Caravaggio and 'Der Dornenstrauch' part 2

Caravaggio and 'Der Dornenstrauch' part 2

John Bjarne Grover

In the study Caravaggio and 'Der Dornenstrauch' I discuss a very strong structural correlation between the entire work of Caravaggio and my own poetry work 'Der Dornenstrauch' (completed 2015). The present study is an extension to that first study and builds directly on those results.

There are 5 columns listed in the article for various aspects of the relation of my work to Caravaggio's. The present article presents data for the following conclusion: It seems that for the listing of Caravaggio's works in the order of column 3, the first lines of the corresponding poems of my 'Der Dornenstrauch' = DDS part II (column 5, mid poem, same enumeration as in column 1) have counterparts which in chinese script tend to show graphically the main outlines and principles of the corresponding artwork. This could have a potentially very high explanatory force relative to the form and function of the chinese script.

Some examples (from the below listing): Column 3 element #3 is "Lazarus resurrection" against DDS II:3 (= 'Der Dornenstrauch' part II poem 3) in which the first line is "In der langen Florianigasse eine Menschenmenge fliesst". Chinese for 'lang' ('long') is 'cháng' written e.g. 长 (see 长) or 長 (see 長) - both signs show the characteristic slanting shape of Lazarus and his diagonal arm. The graphic similarity becomes even more clear when chinese for 'Blume' ('flower', for the 'Floriani') is added - it is 'huā' = 花 whereby one sees in the upper horizontal line corresponding to Jesus' outstretched hand two vertical obstacles, both of which have very clear counterparts in the artwork (the upreached hand in the mid of the artwork and the woman to the right - there is also a smaller version of the two obstacles to the left). Even the slanting grave lid to the left is seen in the chinese sign. The 'Conversion of Paul' in #45 is likewise impressive and has considerable explanatory value for the artwork itself: The last sign in the chinese translation of the first line "Glauben Sie es wirklich?" is 'ma' composed of a rectangle for the soldier and the radical for 'horse' - indeed most essential elements in the artwork can be recognized in the chinese translation - see e.g. the sign 'nǐ' = 你 which is suggestive of the two hands reaching down from above and the person next to them.

It seems that similar phenomena occur in each of the first lines of the 66 poems of DDS part II relative to the order of Caravaggio's works in column 3 - in fact it seems that it often is only the beginning of the first line needed. For a more advanced example which involves the entire line translated into chinese, see the brief discussion of #63 'Emmaus' (1606) - stowards the end of the listing below - it seems that the chinese line in its graphics describes with high precision the main themes of the artwork such as these are rendered in the main elements and lines. The meaning of the chinese signs in this line is "Noch ist's was in der Welt zurück". See also the discussion of this artwork in this article.

Clearly this seems to approach a principled account of the forms of the chinese script. I have elsewhere shown that DDS part I seems to be concerned with the chinese Kangxi radicals 1-214.

I refer also to my article 'Horace and chinese radicals'.

For the special role of the work of 'Carracci' in column 3 element 13, see e.g. this source which shows the chapel wherein Carracci's work take up one wall and the two Caravaggio works the other two. It is perhaps relevant to observe the newspieces from the spring 2020 - for the idea of a role of Carracci's 'Mary' taking the place of three of Caravaggio's work, so to speak - could be including the poet Marino. It could be permitted to speculate that the results I present below (and in the main article on the theme) could have been reached by political or 'intelligence' interests already in 2020 - and whether a political misbalance of the 'Madonna' relative to the younger poet could have been a theme. My correlations with the chinese script below does not include Carracci in #13 but the three works by Caravaggio instead. (And I can add that the skin problems which developed in my palms in the spring 2020 are now about to be healed).

Many of the discussions of the chinese signs in the internet 'wiktionary' which I have added links to include historical forms of the signs, which are often interesting.

