussin's Bacchic Scene

Pier Francesco Mola's Bacchus supervising the Satyrs pressing wine

Gerrit van Bronckhorst's Bacchanal with Silenus

Jacob van Loo's Scene with Bacchants

Michaelina Wautier's Bacchanal

Jacques Jordaens' Bacchanal

Giulio Carpioni's Bacchanal

Michel-Ange Houasse's Bacchanal

Francesco Zuccarelli's Bacchanal

[classicalartdark]

Edit after William Woollett and Francesco Zuccarelli (Rijksmuseum) (Ed. Lic.: CC BY-NC 3.0)

[balduransbargainbin]

"Landscape with the Education of Bacchus" by Francesco Zuccarelli

From what I've read so far on Hyrsam, the Archfey, he seems to be a mix between Pan and Dionysus (if we're sticking strictly to classical mythology). So I am assuming his retinue is very, very, very, very much like the Bacchante/Maenads which is such a WIN in terms of glamor. Here are some paintings for inspiration for the Feywild's favorite Prince of Fools.

More paintings below the cut!

"The Triumph of Bacchus" by Nicolas Poissin

"Faun einer Amsel zupfeifend" by Arnold Böcklin

"Faun, die Syrinx blasend" by Arnold Böcklin

"Pan im Schlif" by Arnold Böcklin

"Spring Evening" by Arnold Böcklin

"Bacchus and Ariadne #2" by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

"Cupid and Pan" by Agostino Carracci

"Silene and Dionysus" attributed to the French School of the 18th century

[thesillydoll]

agatha all along painting!

La pintura que aparece cuando Agatha está hablando con Teen, es Macbeth y Las tres brujas pintada por Francesco Zuccarelli, que es en el inicio de la obra, cuando con Baquo, las brujas le dicen a Macbeth que será Rey, lo que desencadena toda la tragedia futura de él, sucumbiendo ante la ambición y la avaricia de más poder. Debería de estar representando la presencia de Mephisto quizá, porque justamente, estas brujas supuestamente representan al Diablo y a las conjuraciones pecaminosas. Es imporptante que Agatha y Teen estén juntos, porque al igual que en el libro, solo Macbeth sucumbe y no Baquo, y estaría genial ver a quién esa ambición del Sendero va a consumir, y quién no se va a dejar cegar por el poder.

[brookston]

Holidays 8.15

Holidays

Acadian Day (Canada)

Air Conditioning Appreciation Days end

Armed Forces Day (Poland)

Asunción Foundation Day (Paraguay)

Awa Dance Festival (Japan)

Best Friend's Day

Cass Elliot Day (Baltimore, Maryland)

Caveernova Awareness Day (UK)

Chant at the Moon Day

Chauvin Day (a.k.a. Nicolas Chauvin Day)

Check the Chip Day

City Hall Selfie Day

Constitution Day (Equatorial Guinea)

Dog Days of Summer end

815 Day

Ferragosto (Oven of August; Italy)

Flooding of the Nile (Egypt)

Flower Festival begins (Colombia)

Fool’s Dance (Japan)

Green Data Day

Hello Day

I Love Cowboys and Cowgirls Day

International Apostrophe Day

International Neonatal Nurses Day

International Play Lax Day

Jogukhaebangui nal (a.k.a. Fatherland Liberation Day; North Korea)

Khalistan Day

La Vieja Day (Panama)

Loaded Dice Day

Lupin Day (French Republic)

Memorial Day For the End of the War (終戦記念日 Shūsen-kinenbi; Japan)

Moms Equal Pay Day 2023 ( website )

Mother’s Day (Antwerp, Belgium)

National Back-to-School Prep Day

National Day (Liechtenstein)

National Failures Day

National Jean Day

National Leathercraft Day

National Liberation Day of Korea

National Mourning Day (Bangladesh)

National No Spongebob Day (SpongeBob)

National Philip Day

National Relaxation Day

National Sunflower Day (Canada)

Neighbor’s Day (Mexico)

Oscar Peterson Day

Panama Canal Day

Panama La Vieja Day (Panama)

Rockford Day (Illinois)

Sandakan Day (Malaysia)

Sang Marie (Gambia)

Shoro Nagashi Nagasaki (Japan)

Sit Back and Relax Day

SJS Memorial Day

Staatsfeiertag (Liechtenstein)

Stadium Rock Day

Tuva Republic Day (Russia)

