Online Class Notes (Nemo)

The Virgin of the Rocks (Italian: Vergine delle rocce), sometimes the Madonna of the Rocks, is the name of two paintings by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, of the same subject, with a composition which is identical except for several significant details. The version generally considered the prime version, the earlier of the two, is unrestored and hangs in the Louvre in Paris. The other, which was restored between 2008 and 2010, hangs in the National Gallery, London. The works are often known as the Louvre Virgin of the Rocks and London Virgin of the Rocks respectively. The paintings are both nearly 2 metres (over 6 feet) high and are painted in oils. Both were originally painted on wooden panels, but the Louvre version has been transferred to canvas.[1]

Both paintings show the Mary and child Jesus with the infant John the Baptist and an angel Uriel, in a rocky setting which gives the paintings their usual name. The significant compositional differences are in the gaze and right hand of the angel. There are many minor ways in which the works differ, including the colours, the lighting, the flora, and the way in which sfumato has been used. Although the date of an associated commission is documented, the complete histories of the two paintings are unknown, leading to speculation about which of the two is earlier.

Vocabulary

significant (adj): important or noticeable
重要的；显著的
There has been a significant increase in the number of women students in recent years.
近年来，女学生的人数有了显著增加。
The talks between the USA and the USSR were very significant for the relationship between the two countries.
美国同苏联的谈判对两国间的关系非常重要。

version (n): a particular form of something that is slightly different from other forms of the same thing
版本；说法
The official version of events is that the police were attacked and were just trying to defend themselves.
事件的官方说法是警察受到了攻击，他们只是想自卫。
You can make a reduced fat version of the cheesecake by using cottage cheese instead of cream cheese.
你可以用农家奶酪代替奶油奶酪来制作低脂肪的奶酪蛋糕。
An English-language version of the book is planned for next year.
那本书的英语版本计划在明年推出。
The TV series is a watered-down version of the movie, especially designed for family viewing.
这部电视剧对其电影版作了弱化处理，专为合家观赏而制作。

restore (v): to return something or someone to an earlier good condition or position
修复；使复位；使复职
The badly neglected paintings have all been carefully restored.
那些由于严重疏忽而损毁的画作得到了精心修复。
After a week in bed, she was fully restored to health (= she felt healthy again).
卧床1周后，她完全恢复了健康。
The former leader was today restored to power in the first free elections for 20 years.
今天，在20年来首次举行的自由选举中，这位前领导人又重新当选上台。

gallery (n): a room or building that is used for showing works of art, sometimes so that they can be sold
（艺术作品）陈列馆；美术馆；画廊
the National Portrait Gallery
国家肖像美术馆
a contemporary art gallery
当代艺术展览馆

virgin (n): someone who has never had sex
处女；童男
She remained a virgin until she was over thirty.
她三十多岁了还是处女之身。
Do you think he’s still a virgin?
你觉得他还是童男吗？

wooden panel-木板

baptism (n): a Christian ceremony in which a person has water poured on their head, or is covered for a very short time in water, in order to show that that person has become a member of the Christian Church
（基督教的）洗礼，浸礼
infant baptism
婴儿洗礼

compositional (adj): 作曲的relating to the way things are arranged in a picture:
The landscape is in perfect tonal and compositional balance, where the dark shapes balance the light.

gaze (n): a long look, usually of a particular kind
凝视；注视；盯着
a steady gaze
目不转睛地凝视
an innocent/admiring gaze
天真地／羡慕地盯着看
As I looked out, my gaze fell on a small child by the road.
我看看窗外，目光落到了路边一个小孩身上。

flora (n): all the plants of a particular place or from a particular time in history
（某一地点或时期的）植物群
the flora of the Balearic Islands
巴利阿里群岛的植物群
Stone Age flora
石器时代植物群

flora and fauna (n): The flora and fauna of a place are its plants and animals.
（某一地点的）动植物群

speculation noun [C or U] (GUESS)

the activity of guessing possible answers to a question without having enough information to be certain
猜测；推测，推断
Rumours that they are about to marry have been dismissed as pure speculation.
他们打算结婚的传言已证实只不过是猜测。
Speculation about his future plans is rife.
对他未来的计划猜测很多，众说纷纭。
[ + that ] News of the president’s illness fuelled/prompted speculation that an election will be held later in the year.
总统患病的消息引起了人们的猜测，认为在今年晚些时候会举行一次选举。

authority (n): a group of people with official responsibility for a particular area of activity
当局；官方；当权者
the health authority
卫生当局
the local housing authority
当地住房管理机构

commission verb (REQUEST WORK)
to formally choose someone to do a special piece of work, or to formally ask for a special piece of work from someone
（正式地）安排…做，委托…做
The newspaper commissioned a series of articles on the worst excesses of the fashion industry.
报社请人撰写了一系列针砭时装业极端倾向的文章。
She’s commissioned an artist to paint her portrait.
她请了一位艺术家为她画肖像。

hypothesis (n): an idea or explanation for something that is based on known facts but has not yet been proved
假设，假说
Several hypotheses for global warming have been suggested.
已经提出了好几种全球变暖的假说。