art – The Book of Faustus

The Sabbat – Le Ballet de la Nuit

In 1653, there was a fabulous spectacle which lasted seven nights. It was a series of ballets in Paris which totaled over 15 hours in length. The nobles, ambassadors, and even the bourgeoisie attended this opulent work, orchestrated by the Cardinal Mazarin, whose aim was to glorify the Sun King, Louis XIV, who at the age of 15 was only just beginning his long and magnificent reign as King of France.

source: imgur.com — Mazarin in 1658, by Pierre Mignard

Mazarin had employed the greatest artistic minds of France to participate in this event, from composers, dancing masters, and the poetic librettist Isaac de Benserade. This magnum opus consisted of four veilles, or night watches, all of which were oriented towards the culmination at the end–a grand ballet for the rising of the sun, played by the young king himself.

So why am I talking about it here? Because during the third veille (midnight till 3 AM), there is a Sabbat! This ballet has everything from Satan riding in on a goat, a dance-off between Ptolemy and Zoroaster, a choir of witches, flaming demons, and werewolves!

Enjoy this abridged version by Ensemble Correspondances, from 2015. The Sabbat begins at 1:53. The astrologer’s dance is at 1:32.

The Fallen Angels – Albano, 1893

Still recovering from a little trip to Brooklyn, what a blast. And of course I visited a few museums in my spare time! Here, from the Brooklyn Museum, is Salvatore Albano’s depiction of the Fallen Angels. Interestingly, the base was carved 10 years before the upper figures. This is one of those incredibly eye-catching pieces, one where Lucifer and his company are depicted as utterly seductive and beautiful, though bound and in anguish. This sculpture was, believe it or not, not made for a religious institution but likely for an American tourist (with good taste).

PNAU – Solid Gold

Currently working on some designs for a fashion show I’ve been invited to participate in. I’ve had so much manic energy the past week or so. My thoughts and ideas are just spinning and spinning. It’s been hard to sleep because my brain won’t stop. Despite that, I’ve been receiving some excellent inspiration in my muse-kissed state. I promise to share once it all exists in reality. Here is one of the artists who has been giving me major inspiration-exasperation in the past few days.

Enjoy PNAU’s new music video from their single Solid Gold.