The Beloved and I spent a lovely rainy Sunday afternoon exploring the new Resnick Pavilion (not terribly new,as it opened in the Autumn of 2010), part of the seemingly ever expanding Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).Ostensibly the purpose of my visit was to gather images of gowns for my niece Grace, an aspiring fashion plate; LACMA has a current exhibition Fashioning Fashion:European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915 that has proven to be a marvelous resource of frills,corsets, and frippery.
But amongst the gloomy Olmec Colossi , was an exhibition, Eye for the Sensual:Selections from the Resnick Collection which regrettably was closing that day. A treasure house of beautiful objects, exquisitely crafted for what seems to be the sole purpose of tickling our covetous instincts. I confess to having trespassed several Commandments, most especially the 10th, multiple times.
I open with a detail of the most exquisite bit of porn Les Sirènes appelant Ulysse
The Sirens Luring Ulysses
detail
1847
Henri Lehmann
As I said both the Fashioning Fashion and the Eye For The Sensual were quite exciting, I will be integrating images from both shows, obviously if it is a pretty bit of embroidery it is from the fashion exhibition.
Sacrifice to Pan
1790
Dirk van der Aa
detail
A Satyr Embracing a Bacchante
1779
Pierre Duval
Sacrifice to Diana
detail
1790
Dirk van der Aa
detail
I am crazy for the hound.
African Venus
1841
Charles Cordier
There is a male companion to the Venus but he lacked her strength and powerful grace; she is quite a marvel.
dress and train
1845
Portugal
detail
This show-stopper is intended for my niece Grace, it is a crowd pleaser.
Gotta love black and gilt embroidery!
corset
1900
English
This is NOT intended for Gracie, nor the Belgium fetish bots (1900) in the background.
Grown up pleasures.
From courtesan to courtesan…
Queen Dido Receiving Aeneas on His Arrival at Carthage
detail
1740
Giambattista Crosato
suit
1780-85
French
Wild about the yallerish green with candy colored sparkle.
Man’s At- home Cap
1700-1750
Europe
If there was one object that I positively needed, it is this cap.
I am quite convinced my paintings would improve if this was part of my studio garb.
The Chinese Ambassador
1748
Jean Barbault
detail
Robe à la française
1740-60
Amsterdam
Turban
1911
Paul Poiret
This turban was worn by Poiret’s wife Denise for his legendary party of a century ago, The Thousand and Second Night. The hostess was dressed appropriately as the Queen of the Harem, from the looks of this beauty, Poiret’s fete trumped Capote’s Black & White handily.
Suit
1800
Europe
Somehow Ingres was to give even the Blessed Virgin a covetous appearance, here she is perusing the sacred vessels of the Holy Mass as if she were at the Neiman Marcus jewelry counter.
The Virgin with the Host
1860
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres
Perhaps no other woman is more often accused of breaking the 10th commandment then dear Marie, most famously (and incorrectly) said to desire this bauble,
I was able to pay homage.
The author in the company of Vigée Le Brun’s portrait of the Queen.
I wish I had this vest when visiting the Queen, she would have enjoyed the pastoral theme.
detail
Vest
1785
French
In the end I am forced to cast aside wordly vanity and desire it produces; I must return to my far humbler studio, and like the Magdalen I hope to be the better person.
At least that is how I justify my situation.
The Magdalen Renouncing Her Worldly Goods
1650
attributed to Carlo Maratta
Wishing you a week rich in visual beauty.
Respectfully submitted,
Babylon Baroque
Babylon Baroque 
