Word: balthasar
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Truth & Beauty. The Middle Ages depicted the Magi as three kings, and even gave them sonorous, Eastern-sounding names-Kaspar, Melchior and Balthasar. In fact, the "kings" are as imaginary as their names. The Magi were simply astrologer-priests, possibly from Babylon, and their number is uncertain; early paintings of the Christmas scene show anywhere from two to seven of them. Scholars are divided about the origin and meaning of the star that lured them to Bethlehem. Many critics dismiss Matthew's account of it as pure myth; Smit believes that the star actually was a major conjunction...
...tribute to his work, Barth smiled and said, "This proves the infallibility of the Pope." More seriously, he insists that the best critical work on his works-over 500 titles so far -has been done by such Catholic thinkers as French Jesuit Henri Bouillard and Father Hans Urs von Balthasar of Basel...
Distinguished Descent. Balthus was born Balthasar Klossowski de Rola in Paris on Feb. 29, 1908. Klossowski is a name that goes back for centuries in the Polish nobility, but he is also descended from the Gordons of Scotland, the most notable of whom was Lord Byron. His father was a noted critic whose house was always full of artists, writers, musicians, poets, psychologists and philosophers. For young Balthasar, the talk in the salon was an education in itself...
...smaller parts, Fletcher Coleman is a compelling Borachio; and Meredydd Evans sings Balthasar's songs pleasantly. Charles Lewis is notable in the double roles of a messenger and the sexton. And little Hayward Morse adds a lot as a boy in the governor's household...
...Balthus (real name: Balthasar Klossowsky), who comes from a wealthy, art-minded Polish aristocratic family. He started painting at 16, insists "an artist should remain anonymous," keeps within the realist tradition. He snaps back at those who attack his studies of young girls as Freudian and sinister with: "Maybe it is the people who look at them, and not my paintings, that are sinister, erotic and morbid...