Here are the Caravaggio artworks correlated with the first lines of DDS part II - in accordance with the order of the artworks in Caravaggio and 'Der Dornenstrauch' column 3 - including some chinese examples:

1
Martha and Magdalena
Das Leben unsres Lebens geht zurück

Leben
生活 = shēnghuó = 生活

2
Crucifixion of St.Andreas
Zu Ende in dem Mythos gebunden ist die Saat

mythos
神话 = shénhuà = 神话

3
Lazarus resurrection
In der langen Florianigasse eine Menschenmenge fliesst

lang
长 = cháng = 长
lang
長 = cháng = 長
Blume
花= huā = 花

4
David with the head of Goliath (1609-10)
Eine halbvergessene Kathedrale mit hohem Turm verziert

vergessen
忘了吧= wàng liǎo bā = 忘了吧

5
7 works of mercy
Dann leiten die Kante und Gasse

leiten
铅 = qiān = 铅

Kante
边缘 = biānyuán = 边缘

Gasse
街道 = jiēdào = 街道

6
The holy Katharina of Alexandria
Ich sah es in der Straße bei

sehen
见 = jiàn = 见

original form
見 = 見

7
Alof di Wignacourt w/ page
Die Winterlandschaft ist mein Feld

Winter
冬季 = dōngjì = 冬季

Landschaft
景观 = jǐngguān = 景观

8
Medusa
Da steht der Markt so offen

stehen
立场 = lìchǎng = 立场

Markt
市場 = shìcháng = 市場
 市场

9
St.Francis receives the stigmata
Woran du denkst, sagt die leise Stimme

denken
想想 = xiăng = 想

denken (consider = investigate worry/concern)
考慮= kaolü= 考慮

woran
那呢 = nà ní？ = 那呢

10
Bacchus with grapes in hand (1593-94)
Die Lichter blinzeln auf dem Schuh'

Licht
光= guāng= 光

blinzeln
斜视 = xié shì = 斜视

Schuh
鞋子 = xiézi = 鞋子

11
Crucifixion of Peter
Des Rotes zwei

Röte
腮红 = sāihóng = 腮红

rot
红色 = hóngsè= 紅色

12
Rest on the flight to Egypt
Es summt die Fliege in meinm Ohr

summen
巴兹 = bāzī = 巴兹

Fliege
飞 = fēi = 飞

Ohr
耳朵 = ěrduǒ = 耳朵

13
Carracci: Mary's Ascension
In Sommer-Hitze in der südlicheren Stadt

This Carracci work takes Caravaggio 28a-b-c instead:

28a Cavaliere di Malta
28b Marino
28c San Gerolamo scrivente (1607-08)

Sommer (28b)
夏 = xià = 夏
(for similarity with 'Marino' see e.g. the small seal script form)

