Simonetta Vespucci by Piero di Cosimo, 1498
“A strong lock hides something extremely precious…the thicker the veil, the more valuable the jewel, for a hoard of treasure is guarded by a large snake. Do not dwell on the hideousness of the snake, contemplate instead the dazzling and the priceless things you’ll discover in the treasure.” – Rumi – (my edit)
This painting is by Italian master, Piero di Cosimo, who lived all his life in Florence. it appeared one day on my Google page. I was riveted. What did the snake necklace wrapped around the beautiful neck of Simonetta represent? I was living in Rosy on Edisto Island, and the parallel to Paradise is real, down to an abundance of snakes, who love the verdant jungle as much as we humans revel in its rarity.
Carolina Moon over Frampton Creek
In the mythology of late Classical antiquity, the snake, especially when shown biting its own tail, was a symbol for eternity, or for time’s rejuvenating cycle. It was therefore attributed to Janus, the god of the new year, and to Saturn (Kronos, whose name was often confused with time, Chronos), or “Father Time”.
In the inscription of this painting, Simonetta is described as “Ianuensis” (belonging to Janus). She was considered to be the most beautiful woman in Florence, even of all the Renaissance. Through the Vespucci family Simonetta was discovered by Sandro Botticelli and other prominent painters upon arriving in Florence. Before long every nobleman in the city was besotted with her.
It just seems right to begin the new year with the lovely Simonetta, and to honor the many (often feared) serpents living in the jungles of this seductive Carolina Lowcountry. May we all learn to shed our skins this year, and create ourselves anew.
Happy New Year, my friends.
I was called to be an artist. And as an old old midwife said to me "If the Lord wants you to do something, you won't have no good luck' til you do." So, here I am, sharing what I love, longing to illuminate the work of art, which is everywhere.
Charleston Through an Artist's eye 
We are supposed to have oodles of snakes on Edisto Island and it puzzles me that I see so few of them. Maybe they just don’t like corn field, but with the woods surrounding the place I would expect to see more of them than I do. It’s the same with the alligators. The Serpentarium has all the alligators I have seen on the island.
Well, lucky I suspect that neither of us saw the one that my neighbor Mike ran over in his Expedition last summer on Legare Road…all four tires unfortunately ran over the poor rattler who had been dislodged from his home in the woods with the new development there – after this, he slithered back into the woods. Mike said this rattlesnake was as big as a tree! I get tickled seeing them now that my fascination is peaked. But I only see little black snakes…watching them slither is just very fascinating, though:)
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