Opals that make Sad Men's Minds

Before the Great Computer Crisis of 2009, I shipped a doll version of my favourite aesthete, Oscar Wilde, off to a lovely dramaturge in Florida.  I studied some of Wilde's work in my Fin-de-Siecle literature course last year, and fell in love with its beauty and abundance.  In earlier writings, Wilde claimed to believe in nothing other than beauty, so it was also fascinating to see his work evolve after he was imprisoned for "gross indecency". 

I also made a tiny book to accompany Oscar, in which I inscribed one of my favourite passages from Wilde's play, Salomé, based on the biblical story of John the Baptist (so suitable, as today St. Jean Baptiste day here in Quebec):

I have topazes yellow as are the eyes of tigers, and topazes that are pink as the eyes of a wood-pigeon, and green topazes that are as the eyes of cats. I have opals that burn always, with a flame that is cold as ice, opals that make sad men's minds, and are afraid of the shadows. I have onyxes like the eyeballs of a dead woman. I have moonstones that change when the moon changes, and are wan when they see the sun. I have sapphires big like eggs, and as blue as blue flowers. The sea wanders within them, and the moon comes never to trouble the blue of their waves.

I love the beauty-for-beauty's sake of his earlier works, such a Salomé but I was staggered by the sadness and intelligence of De Profundis, which he wrote from prison. It was very long letter to his lover, Alfred Lord Douglas, and was written on paper that Wilde was only allowed to keep in his cell for an hour each day. Here is a very brief excerpt:

I am a born antinomian. I am one of those who are made for exceptions, not for laws. But while I see that there is nothing wrong in what one does, I see that there is something wrong in what one becomes.

Comments

[Caz]

Both Oscar & Rosalind are beautiful! Glad I dropped in to catch up. Got a new pc yet?

[Yoli]

He is one of those writers that gets under your skin. When you read him, you immediately mourn the fact that you will never meet him or hear him speak. Your work is exquisite.

[Sarahjwallis]

I like Oscar's wistful expression. As well as loking like himself, he also looks a bit like Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen, a dandyish British designer.
I am afraid I have not read any Oscar Wilde. I love the richness of the jewel descriptions and I like the part about being made for exceptions rather than laws.

[Marlya]

You have captured him beautifully- he looks amazing!

[Dawn]

You did capture so much with this one, or maybe it's because I just read words from him. Anyhow, expressive, saddened and forlong. It speaks, you just want to spread happiness! A interesting man, for sure.

[ashleydaugherty]

I really like Oscar. You did a wonder job capturing his apparence and his really cool cloths.

[Joana]

Just perfect!

[Sarah]

Hope you get your paper finished soon! Pop over for a cup of tea and a cake to have a rest if you fancy it!

[suzie chaney]

I was intrigued by your blog name, with me being a suzie and blogging as black-eyed angel, I had to pop over for a look!

So glad I did, your dolls are utterly amazing, Oscar looks so melancholic yet so beautiful! Love them!

[Black Opal]

Oscar made into a doll and a book. Cool!
Nice original blog you have here.
Black Opal