Velika Gospa (Croatia)

Victory Over Japan Day (UK)

Woodstock Day

World Child Abuse & Neglect Awareness Day

World Reiki Day

World Greatness Day

Wow! Signal Anniversary Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Fresh Poke Day

National Ginseng Day

National Lemon Meringue Pie Day

3rd Tuesday in August

International Chalk the Walks Day [3rd Tuesday]

Independence Days

Gwangbokjeol or Kwang Bok Jul (Liberation Day; South Korea, redeclared independence from Japan; 1945)

Bahrain (from UK, 1971)

India (from UK, 1947)

Republic of the Congo (from Belgium, 1960)

Feast Days

Alypius of Thagaste (a.k.a. Alipius; Christian; Saint)

Assumption (a.k.a. ... 

Assomption (Belgium, Croatia, Haiti, Slovenia)

Feast of the Assumption

Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Fête Nationale of the Acadians (Canada)

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches)

Feast of Saint Mary the Virgin

Feralia X (Day of Purification; Pagan)

Festival of the Outremeuse (Liege, Belgium)

Ferragosto (Italy)

Holy Day of Obligation (Catholic Church)

Irmandade da Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte Fiesta (Festival of the Order of Our Lady of the Good Death; Bahia, Brazil)

Lady's Day (Ireland)

Lunes siguiente a la Asunción de la Virgen (Spain)

Māras (Latvia)

Marilyn Chambers Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Mother's Day (Antwerp and Costa Rica)

National Acadian Day (Acadians)

Navy Day (Romania)

Virgin of Candelaria, patron of the Canary Islands. (Tenerife, Spain)

Zoline (Lithuania)

Bob (Muppetism)

Bon Festival (a.k.a. Obon; Japan)

Condom Day (Pastafarian)

Feast of the Formation of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox)

Festival of Vesta (Ancient Roman Goddess of the Hearth)

Francesco Zuccarelli (Artology)

Great Mother Goddess Day

Herbal Holy Day

Maras Diena (Ancient Latvia)

McCartin (Christian; Saint)

San La Muerte (Paraguayan Folk Catholicism)

Santa Muerte (Mexican Folk Catholicism)

Sproshinki (Slavic Pagan End of the Hay Harvest Festival)

Stanislaus Kostka (Christian; Saint)

Tarcisius (Christian; Saint)

Vasco de Gama (Positivist; Saint)

Wafaa El-Nil (a.k.a. Flooding of the Nile; Ancient Egypt)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [16 of 24]

Historically Bad Day (Buddha died & 6 other tragedies) [6 of 11]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [23 of 32]

Prime Number Day: 227 [49 of 72]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [42 of 57]

Premieres

Alice’s Tin Pony (Disney Cartoon; 1925)

American Splendor (Film; 2003)

Americathon (Film; 1979)

Apocalypse Now (Film; 1979)

Bambi, a Life in the Woods, by Felix Salten (Novel; 1922)

Batman and Harley Quinn (WB Animated Film; 2017)

Cat’s Paw (WB LT Cartoon; 1959)

Crazy Rich Asians (Film; 2018)

Dancing Queen, by ABBA (Song; 1976)

Fly Me to the Moon (Animated Film; 2008)

The Full Monty (Film; 1997)

Garbage, by Garbage (Album; 1995)

How to Read a Book, by Mortimer J. Adler & Charles Van Doren (Book; 1972)

I Me ine, by George Harrison (Autobiography; 1980)

In Through the Out Door, by Led Zeppelin (Album; 1979)

The Larry Sanders Show (TV Series; 1992)

Living My Life, by Emma Goldman (Biography; 1931)

Macarena, by Los del Rio (Song; 1993)

Make Mine Music (Animated Disney Film; 1946)

Notorious (Film; 1946)

A Place in the Sun (Film; 1951)

Player Piano, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (Novel; 1952)

The Sinking of Lusitania (Windsor McKay Cartoon; 1918)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Animated Film; 2008)

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Film; 2008)

The Wizard of Oz (Film; 1939)

Wizard’s First Rule, by Terry Goodkind (Novel; 1994)

Woodstock Festival begins (Music Festival; 1969)

You Shook Me All Night Long, by AC/DC (Song; 1980)

Today’s Name Days

Maria Himmelfahrt, Tarsitius (Austria)

Mariya (Bulgaria)

Julijana, Mara, Marija (Croatia)

Hana (Czech Republic)

