VOA标准英语2015--DC Exhibit Brings Renaissance Master Out of the Shadows

DC Exhibit Brings Renaissance¹ Master Out of the Shadows

With 44 paintings on display until May 3, the National Gallery of Art is introducing Piero di Cosimo to the public.

“Piero has never had a major retrospective, ever in the United States or Italy, and he’s a painter that I’ve been interested in for many years," said Gretchen Hirschauer, curator of the exhibition.

Inspired by di Cosimo’s three works in the gallery’s permanent collection, Hirschauer decided² it was time to organize an exhibition devoted³ entirely⁴ to his work.  It took seven years of diligent⁵ effort and persistent⁶ dealings with museums and art collections in Europe and North America to bring the obscure Italian painter out of the shadows.

She is especially proud of a painting on loan from a museum in Florence, which has left its home for the first time since its creation. It depicts⁸ a so-called “mystic marriage," in which the Christ child gives a ring of betrothal⁹ to Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

Hirschauer said the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to discover the best-kept secret of the Renaissance.  Despite his large body of work and the beauty of his paintings, Piero di Cosimo has remained unknown for most of the past five centuries.   

“It was really his persona," she said. "His biographer, Giorgio Vassari, established his reputation in the 16th century as a very eccentric painter, a bizarre painter. He actually called him a wild man.  So over the years, Piero has taken on that reputation, which maybe put some people off. Also the subject matter of his mythologies¹⁰ can be quite arcane¹¹. Sometimes it’s very difficult to figure out exactly what is the story being told here.”

For centuries, his body of work has baffled art scholars, who have found it hard to authenticate¹² his paintings.

“It’s more the subject matter that is quite distinct," Hirschauer said. "I think it’s very unusual to see someone who is able to depict⁷ the serenity¹³ and grace of a Madonna and Child, while at the same time showing animals ripping each other apart, man killing¹⁴ animals. So it’s an issue of subject matter, I think.”

But in the 21st century, Piero di Cosimo's eccentricity¹⁵, painting style and combination of mythologies with deeply religious subjects make the 16th-century artist a treat for visitors and scholars alike.

1 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

4 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

5 diligent   

adj.勤勉的，勤奋的

参考例句：

• He is the more diligent of the two boys.他是这两个男孩中较用功的一个。
• She is diligent and keeps herself busy all the time.她真勤快，一会儿也不闲着。

6 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

7 depict   

vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述

参考例句：

• I don't care to see plays or films that depict murders or violence.我不喜欢看描写谋杀或暴力的戏剧或电影。
• Children's books often depict farmyard animals as gentle,lovable creatures.儿童图书常常把农场的动物描写得温和而可爱。

8 depicts   

描绘，描画( depict的第三人称单数 )； 描述

参考例句：

• The book vividly depicts French society of the 1930s. 这本书生动地描绘了20 世纪30 年代的法国社会。
• He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively. 他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。

9 betrothal   

n. 婚约, 订婚

参考例句：

• Their betrothal took place with great pomp and rejoicings. 他们举行了盛大而又欢乐的订婚仪式。
• "On the happy occasion of the announcement of your betrothal," he finished, bending over her hand. "在宣布你们订婚的喜庆日。" 他补充说，同时低下头来吻她的手。

10 mythologies   

神话学( mythology的名词复数 )； 神话（总称）； 虚构的事实； 错误的观点

参考例句：

• a study of the religions and mythologies of ancient Rome 关于古罗马的宗教和神话的研究
• This realization is enshrined in "Mythologies." 这一看法见诸于他的《神话集》一书。

11 arcane   

adj.神秘的，秘密的

参考例句：

• The technique at one time was arcane in the minds of most chemists.这种技术在大多数化学家心目中一度是神秘的。
• Until a few months ago few people outside the arcane world of contemporary music had heard of Gorecki.直至几个月前，在现代音乐神秘殿堂之外很少有人听说了戈莱斯基。

12 authenticate   

vt.证明…为真，鉴定

参考例句：

• We would have to authenticate your relationship with the boy.我们必须证实一下您和那个孩子的关系。
• An expert was needed to authenticate the original Van Gogh painting from his imitation.这幅画是凡·高的真迹还是赝品,需由专家来鉴定。

13 serenity   

n.宁静，沉着，晴朗

参考例句：

• Her face,though sad,still evoked a feeling of serenity.她的脸色虽然悲伤，但仍使人感觉安详。
• She escaped to the comparative serenity of the kitchen.她逃到相对安静的厨房里。

14 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

15 eccentricity   

n.古怪，反常，怪癖

参考例句：

• I can't understand the eccentricity of Henry's behavior.我不理解亨利的古怪举止。
• His eccentricity had become legendary long before he died.在他去世之前他的古怪脾气就早已闻名遐尔了。