The Pruner & His Knife, Busy About the Tree of Life

'Hold Still!' (detail of Derby porcelain)

The National Gallery of Victoria put on a nice exhibit about love and love’s challenges, largely from existing museum stock. The Vanished Culture admired the exquisite Derby porcelains, including the classical trope (we recall a Robert-Lowell poem along similar lines) ‘Time Clipping Cupid’s Wings’ (see main image). Death and disarray hovers about aspiring lovers in these pieces, whether in Goya, Rembrandt, Giorgione, and most disturbingly, in Durer (see below).

This free exhibition at NGV is well worth attending, even if you’re a regular.