Maria (Denmark)

Hanna, Jaana, Jaanika, Jana, Janika, Janne, Jenny, Johanna, Nanna (Estonia)

Jaana, Jatta, Marianna, Marianne, Marita, Maritta, Marja, Marjaana, Marjatta, Marjo, Marjukka, Marjut (Finland)

Alfred, Marie (France)

Maria Himmelfahrt, Steven (Germany)

Despoina, Maria, Panagiotis, Panayotis (Greece)

Mária (Hungary)

Assunta, Maria (Italy)

Dzelde, Zamuels, Zenta (Latvia)

Napalys, Napoleonas, Sigita, Visvilas, Vydenė (Lithuania)

Margot, Marielle, Mary (Norway)

Maria, Napoleon, Stefan, Stella, Trzebimir (Poland)

Marcela (Slovakia)

Alba, Asunción, Azucena, Mar, María, Patrocinio, Prado, Reyes (Spain)

Estelle, Stella (Sweden)

Madonna, Malia, Mara, Maria, Mariah, Marian, Mariana, Maribel, Marie, Marisa, Marissa, Maritza, Marla, Mary, Maryann, Mimi, Miriam, Mitzy, Molly, Napoleon, Polly (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 227 of 2024; 138 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 33 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Coll (Hazel) [Day 8 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Ji-Wei), Day 29 (Yi-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 28 Av 5783

Islamic: 28 Muharram 1445

J Cal: 17 Hasa; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 2 August 2023

Moon: 1%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 3 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Vasco de Gama]

Runic Half Month: As (Gods) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 55 of 94)

Zodiac: Leo (Day 24 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 8.15

Holidays

Acadian Day (Canada)

Air Conditioning Appreciation Days end

Armed Forces Day (Poland)

Asunción Foundation Day (Paraguay)

Awa Dance Festival (Japan)

Best Friend's Day

Cass Elliot Day (Baltimore, Maryland)

Caveernova Awareness Day (UK)

Chant at the Moon Day

Chauvin Day (a.k.a. Nicolas Chauvin Day)

Check the Chip Day

City Hall Selfie Day

Constitution Day (Equatorial Guinea)

Dog Days of Summer end

815 Day

Ferragosto (Oven of August; Italy)

Flooding of the Nile (Egypt)

Flower Festival begins (Colombia)

Fool’s Dance (Japan)

Green Data Day

Hello Day

I Love Cowboys and Cowgirls Day

International Apostrophe Day

International Neonatal Nurses Day

International Play Lax Day

Jogukhaebangui nal (a.k.a. Fatherland Liberation Day; North Korea)

Khalistan Day

La Vieja Day (Panama)

Loaded Dice Day

Lupin Day (French Republic)

Memorial Day For the End of the War (終戦記念日 Shūsen-kinenbi; Japan)

Moms Equal Pay Day 2023 ( website )

Mother’s Day (Antwerp, Belgium)

National Back-to-School Prep Day

National Day (Liechtenstein)

National Failures Day

National Jean Day

National Leathercraft Day

National Liberation Day of Korea

National Mourning Day (Bangladesh)

National No Spongebob Day (SpongeBob)

National Philip Day

National Relaxation Day

National Sunflower Day (Canada)

Neighbor’s Day (Mexico)

Oscar Peterson Day

Panama Canal Day

Panama La Vieja Day (Panama)

Rockford Day (Illinois)

Sandakan Day (Malaysia)

Sang Marie (Gambia)

Shoro Nagashi Nagasaki (Japan)

Sit Back and Relax Day

SJS Memorial Day

Staatsfeiertag (Liechtenstein)

Stadium Rock Day

Tuva Republic Day (Russia)

Velika Gospa (Croatia)

Victory Over Japan Day (UK)

Woodstock Day

World Child Abuse & Neglect Awareness Day

World Reiki Day

World Greatness Day

Wow! Signal Anniversary Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Fresh Poke Day

National Ginseng Day

National Lemon Meringue Pie Day

3rd Tuesday in August

International Chalk the Walks Day [3rd Tuesday]

Independence Days

Gwangbokjeol or Kwang Bok Jul (Liberation Day; South Korea, redeclared independence from Japan; 1945)

Bahrain (from UK, 1971)

India (from UK, 1947)

Republic of the Congo (from Belgium, 1960)

Feast Days

Alypius of Thagaste (a.k.a. Alipius; Christian; Saint)

Assumption (a.k.a. ... 

