Life, 1900-12-20 · page 5 of 22
Life — December 20, 1900 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 529 The top cartoon, "An Accidental Triumph," depicts classical/mythological figures (appearing to be Cupids or cherubs) riding winged horses through clouds. The humor appears to derive from the chaotic, comedic collision or interaction between these flying figures—suggesting an "accidental" outcome from their celestial activities. Below is "Some Open Letters," a letter to Michelangelo Buonarotti praising his artistic influence on modern architecture and public buildings. The writer congratulates him on how his Renaissance principles continue shaping contemporary design, and regrets being unable to show Buonarotti the modern advances in construction and decoration inspired by his work. The text is satirical commentary on artistic legacy rather than political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Overheard in Elysium. ©YXTHAT'S Jupiter Pluvius “My dear, why don't you know? It seems that someone referred to him As the man with the 11,0!” Some Open Letters. To MicieLaxor.o Bvoxarortt, Formerly of Florence, Italy. DFAR SIR: So many im- provements in art have taken place since you worked overtime on St. Peter's, and made love to Vittoria Colonna in your leisure moments, that Iam led to write and congratu- late you upon the way your influence has spread down to the present time. My only regret is that I cannot conduct you personally through some of our streets and public build- ings and art galleries, and you would then have an oppor- tunity tocertify to yourself the wonderful strides which have been made in your profession. I would show you the mag- nificent dome of our World Building, and ask you, with commendable pride, if you could beat that. You could ramble with me through our City Hall, and could take din- ner with me at some of our best restaurants, and, luoking up at their ceilings, you would be struck with the advances made since your period. My dear Michel, one of the most comforting thoughts to a really great man who has long since passed away, must be when he reflects upon the fact that his teachings have not been in vain. Yet in the few matters I have mentioned, which deal only with our public buildings and their decorations, we have not done so well as in other directions. Fully to appreciate what has been done, you would have to subscribe to some of our periodicals, and, in particular, to the Sunday newspapers. I “LIFE - AN ACCIDENTAL TRIUMPH.