Hitze (28c)
热 = rè = 热

südlich (28c)
南 = nán = 南

Stadt (28a)
市区 = shì-qu = 市区

14
Thomas
Wahrlich, sie ist aus den Tagen von Gestern

Wahrlich
的確 = di-que = 的確

15
Judith and Holofernes
Überall die Straße leer

überall
到處 = dàochù = 到處

到处都是 = dàochù dū shì = 到处都是

16
Narcissus
Als ich in späte Abend-Luft gehe aus

spät
迟 = chí = 迟

spät (Abend)
晚 = wǎn= 晚

17
Buona ventura (1596-97)
Das ist es auch ein Ewigkeit Gebilde

Ewigkeit
永恒 = yǒnghéng = 永恒

Gebilde
结构 = jiégòu= 结构

18
Madonna del Rosario
Aber warum schreibst du, Mensch?

schreiben
寫 = xiě = 寫

Mensch
人 = rén= 人

19
Lute player
Im späten Teil des Jahres

spät
迟 = chí = 迟

20
Calling of Matthew
Pferdeklopfen gehn

Pferd
马 = mǎ = 马
mǎ = 馬

Klopfen
敲 = qiāo= 敲

gehen
去 = qù = 去

Spaziergang
步行 = bùxíng= 步行

21
Salome and the baptist's head (1609-10)
Wir leben auf der Erde

leben
居 = ju = 居

Erde
地 = di = 地

22
Burial of Christ
Und in dem dunklen Abend

dunkel
乌黑 = wū hēi= 乌黑

Abend
晚 = wǎn = 晚

23
Burial of St.Lucia
Hier unterrichtet man

unterrichten
教书 = jiàoshū = 教书

24
Concert of youth
In heilgen Luft gehn Tauben alt

heilig
神圣的 = shénshèng de= 神圣

Luft
空气 = kōngqì = 空气

Taube
鸽子 = gēzi= 鸽子

25
Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto
Hier defilieren Menschen

'Menschen defilieren' is hard to find but the sign 发 looks interesting:
发 (fā) or 头发 (tóufā) = 'hair'= 发

This is the simplified form of two different signs
髮 = 髮
which could apply to the upper part of the circle, and
發 = 發
which could apply to the lower group

26
John the Baptist (1602-03)
Wie Menschen essen und trinken -

Mensch
人 = rén = 人

eat
食 = shí = 食

drink
饮 = yǐn = 饮

27
Incoronazione di spine
Und als ich in der frohen Nacht ausgehe

froh, sich freuen
庆兴 = qìng xīng = 庆兴

Nacht
夜 = yè = 夜

28
Sleeping Amor
Zu müde schon zu schreiben

müde
乏 = fá = 乏

schreiben
写 = xiě = 写

29
Peter's denial
Weihnachtsabends Himmel schenkt

Weihnacht
圣诞节 = shèng dàn jié = 圣诞节

Abend
晚 = wǎn = 晚

Abend
夕 = xī = 夕

30
Salome and baptist head (1609)
Das Fenster stand dunkel

Fenster
窗户 = chuānghù = 窗户

31
Birth w Lorenzo & Francisco
Papierchen war 's

paper (reams)
令 = lǐng= 令

fragment of paper
纸片 = zhǐ piàn= 纸片

32
Annunciation
Unter Gesellschaft strahlen die Himmel wohl

Gesellschaft
社会 = shè huì = 社会

strahlen (to radiate / radioactive)
放射 = fàng shè = 放射

33
Maffeo Barberini
Ich gehe und ich staune in dem Winter überall

public
公 = gong= 公

34
The martyrdom of Matthew
Beeile dich, es ist schon wieder spät

beeilen
快点 = kuài diǎn = 快点

35
Regretting Mary
Die Jugend erneut

Jugend
郎 = láng= 郎

36
St.Frances in meditation (1606)
Manchmal ist es überfüllt

Manchmal
有時 = yǒushí = 有時

überfüllt
拥挤 = yōngjǐ = 拥挤

37
St.John the baptist (1610)
Die Menschen sind einander immer nahe

nahe
近 = jìn= 近

38
David and Goliath (1598-99)
Das Rosa rechnen Hosen als die Hand

Rosa
粉红色 = fěnhóngsè = 粉红色

Hosen
下身 = xià shēn= 下身

Hand
手 = shǒu= 手

at one's side / on hand
身边 = shēn biān = 身边

39
The cheaters
Und dreimal schlug es die Glocke

dreimal
三次 = sān cì = 三次

Glocke
铃 = líng = 铃

'Glocke' is then the two leftmost characters on the artwork and the 'dreimail' the third, the righthand one with stripes on the back

40
St.John the Baptist (1601)
Die Sonne steht fast nicht über dem Horizonte

VAR 1:
sun
日 = rì = 日

to stand
立足 = lì zú = 立足

VAR 2:
sun above the horizon
暾 = tūn= 暾

very little / hardly any
无几 = wú jǐ = 无几

41
The Judas kiss
Hoch-gestapelt scheinen sie jetzt

Hoch-gestapelt
堆叠高 = duīdié gāo = 堆叠高

42
Matthew and angel
So lange dauert es bis man 's versteht

lange
长 = cháng = 长
dauern
以 = yǐ = 以
verstehen
了解 = liǎo jiě = 了解

43
Decollazione del Battista
Ein kleines Stückchen Plastik an der Wand

Ein kleines Stückchen Plastik
一小块塑料
yī xiǎo kuài sù liào
一小块塑料

A perfect example, this: It shows every part of the artwork in their order of occurrence - the flat tray, the man with the slanting arms, the bending man and the baptist on the ground, the window and the ropes in the far right end.