Assomption (Belgium, Croatia, Haiti, Slovenia)

Feast of the Assumption

Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Fête Nationale of the Acadians (Canada)

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches)

Feast of Saint Mary the Virgin

Feralia X (Day of Purification; Pagan)

Festival of the Outremeuse (Liege, Belgium)

Ferragosto (Italy)

Holy Day of Obligation (Catholic Church)

Irmandade da Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte Fiesta (Festival of the Order of Our Lady of the Good Death; Bahia, Brazil)

Lady's Day (Ireland)

Lunes siguiente a la Asunción de la Virgen (Spain)

Māras (Latvia)

Marilyn Chambers Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Mother's Day (Antwerp and Costa Rica)

National Acadian Day (Acadians)

Navy Day (Romania)

Virgin of Candelaria, patron of the Canary Islands. (Tenerife, Spain)

Zoline (Lithuania)

Bob (Muppetism)

Bon Festival (a.k.a. Obon; Japan)

Condom Day (Pastafarian)

Feast of the Formation of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox)

Festival of Vesta (Ancient Roman Goddess of the Hearth)

Francesco Zuccarelli (Artology)

Great Mother Goddess Day

Herbal Holy Day

Maras Diena (Ancient Latvia)

McCartin (Christian; Saint)

San La Muerte (Paraguayan Folk Catholicism)

Santa Muerte (Mexican Folk Catholicism)

Sproshinki (Slavic Pagan End of the Hay Harvest Festival)

Stanislaus Kostka (Christian; Saint)

Tarcisius (Christian; Saint)

Vasco de Gama (Positivist; Saint)

Wafaa El-Nil (a.k.a. Flooding of the Nile; Ancient Egypt)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [16 of 24]

Historically Bad Day (Buddha died & 6 other tragedies) [6 of 11]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [23 of 32]

Prime Number Day: 227 [49 of 72]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [42 of 57]

Premieres

Alice’s Tin Pony (Disney Cartoon; 1925)

American Splendor (Film; 2003)

Americathon (Film; 1979)

Apocalypse Now (Film; 1979)

Bambi, a Life in the Woods, by Felix Salten (Novel; 1922)

Batman and Harley Quinn (WB Animated Film; 2017)

Cat’s Paw (WB LT Cartoon; 1959)

Crazy Rich Asians (Film; 2018)

Dancing Queen, by ABBA (Song; 1976)

Fly Me to the Moon (Animated Film; 2008)

The Full Monty (Film; 1997)

Garbage, by Garbage (Album; 1995)

How to Read a Book, by Mortimer J. Adler & Charles Van Doren (Book; 1972)

I Me ine, by George Harrison (Autobiography; 1980)

In Through the Out Door, by Led Zeppelin (Album; 1979)

The Larry Sanders Show (TV Series; 1992)

Living My Life, by Emma Goldman (Biography; 1931)

Macarena, by Los del Rio (Song; 1993)

Make Mine Music (Animated Disney Film; 1946)

Notorious (Film; 1946)

A Place in the Sun (Film; 1951)

Player Piano, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (Novel; 1952)

The Sinking of Lusitania (Windsor McKay Cartoon; 1918)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Animated Film; 2008)

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Film; 2008)

The Wizard of Oz (Film; 1939)

Wizard’s First Rule, by Terry Goodkind (Novel; 1994)

Woodstock Festival begins (Music Festival; 1969)

You Shook Me All Night Long, by AC/DC (Song; 1980)

Today’s Name Days

Maria Himmelfahrt, Tarsitius (Austria)

Mariya (Bulgaria)

Julijana, Mara, Marija (Croatia)

Hana (Czech Republic)

Maria (Denmark)

Hanna, Jaana, Jaanika, Jana, Janika, Janne, Jenny, Johanna, Nanna (Estonia)

Jaana, Jatta, Marianna, Marianne, Marita, Maritta, Marja, Marjaana, Marjatta, Marjo, Marjukka, Marjut (Finland)

Alfred, Marie (France)

Maria Himmelfahrt, Steven (Germany)

Despoina, Maria, Panagiotis, Panayotis (Greece)

Mária (Hungary)

Assunta, Maria (Italy)

Dzelde, Zamuels, Zenta (Latvia)

Napalys, Napoleonas, Sigita, Visvilas, Vydenė (Lithuania)

Margot, Marielle, Mary (Norway)

