Thomas Hart Benton, Susanna and the Elders
4 Dec
via famsf.org
This painting by American artist Thomas Hart Crane (1899-1975) depicts the story of Susanna from the Book of Daniel, a story excised from the Old Testament. Susanna and the Elders forms part of the narrative of “Peter Quince and the Clavier” by Wallace Stevens, a poem we read in a course I’m taking.
Stevens used the story as a way of illustrating the concept of lust, although in the poem he merely calls it desire. When I read the poem I was a little confused (and I still am) by Stevens’ choice of subject matter. To me, the elders were basically peeping toms or voyeurs. Anyway, I like this painting. It’s a contemporary spin on an old image.
Isn’t it cool hearing stories that you might otherwise not have heard had you not been studying? I’ve never heard the story of Susanna, but really like the title ‘Peter Quince and the Clavier’. Doesn’t it evoke sepia images and the smell of must?
I can see why you’d say that, Michelle. The whole poem sort of does the same, in an odd way.
If I remember correctly, the elders were much worse than voyeurs in the Old Testament version. They cornered Susanna in the garden and told her they would have her put to death if she did not have sex with them. If she said no, they told her they would publicly announce that she had been having sex with a young man. The penalty would be death.
She remained loyal to God, and would not have sex with the elders, regardless of the threat of death. God saved her for her faithfulness. The elders were put to death for their false witness. It was unusual in her time and culture for a woman to be spared death when accused by elders.
I’ve always thought of Susanna’s story as one of the strength of a woman. I could be wrong with my interpretation (and I need to go back and read the Old Testament version…my facts may be off), but I think it took a lot of guts to do what she did. The reason I love this picture is because it feels like Susanna’s strength to me. I love the muscles in her legs!
As a student, Steven’s poem annoyed me, because it portrays her as an object of “desire” and nothing more. Or at least it felt that way to me at the time I read it. Now I’m interested to go back and read it again. Thanks, Christine! I ramble too much, but your posts are so interesting. Have a beautiful weekend:)
Julie, thanks for providing a fuller story of what happened to Susanna. Now I’m wondering why this story was cut from the Book of Daniel. I read it was part of the apocrypha. The plot thickens…