44
Flagellation of Christ turning towards mid of artwork
Siehst du mich an, so wie ich dich sehe?

Schau mich an
在看我 = zài kàn wǒ = 在看我

(The cloth around Christ's hip is mirrored - which is the meaning of 'so wie ich dich sehe')

45
The conversion of Paul (1600-01)
Glauben Sie es wirklich?

Glauben Sie es wirklich?
你真的相信吗？
nǐ zhēnde xiāngxìn mǎ？
你 = nǐ = you, Sie (up right on the artwork - hands reaching down etc)
真 = zhēn = wirklich
的 = de = partitive
相 = xiāng = see for oneself / mutually
信 = xìn = true

相信 = xiāngxìn = to believe

嗎 = mǎ = what
吗 = ma = what (horse with soldier preposed)
马 = ma = horse

46
Martyrdom of St.Ursula
Es blinzelt rot und leuchtet grün

blinzeln
斜视 = xié shì = 斜视

rot
红色 = hóngsè = 红
 紅色

leuchten
光 = guāng= 光

grün
绿色 = lǜsè = 绿色

 红 = red and 绿 = green is enough for the colours

47
Death of the virgin
Man sieht es auf dem Glimmen

https://translate.yandex.com
translates
'Man sieht es auf dem Glimmen '
into

你可以在闷烧的地方看到它
nǐ kěyǐ zài mènshāo de dìfāng kàndào tā

from which the graphically most relevant is
在闷烧
which is translated
'schwelenden'
and by
https://www.translate.eu
在闷烧 is translated
'im schwelenden Fieber', 'in a smouldering fever'
在 = zài = to be alive
闷 = mèn = gloomy, depressed
烧 = shāo = heat (up)

48
Madonna dei Pellegrini
Bewegen sich die Lichter

灯光在移动
dēngguāng zài yídòng

Licht
灯 = dēng= 灯

bewegen
动 = dòng = 动

49
Sacrifice of Isaac
In Dunkelheit gehen die Körper

在黑暗中，尸体消失了
zài hēiàn zhōng，shītǐ xiāoshī liǎo

zài hēiàn zhōng = Im Dunkeln
在黑暗中

50
The conversion of Paul (1602)
'In der gedeuteten Welt'

在被解释的世界里
zài bèi jiěshì de shìjiè lǐ

The quote from Rilke has a reflex in the 'quote' of his right arm which looks like a leg of the horse the other way. This turns 'gedeutet' or 'deuten' into 'bedeuten' - whereby the 'turned' arm-leg on the rightmost side gets its meaning:

bedeuten
平均 = píngjūn= 平均

51
St.Frances in meditation (1606-07)
Man sehnt sich manchmal nach dem Platz

你有时渴望这个地方
nǐ yǒushí kěwàng zhè gè dìfāng

Sehnsucht
渴望 = kěwàng = Durst & Hoffen

Durst
渴 = kě = 渴

Hoffen
望 = wàng = 望

52
Victorious Amor
Als folgten wir die Menschen

to follow
跟 = gēn= 跟

Mensch
人 = rén = 人

53
St. John the baptist (1606)
Die Dame radelt, ist eine Frau

Die Dame radelt, ist eine Frau
这位女士正在骑自行车，是一个女人
zhè wèi nǚshì zhèngzài qí zìxíngchē，shì yī gè nǚrén