Maria, Napoleon, Stefan, Stella, Trzebimir (Poland)

Marcela (Slovakia)

Alba, Asunción, Azucena, Mar, María, Patrocinio, Prado, Reyes (Spain)

Estelle, Stella (Sweden)

Madonna, Malia, Mara, Maria, Mariah, Marian, Mariana, Maribel, Marie, Marisa, Marissa, Maritza, Marla, Mary, Maryann, Mimi, Miriam, Mitzy, Molly, Napoleon, Polly (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 227 of 2024; 138 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 33 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Coll (Hazel) [Day 8 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Ji-Wei), Day 29 (Yi-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 28 Av 5783

Islamic: 28 Muharram 1445

J Cal: 17 Hasa; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 2 August 2023

Moon: 1%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 3 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Vasco de Gama]

Runic Half Month: As (Gods) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 55 of 94)

Zodiac: Leo (Day 24 of 31)

[personal-reporter]

Louis Vuitton all’Isola Bella

Nella primavera inoltrata, il lago Maggiore ha il suo cuore in una delle sue zona più magiche, l’Isola Bella. Il palazzo e il giardino sull’acqua, da secoli nobile esempio del Barocco ed amato da tantissimi visitatori che ogni anno attraversano il Golfo Borromeo per ammirarlo, si stanno preparando per un’occasione speciale, infatti il 24 maggio faranno da cornice alla sfilata della collezione Cruise 2024 di Louis Vuitton. Si tratta di una scelta, quella del direttore creativo della maison Nicolas Ghesquière, che si colloca perfettamente nella linea già seguita nelle occasioni precedenti, accomunate dalla selezione di location esclusive e in grado di esaltare lo spirito del viaggio alla scoperta di luoghi straordinari, dalla California al Giappone. Così il tesoro che la famiglia Borromeo custodisce da secoli sul lago Maggiore, con tutte le sue bellezze, non poteva non attrarre l’interesse della casa di moda e, dopo 450 anni di storia, sarà il  protagonista di una prima volta tutta da vivere. Fino al 1630 l’Isola Bella, non molto lontano da Stresa, era solo un lembo di terra e roccia prevalentemente abitata da pescatori. Ma con l’arrivo del duca Carlo III Borromeo e in seguito dei figli Giberto III e Vitaliano VI, l’isola cambiò completamente volto, diventando un complesso di grande impatto scenografico, dalla forma di un immaginario vascello con una sontuosa villa edificata nella parte più stretta a settentrione, mentre il giardino venne sistemato nella più ampia zona meridionale. I lavori dureranno secoli, terminando solo nel secondo dopoguerra, quando il principe Vitaliano X Borromeo Arese fece costruire il Salone Grande, la facciata settentrionale e il grande molo che si trova all’estremità superiore dell’isola. L’interno del palazzo barocco, in un continuo susseguirsi di sale arredate con tele di artisti come il napoletano Luca Giordano, il toscano Francesco Zuccarelli e il fiammingo Pieter Mulier detto il Tempesta, è un ambiente elegante e raffinato, con mobili di gran pregio, marmi, stucchi neoclassici, sculture e arazzi di produzione fiamminga del XV secolo. Di grande interesse storico sono la Sala della Musica, dove nel 1935 si svolse la Conferenza di Stresa tra Mussolini, Laval e Mac Donald e la Sala di Napoleone che vi soggiornò con la moglie Giuseppina Beauharnais. Dopo aver terminato la visita alla villa si arriva all’esempio più splendido e grandioso di giardino barocco all’italiana, composto di dieci terrazze digradanti, con vasche, fontane, prospettive architettoniche e una moltitudine di statue della seconda metà del ‘600 che rappresentano le personificazioni di fiumi, stagioni e venti. Gli ambienti sono delimitati da una serie di muraglie e balaustre in cui s’intravedono i punti da cui sgorgavano zampilli, fontane, cascatelle e giochi d’acqua. Il clima mite, ha permesso la crescita di piante come azalee e rododendri, di pompelmi e arance amare, orchidee e piante carnivore, oltre a un grosso canforo vecchio di duecento anni. Read the full article

[the-garrincha-universe]

Francesco Zuccarelli (1702 - 1788) 

A Landscape with the Story of Cadmus Killing the Dragon

[agatharkn3ss]

The meaning of the Macbeth witches

As I continue raking the episodes for all the cool hidden messages, let's address the painting that Agatha has in her living room and, in her Agnes O'Connor delusion, she thought it was a one-way-mirror.

