Where was the missing arm? I looked at the previous (unfinished) version, didn’t see it (so to speak). BTW, I like seeing the stages of the artwork, it’s interesting to see your process. *** Hope 2016 is a good year for you!
I think the real problem for Iusta isn’t so much that she’s wealthy but that she’s not wealthy enough. My understanding is that Roman women – married women, anyway – had a fairly high degree of social freedom. But that depended on having a retinue of slaves to run interference for you on the streets of Rome. A young matron without litter-bearers, slaves to fetch and carry and make way for her, a female attendant or two…well, she would be no better than a tradeswoman or one of those awful plebs, darling, really…
So it’s not so much that she can’t go out, just that to go out in their present condition would expose her to a real risk of social condemnation…
Try as she might to gather a retinue, she doesn’t have enough people–a boy, a nursemaid, a random extra woman, plus a toddler, an infant, and a cat aren’t going to do it.
That and she and Felix don’t have a patron; at least, not one that they can acknowledge openly (Titus suborning Felix secretly doesn’t count…) so they can’t join the patron’s retinue as clients.
They could try and find one, but I suspect that breaking into 1st Century Roman society was as difficult as trying to infiltrate the London ton back in the day.
So, basically, they’re in the position of those poor people at the fringes of “good society” in the Jane Austen novels, one horrid social gaffe away from being cold-shouldered by everyone “worthwhile”…
Where is Mus? With Titus’ evil brother? About to come to Roma with same? To find his wife and friend have set up housekeeping–literally and metaphorically?
While upsetting on the surface, finding out that your best friend kept your wife (and possible offspring) safe when you were thought dead might not be that terrible a thing.
That they have canoodled with Venus? Ehhhh, not the best, but the marriage between Mus and Justa was never about sex, for Mus anyway, I think they do love one another, but I don’t think that this would be a deal breaker for a gay (or bi?) man who was assumed dead.
It’s a tough call. On the one hand, fidelity and adultery and all that. On the other hand, primarily or entirely interested in guys. On the other hand, possibly jealous from being interested specifically in Felix. On the other hand, clearly presumed dead. On the other hand, family loyalty and the custom of waiting 10 months and all that. On the other hand, family loyalty and the custom of taking in one’s brother’s widow. Facebook relationship status: “it’s complicated.”
I confess: I have some trouble with Damon’s face from the front (although I’m pretty secure drawing him in profile). Must practice it some more.
Domitian will probably hold onto his toy–I mean, his houseguest and client–until whatever he deems is the most entertaining moment. Unless Mus finds a clever way out…
Thanks 🙂 Still a bit weak, and sleepy from prescriptions, but definitely out of the woods! I’m still on parttime duty for errands and various whatnot, but not all day anymore 🙂
I do believe tradespeople will be coming to Justa, to complain about Damon picking their customers’ pockets and filching small items from their shops…
Damon will have to improve his skills if he wants to make it the Big City (and not end up getting his whole family in trouble)….
Where was the missing arm? I looked at the previous (unfinished) version, didn’t see it (so to speak). BTW, I like seeing the stages of the artwork, it’s interesting to see your process. *** Hope 2016 is a good year for you!
It was in panel 5, which originally looked like this, below 😛 I very likely overwrote one of the original files at some point.
Best wishes for 2016 to you, too!
Felix novus annus! Yes, Justa should have them come to her!
The privilege of being wealthy. Being trapped in her house…
Best New Year’s wishes to you too!
I think the real problem for Iusta isn’t so much that she’s wealthy but that she’s not wealthy enough. My understanding is that Roman women – married women, anyway – had a fairly high degree of social freedom. But that depended on having a retinue of slaves to run interference for you on the streets of Rome. A young matron without litter-bearers, slaves to fetch and carry and make way for her, a female attendant or two…well, she would be no better than a tradeswoman or one of those awful plebs, darling, really…
So it’s not so much that she can’t go out, just that to go out in their present condition would expose her to a real risk of social condemnation…
That hits the nail ore closely on the head.
Try as she might to gather a retinue, she doesn’t have enough people–a boy, a nursemaid, a random extra woman, plus a toddler, an infant, and a cat aren’t going to do it.
That and she and Felix don’t have a patron; at least, not one that they can acknowledge openly (Titus suborning Felix secretly doesn’t count…) so they can’t join the patron’s retinue as clients.
They could try and find one, but I suspect that breaking into 1st Century Roman society was as difficult as trying to infiltrate the London ton back in the day.
So, basically, they’re in the position of those poor people at the fringes of “good society” in the Jane Austen novels, one horrid social gaffe away from being cold-shouldered by everyone “worthwhile”…
Damon looks a lot like Mus.
Where is Mus? With Titus’ evil brother? About to come to Roma with same? To find his wife and friend have set up housekeeping–literally and metaphorically?
While upsetting on the surface, finding out that your best friend kept your wife (and possible offspring) safe when you were thought dead might not be that terrible a thing.
That they have canoodled with Venus? Ehhhh, not the best, but the marriage between Mus and Justa was never about sex, for Mus anyway, I think they do love one another, but I don’t think that this would be a deal breaker for a gay (or bi?) man who was assumed dead.
It’s a tough call. On the one hand, fidelity and adultery and all that. On the other hand, primarily or entirely interested in guys. On the other hand, possibly jealous from being interested specifically in Felix. On the other hand, clearly presumed dead. On the other hand, family loyalty and the custom of waiting 10 months and all that. On the other hand, family loyalty and the custom of taking in one’s brother’s widow. Facebook relationship status: “it’s complicated.”
I confess: I have some trouble with Damon’s face from the front (although I’m pretty secure drawing him in profile). Must practice it some more.
Domitian will probably hold onto his toy–I mean, his houseguest and client–until whatever he deems is the most entertaining moment. Unless Mus finds a clever way out…
garum. yum. http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/ancient-romans-were-riddled-parasites-despite-sanitation-innovations
<3!
😀
Happy Birthday Klio!
Thank you so much!
I love the perpetual-motion kitten here, by the way; a curious paw here, an active tail there; so MUCH to explore EVERYWHERE!!! RIGHT NOW!!!
I hope this means your sick relative is better. Hopehope. <3
Thanks 🙂 Still a bit weak, and sleepy from prescriptions, but definitely out of the woods! I’m still on parttime duty for errands and various whatnot, but not all day anymore 🙂
Whew! I’ so glad to hear that.
http://www.openculture.com/2016/02/watch-the-destruction-of-pompeii-by-mount-vesuvius-re-created-with-computer-animation-79-ad.html
Link to a museum re-creation of the eruption – looks interesting! I don’t know if they did this more artistically or if they actually calculated things like the expansion rate of the pyroclastic flow.
Hey folks: Take a look at the museum recreation of the eruption above. It’s pretty neat… though not perhaps for the inhabitants of Pompeii.