[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.21,0:00:05.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,STEVEN: We're in the Louvre,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.48,0:00:11.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we are looking at the monumental cycle by Peter Paul Rubens of Marie de Medici.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.53,0:00:17.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are 24 canvases that were painted by Rubens over a four year period with the help of his workshop.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.95,0:00:20.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now according to the contract, he had to paint all the figures
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.48,0:00:24.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but his assistants could certainly paint in much of the rest.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.18,0:00:29.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a major commision by one of the most powerful women in Europe at this time,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.20,0:00:30.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if not the most powerful woman.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.84,0:00:33.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Her father was the Duke of Tuscany,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.12,0:00:35.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and her husband was Henry IV, King of France.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.34,0:00:39.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This cycle is a commemoration of the major events of her life.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.85,0:00:41.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although, I have to come out and say it,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.75,0:00:44.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it is absurd in its grandeur.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.65,0:00:46.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is completey over the top.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.90,0:00:50.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the woman who had some significant events in her life,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.41,0:00:53.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but certainly was extremely wealthy and extremely powerful.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.31,0:01:00.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nevertheless, Rubens clearly had to struggle and bring in every mythological stage prop that he could
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.15,0:01:05.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in order to complete a cycle that was, we can only say, dedicated to her ego.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.97,0:01:09.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In reality, she had an interesting and problematic life.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.95,0:01:15.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There were quite a number of scandals, and not least of which was when her son, who would be Louis XIII.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.62,0:01:20.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was too young to take the throne, and so she was in control of France as regent.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.95,0:01:26.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then when he finally came to age, she continued to reign. She wouldn't let him to ascend to the throne
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.71,0:01:31.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when he was finally old enough and had the authority to be able to say, "No, it's my turn,"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.05,0:01:35.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he actually banished her from France and he wouldn't allow her to came back for years.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.31,0:01:37.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BETH: And you get the sense of why,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.08,0:01:41.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because she was obviously very ambitous, very powerful
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.14,0:01:45.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it might have been hard to rule in her presence
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.37,0:01:46.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,STEVEN: In her shadow.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.28,0:01:50.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's take a look at the ninth painting in this series of 24.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.78,0:01:54.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is when she is coming to France from Italy.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.31,0:01:56.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's called the "The Disembarkation at Marseilles,"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.91,0:02:03.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, you know, to get off a ship is not usually not seen as a particularly triumphant moment,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.20,0:02:09.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but Rubens is able to make this seem as if it, itself, is a triumphant moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.41,0:02:10.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BETH: Right, she is the queen,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.78,0:02:15.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Victory above her with trumpts announcing her arrival.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.08,0:02:17.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,STEVEN: That's right. Not just one, but two trumpets.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.22,0:02:22.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BETH: This is the beginning of her fulfillment of her destiny as Queen of France.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.54,0:02:26.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,STEVEN: And we see France personified by a figure
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.01,0:02:28.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that seems to be preparing to kneel before her
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.41,0:02:31.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wearing a blue cape of gold fleur de lys.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.65,0:02:34.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BETH: Which is the symbol of the royal family of France
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.65,0:02:37.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,STEVEN: Behind her is a Knight of Malta that looks on.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.24,0:02:40.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This fabulous ship, just heavily wrought.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.37,0:02:45.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This sky, in the most baroque fashion is just swirling and full of energy,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.70,0:02:49.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that's nothing with compared to what goes on below the gangplank.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.28,0:02:54.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BETH: That's right. We have three nereids or sea nymphs below her
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.31,0:02:58.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,along with the gods of the sea, writhe and turn.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.78,0:03:01.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,STEVEN: Almost as if they are the the sea themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.22,0:03:03.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's as if their bodies are waves.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.53,0:03:06.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's this just tremendous energy and real beauty.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.40,0:03:10.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, look at the colors and the understanding of the torsion of the body.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.24,0:03:14.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BETH: The drama of their poses contrast with the stateliness
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.98,0:03:17.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the grandeur of Marie de Medici above.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.95,0:03:19.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,STEVEN: You'll noticed that they are actually assisting
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.82,0:03:24.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by holding the ship fast to the land so that she can walk easily.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.12,0:03:28.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BETH: They enabled the pagan gods and goddesses, and figures of victory,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.28,0:03:32.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are all there at the service of Marie de Medici's destiny as Queen
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.86,0:03:35.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's strange, she's a little bit set back
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.62,0:03:41.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,compared to the sea nymphs who really occupy more than a third of the canvas.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.31,0:03:45.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,STEVEN: Okay, so I think we've made the point that it's completely over the top,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.12,0:03:47.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but let's get really close and take a look at the paint. BETH: Okay
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.88,0:03:53.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,STEVEN: So the painting is hung in such a way that it starts about four feet off the floor,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.78,0:03:56.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that we only really look up at the sea gods and nereids.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.48,0:03:59.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Rubens's characteristic handling of paint,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.81,0:04:02.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there is just a tremendous sense of motion and energy.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.45,0:04:05.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am really struck by the beard and the grey hair
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.95,0:04:07.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the sea god in the foreground.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.58,0:04:09.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you look directly under him
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.40,0:04:12.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can see what look like a raw strokes of paint.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.41,0:04:15.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a kind of energy a kind of facility that Rubens has.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.61,0:04:17.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then look at the coloration of the nereids.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.88,0:04:23.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are full of pinks and yellows and greens and blues.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.05,0:04:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BETH: and look at all the foreshortening that is going on.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.64,0:04:29.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a post that one of the Nereids is holding onto
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.03,0:04:32.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and tying a rope around that's moving into our space.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.48,0:04:35.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That sea god that you talked about a moment ago
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.86,0:04:37.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,reaches his hand back into space.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.82,0:04:40.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everything in the bottom of this canvas is in motion.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.74,0:04:45.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,STEVEN: I am particularly taken by the way in which their eyes are absoulutely alive
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.18,0:04:48.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with specks of white paint which become this beautiful reflective surface.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.62,0:04:51.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You also see that in the pearls in the hair of the women,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.62,0:04:55.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then you see it in the drips of water that come off their body.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.27,0:04:59.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now these 24 canvases were, of course, not originally arrayed in the Louvre.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.31,0:05:02.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were in the Palace of the Luxembourg Gardens,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.12,0:05:07.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was, in fact, Marie de Medici's own palace and that was built to remind her of Florence.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.45,0:05:10.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BETH: It's really fun to go from one to the other
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.67,0:05:15.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and read the story of these great moments of her life.