By now lots of people have identified the painting to be "Macbeth and the three witches" by Francesco Zuccarelli, based on William Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”. I think it provides a fantastic insight into the characters and the direction of the show. Long post, but worth it!

(I am using lots of sources but not referencing them, because it would make this post a lot longer. Hope that's ok!)

The Three Witches (aka Weird Sisters, Weyward Sisters or Wayward Sisters) serve their mistress Hecate (nod to our Triple Goddess). They reveal to Macbeth his prophecy, which will eventually lead to his demise, and they hold a striking resemblance to the three Fates of classical mythology. The witches generally symbolize the supernatural in Macbeth and they call into question the nature of free will.

Why include this painting at all? There can be multiple meanings but I think the most obvious reason would be to continue the feminist theme of how witches/women are portrayed and therefore mistreated – highlighting the tendency to marginalize and discriminate women who uphold their individuality.

 In the painting the three witches are shown as repulsive and ugly, with one of them holding a stick with a snake wrapped around it. And in the play they represent pure evil, as they drive a “noble and heroic man” into a power-craving ruthlessness which induces him to betray his friends and nation. However, people start to catch on that the treatment of the witches reflects the oppression and misogynistic values women experienced in the past.

We could probably draw some parallels with our witches. Lilia is driven out of every village she passes through for accurately predicting tragedy. Jen is called an inconvenient woman and bound – likely because of being a successful midwife. Agatha is being thought of as the evil, “most infamous” witch-killer. Lilia even goes as far as saying that Agatha is the very reason why those stereotypes even exist. But as the layers peel off, we get to see that she is a much more complex persona than just your “black” or “white” character. It is becoming clear that both Agatha and Lilia have shared a huge amount of prejudice and backlash just because of their unique abilities – not only because they can’t control them, but also because they are different. Lilia hates this discrimination and eventually hides from it like a “coward” (as Agatha noted), even though she might enjoy the things that make her a witch (like flying on brooms), while Agatha embraces the negative perception and uses it to her advantage, to create this defence wall around her and make people fear her. In their different ways, they both end up being slaves to those stereotypes.

I think there is also a bit of foreshadowing here, because it is interesting to set up this narrative and then introduce the character of Teen aka Billy Maximoff – the boy who (as we saw in Wandavision) was named by papa Vision specifically in honour of none other than William Shakespear!

Shakespear is not only the author of Macbeth, but has also been widely criticised for his treatment of women characters in his plays – they are shown to be emotionally weak and inferior to men. Even women in power are portrayed by him as manipulative, not to be trusted and with questionable morals (sounds familiar?). There are so many papers that explore this, but I think this one illustrates is best:

“In Ancient Greece, Hecate was a Goddess, who used to bless people with good luck, health, wisdom and victory. People often used to put a statue of her at crossroads or entrance-ways to scare the evil spirits. In other words, she was a goddess of ‘positive energy’. (...) In Macbeth, Shakespeare too presents Hecate as leader of the negative force who hatches a plan with the three weird sisters to misguide Macbeth towards a deadly end by keeping him in illusion. (...) Doing so, he denounces her godliness and demeans her stature by using the male centric religious perspective that causes much harm to women’s body and mind across time and space.”

While I don’t at all want to suggest that Teen is in any way set up as a misogynist, there is still that moral superiority complex - we see a glimpse of it in episode 5 when he essentially says he is better than them: “So that’s what it means to be a witch? Killing people to serve your own agenda? No, not for me.” Then of course he completely contradicts that in the next moment, when he literally buries the witches in the ground.

He seems to completely ignore the fact that it was him who wanted the Witches Road in the first place. The initial reaction of every single witch in the coven was always the same: “The Road will kill you.”, “The Road is a death wish”, “It’s a dead end. Literally”. Billy CHOSE to ignore this and actively pressured each of the witches to join. He needed them to serve HIS own agenda, knowing fully well that some of them could die. I hope he will soon realise that he is no different than the rest.

We can immediately see how he really is “so much like his mother” who chose to trap the Westview citizens, then when they got their identities back and told her about their torment, she literally tried to gaslight them by telling them they were fine and “at peace”. Then had the cheek to excuse her actions and show her superiority to Agatha by showing her the bodies of her original coven saying “You see the difference between you and me is that you did this on purpose” – the irony being of course that Agatha clearly couldn’t control her powers in that moment, so I doubt this was on purpose - same in Alice’s case

 (sidenote: I think the reason Wanda thought that, was because she entered her mind and saw that Agatha probably blamed herself for it, maybe even believed that if she tried a bit harder, she would’ve been able to control it).