Female, woman. daughter
女 = nǚ = 女

This explains the textile over his arm and correspondingly the semi-exposed face and head

54
Boy bit by lizard
Dunkel übergießt die Stadt -

黑暗倾泻在城市上空
hēiàn qīngxiè zài chéngshì shàngkōng

Dunkel
黑暗 = hēiàn= 黑暗

giessen
倾 = qīng = 倾

to pour / to empty out
倾倒 = qīng dào = 倾倒

55
Ragazzo con canestra di frutta
Junge Frauen

Small, tiny, few, young
小 = xiǎo = 小

Female, woman. daughter
女 = nǚ = 女

56
Buona ventura (1595-96)
In der weite Ferne

in the distant
在遥远的
zài yáoyuǎn de
在遥远的

57
San Gerolamo (1605-06)
Ein jeder Mensch hat seines Lebens Sturm

每个人的生活中都有一场风暴

Field storm
场风暴
场 = cháng = 场
风 = fēng = 风
暴 = bào = 暴

58
Emmaus (1602)
Das große Untertreiben

groß
伟大 = wěidà = 伟大

59
Madonna dei Palafrenieri
Die junge Wölfin habe ich früher gesehen

Die junge Wölfin
小狼 = xiǎo láng = 小狼

For the last five I give the translation offered by the internet sources and leave to the reader to compare:

60
St.Gerolamo writing (1605-06)
Ein Fenster steht offen

一扇窗户开着
yī shàn chuānghù kāi zhe
一扇窗户开着

61
Shepherds adoration
Die hohe Kirche-Fassade

高耸的教堂立面
高高的教堂立面
gāogāo de jiàotáng lì miàn
高耸的教堂立面

62
Bacchus with wine (1596-97)
So langsam scheint der Mensch

慢慢地，这个人似乎
mànmàn dì，zhè gè rén sìhū
慢慢地这个人似乎

63
Emmaus (1606)
Noch ist 's was in der Welt zurück

世界上还剩下一些东西
shìjiè shàng huán shèngxià yīxiē dōngxī
世界上还剩下一些东西

Suggestion: The first character points to the gesture of the leftmost man, the second to Christ opposite at the table, the third to his sign by the hand, a certain unit of length it could be, the fourth to the man standing behind the table with hand in pocket, the fifth to the woman behind him who carries the bread, the sixth to the arm of the man sitting to the right, the following two signs to aspects of the table and the cloth, and the last two about other aspects of the theme of the artwork

64
Flagellation of Christ turning towards left edge of artwork
In hohem Himmel reißt ein Seil

在天上，绳子断了
zài tiān shàng，shéngzi duàn liǎo
在天上绳子断了

Sources

'Das neue chinesisch-deutsche Wörterbuch'. Beijing (2004)

Handwörterbuch Deutsch-Chinesisch Chinesisch-Deutsch. Susanne Brudermüller. The Commercial Press / Langenscheidt 1994.

König, E.: "Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio 1571-1610". h.f.ullmann 2007

Manser, M.H.: Concise english-chinese chinese-english dictionary. (Third edition). The Commercial Press / Oxford University Press 2004.

Mathews, R.H.: Chinese-English Dictionary. (A Chinese-English Dictionary Compiled for the China Inland Mission by R.H.Mathews, Shanghai: China Inland Mission and Presbyterian Mission Press, 1931). Revised american edition 1943. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Pocket chinese dictionary - english/chinese chinese/english. (Based on earlier work by Martin H. Manser). Oxford University Press 1999

Schütze, Sebastian: Caravaggio - L'opera completa'. Diretto e prodotto da Benedikt Taschen. Taschen GMBH, Köln 2015. www.taschen.com.

In addition to these dictionaries I have used for the translations the internet sources

https://translate.yandex.com

https://www.translate.eu

https://chinese.gratis/chinese-dictionary/index.php

https://chinese.gratis/tools/pinyin2unicode