A LOVELY ROMAN MARBLE BUST THAT FILM DIRECTOR, FRANCO ZEFFIRRELLI GAVE AS A WEDDING GIFT TO FRIENDS WHO WORKED WITH HIM ON THE FILMING OF 'THE TAMING OF THE SHREW' WILL BE SOLD AT BONHAMS NEXT ANTIQUITIES SALE IN LONDON ON 28.APRIL. DATING FROM THE SECOND CENTURY AD THE ROMAN HERM HEAD TRADITIONALLY USED ON THE TOP OF A PILLAR, IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR £7,000 TO £9,000. A WONDERFUL PHOTO OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM TAKEN AT THEIR WEDDING WITH ELIZABETH TAYLOR, RICHARD BURTON AND ZEFFIRELLI WILL BE SOLD WITH THE BUST. A HERM IS A SCULPTED IMAGE OF A GOD, THOUGHT TO BE ORIGINALLY HERMES. IT STOOD IN DOORWAYS, GARDENS OR BY THE WAYSIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS. THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE THAT SUCH AN IMAGE WAS USED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE 'SACRED MARRIAGE' RITUAL IN THE DIOYSIAC MYSTERIES CONNECTED WITH PURIFICATION AND FERTILITY. THE FILMING OF 'THE TAMING OF THE SHREW' IN ROME IN 1967 BROUGHT ALL THESE CREATIVE PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A PROJECT THAT WAS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED.
'THE TAMING OF THE SHREW' IS A 1967 FEATURE FILM BASED ON A PLAY BY SHAKESPEARE ABOUT A COURTSHIP BETWEEN TWO STRONG-WILLED PEOPLE. THE FILM WAS DIRECTED BY FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI AND STARED ELIZABETH TAYLOR AND RICHARD BURTON AS SHAKESPEARE'S KATE AND PERRUCHIO. TAYLOR AND BURTON PUT IN OVER A MILLION DOLLARS OF THEIR OWN MONEY INTO THE PRODUCTION, AND INSTEAD OF A SALARY, TOOK A PERCENTAGE OF PROFITS. THE FILM WAS ORIGINALLY A VEHICLE FOR SOPHIA LOREN AND MARCELLO MASTROIANNI. THE FILM HAD TWO ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS, FOR BEST COSTUME DESIGN AND BEST ART DIRECTION. IT ALSO HAD TWO BAFTA AWARD NOMINATIONS FOR RICARD BURTON FOR BEST BRITISH ACTOR AND ELIZABETH TAYLOR FOR BEST BRITISH ACTRESS.
No comments:
Post a Comment