So…. Why use that painting in the interrogation scene? I’m sure there are many possible hidden meanings, but my interpretation is that in that moment Agatha/Agnes are playing exactly to take advantage of the stereotypes. Billy claims to know who she is. But really, he just knows those stories that she allows people to believe. He calls her out for not having “respect of her peers” or a “fulfilling home life” – as if that is what every “respectable” woman should want. Instead of feeling embarrassed, she immediately latches onto that and reminds him that this is exactly what makes her dangerous. “Hey, you know those three ugly witches? They brought Macbeth down just with their words!”. I am sure there could be further meanings if you really look deep into it. Could Teen be interpreted as Macbeth himself, surrounded by witches and relying on their help?

Another element here is of course Rio, standing on the other side of the “mirror”. The painting itself has allusions to death: the witch in white is often compared to a ghost and “the dark sky above the mountains is a metaphorical representation of death lurking around the king, around Macbeth, around every man confronted with his own destiny.” Yet again, we might be getting another hint as to Rio’s true identity (let’s face it – is there anyone left by now who doesn’t think she’s Lady Death?)

It is not entirely clear where Rio is at this point (she can’t be standing behind a painting?) and Billy doesn’t acknowledge her presence – he likely hasn’t even realised Rio intervened when Agatha kicked him to the floor. At one point he asked why she was looking at that painting (although, he might have said it as a misdirection, to bring her to reality). So maybe in this “Agnes of Westview” show, Rio really is equal to a ghost, hiding in plain sight and lurking through a window of Agatha’s mind. She is the only one who appears to actually SEE what Agatha is seeing (“Is this really how you see yourself?”), even goes as far as provide her with more “evidence” (fake victim/flower photos). She seems to know Agatha’s thoughts on the case even before she voices them – sometimes it looks as though she’s actually putting those thoughts in her head (what was that about the three witches defying the concept of free will?...) . Finally – Rio times it to perfection when she shows up at Agatha’s doorstep, (mis)quoting Pride and Prejudice and clearly aware of the sad scene Agatha had just experienced. So maybe Agatha is the Macbeth of the story? Is she destined for self-destruction?

I have yet to form my theory on Rio' involvement and her intentions. But I can’t help but think that her appearance is not quite as it seems – that we are “looking at it the wrong way” - is it a painting or a mirror?

To finish this off (phew!), I particularly like this one analysis of the Macbeth painting that points out the different sublime elements – the repulsive witches, the grandeur of nature and the loneliness of the hero. I think it fits Agatha's position as it concludes:

This theory of the sublime opposes the sublime with beauty as two exclusive concepts (like light with darkness) while recognising that both can provide pleasure. Sublimity may evoke horror, but the knowledge that the perception is a fiction can be pleasureful.

Edit: I have also spotted the clock in that scene states 3.33. There are more nods in the show to number 3 and Shakespeare uses the symbolism of trinity throughout the Macbeth play as an idea that tragedy/death comes in threes (3 witches, 3 apparitions, 3 murders etc.). So I feel there is some foreshadowing here as well (e.g. Agatha's wearing a jersey with no3 in the same episode that Alice dies).

Witch 1: Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed. Witch 2: Thrice and once the hedgepig whined. Witch 3: Harpier cries “’Tis time, ‘tis time.”

[books0977]

Landscape with Dancing Figures (c.1750). Francesco Zuccarelli (Italian, 1702 - 1788). Oil on canvas. Boston Athenæum. 

In 1838, the Athenæum purchased this painting, along with eight others, from a dealer named Francesco Celestini who posed as an impoverished Florentine count on a mission to save his family by selling his ancestral art collection in America. The count’s proposal found an appreciative client in the Athenæum, which was eager to enrich its art collection with examples of European works, regardless of whether they were originals or copies. This painting happened to be one of the original works. The count subsequently vanished without a trace.

[quo-usque-tandem]

Landscape with the Education of Bacchus by Francesco Zuccarelli

[lescuriositesdelafoire]

Francesco Zuccarelli (1702 - 1788)

A rocky landscape with figures bathing in a pool with waterfall