![]() ![]() Who is that group of women dressed in white veils? Everyone gets quite a kick out of the answer: the vestal virgins. Inevitably, someone will ask about the animated characters at the right. Were the gladiators slaves or special soldiers? Would it have been a punishment or a privilege to be one? People are curious about who these larger-than-life characters actually were. Pollice Verso is one of Gérôme’s most famous canvases it engages our imagination and curiosity. The painting is said to have been the catalyst for Ridley Scott’s film Gladiator, and currently there is a new mini-series based on the same theme: Spartacus: Blood and Sand. As a result of modern cinema, we can better understand the immersive technique of Gérôme, a compelling figure highly criticized in his own day. Is it any wonder that the public, as well as cinematographers, are taken in by Gérôme’s commanding depictions, as he chooses offbeat moments to illustrate the narrative of his works? We see the gladiator from behind, which entices us even more to piece together the various frames of the story. So, in Roman times, Gérôme’s recumbent retiarius, depicted with his attributes of the trident and weighted net, would have survived his grueling death. However, thanks to the power of Gérôme’s image, that single, powerful moment of “thumbs down” came to be understood to mean no reprieve for that fallen foe, and thus arose the popular interpretation of finishing off the victim. A classical source suggests that the default action was to kill the defeated opponent thus, “thumbs down” would have signified that the losing gladiator was to be spared, and “thumbs up” meant he was to be killed. There’s considerable debate about what the gesture actually did mean. One afternoon, a discussion arose about whether the thumb was “turned up” or “turned down” to indicate that the defeated gladiator should be condemned. At the outset of the tour, most visitors say they have never heard of Gérôme by the end, they all, inevitably, discover how deeply this artist’s images resonate with them.Ī case in point is the poster child for the exhibition: Pollice Verso, an image of gladiatorial combat that’s the focal point of the “Thematization of the Spectacle” section of the show. The phrase pollice verso is ambiguous it’s Latin for “with a turned thumb.” ![]() My experience as a gallery teacher has taught me to appreciate the active role the public plays in gallery tours. Purposely or not, the group frames the content and delivery of what I do. ![]() every day-as it no doubt will at our three-part gallery course on Gérôme starting next Saturday, August 14. This certainly makes for a fascinating exchange on the exhibition tour, which I lead at 1:30 p.m. Gérôme’s works excite and provoke audiences as much today as they did in the second half of the 1800s. They quipped that the trip was far cheaper than flying to Paris, the second venue of this talk-of-the-town show. I met a couple from Miami who were so intrigued by a review of the exhibition in The Art Newspaper that they decided to fly to L.A. Visitors are captivated by The Spectacular Art of Jean-Léon Gérôme. It generally means physical discomfort and nausea and vomiting it is also used to indicate psychological discomfort after experiencing uncomfortable events.Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down), Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1872. This is an emoji with X-shaped eyes and it is vomiting. If you put your thumb up without context probably every modern Japanese person will think it means “good/okay.” But a thumb up does commonly mean “a male lover” usually implying a secret lover. Though many western countries recognize a “thumbs up” gesture as an affirmative sign or sign of approval in Australia it is considered a rude gesture having a meaning similar to that of a raised middle finger. Commonly used as a shaka sign which is a similar gesture at a different orientation. Not to be confused with the sign of the horn. May be used in conjunction with a face to suggest “call me” (please). What does the thumb and pinky emoji mean?Įmoji Meaning A hand with thumb and little (pinky) finger extended making a traditional phone-like shape. The commonly told origin is that it came from the Romans and their gladiatorial games: thumbs up meant live and thumbs down meant die.
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