When I was working for IBM, I had a friend who was a New Age art history major who worked in QA. She and I got along well, and one day, we went to the art gallery to look at paintings. I was admiring the banners in the museum. So, she decided to make me a St. George’s Cross banner. (My pen pal Pam, not to be outdone, later made me a Beauseant banner, of the exact same size!)
The gift of tokens, such as handkerchiefs or pennants, is standard operating procedure in chivalry. Chivalry and chastity are two important factors in my life. Both are complex disciplines to learn. Reading literature is the best way to learn, or by watching your parents get along, if you have a good father and mother (I did not!). But another way to learn is by studying the great works of art.
Below are just a few of my favorite paintings. (I like the Pre-Raphaelite era especially)
Click the small images for MUCH larger images!
RECOGNITION:
Godspeed - Edmund Blair Leighton - 1900
Men should be judged by godly women based on whether they are doing what God wants them to do. Those men who are willing to put God first in their planning should be recognized as special. Standard procedure is to give committed Christian men a token with the lady’s colors that he can carry into battle.
APPROVAL:
The Accolade - Edmund Blair Leighton - 1901
Men need to be encouraged to fulfill their obligations to God by receiving the approval of godly women. Men who accomplish great things for God should receive rewards from women. Notice that the painting is portraying a public accolade.
ATTENTION:
Alain Chartier - Edmund Blair Leighton - 1903
Along with her relationship with God, godly women should make time for relating to godly men, especially to her husband if she is married. This is even more important than parenting! I am a big believer in eye contact and long written essays.
UNDERSTANDING/RESPECT:
Call to Arms - Edmund Blair Leighton - 1888
Duty - Edmund Blair Leighton - 1883
Women need to understand that a man’s duty to her comes second to a man’s duty to God. Part of loving a man is letting him do the activities that he needs to do in order to flourish as a man.
DEFERENCE/GRATITUDE:
St. George Fighting the Dragon - Raphael Sanzio - 1505
A woman should be able to drive a stick shift, fire a Springfield Arms XD accurately, do the family tax return, throw a football 20 yards, and barbecue steaks. However, when men are around, she should allow men to do things for her, even if she can do them better herself. Men should always be asked to do dangerous tasks (shoveling snow, killing spiders, etc.), and they should never be criticized about their performance in front of other people, only in private.
Next time
Next time we can look at other paintings from Frank Dicksee, Arthur Hughes and George F. Watts to express other ideas like vulnerability, susceptibility, nurturing children and animals, modesty, chastity, and trust. It’s important that Christian men and Christian women know how to get along with one another. It’s important that non-Christians see real differences in the way Christians treat the opposite sex.
If you like these paintings, leave a comment and I’ll write more posts about chivalry and romance. Just because I have no experience with women doesn’t mean that I haven’t read the classics. If you want to read something really good on chivalry, check out C.S. Lewis’ essay “The Necessity of Chivalry” or Edmund Rostand’s “Cyrano de Bergerac” or Edmund Spenser’s “The Faerie Queene”.
Down with feminism!
Related posts
- The rules for friendship and courtship between Christians
- What should wives do when they are not in the mood for sex?
- Why Christian men should be chaste
- Should Christians marry non-Christians?
- Purposeful parenting today
- Marriage tips part 1
- Marriage tips part 2
- Unfair child custody laws
- Why fiscal conservatives should care about marriage
- How Democrat policies discourage marriage: Part 1 (big government) is here and Part 2 (same-sex marriage) is here and Part 3 (No fault divorce) is here.
Filed under: Mentoring , Affection, Approval, Armor, Attention, Ballad, Banner, Chaste, Chastity, Chivalry, Christian, Christian Man, Christian Marriage, Christian Woman, Christianity, Christians, Courting, Courtly, Courtship, Dancing, Dating, Dragon, Duty, Feminine, Femininity, Feminism, Flowers, Godly Woman, Handkerchief, Holiness, Holy, Horse, Knight, Lady, Lance, Love, Marriage, Men, Nurturing, Parenting, Pennant, Poetry, Recognitiion, Respect, Roles, Romance, Romantic, Roses, Sex, Sex Difference, Sex Role, Single, Sonnet, St. George, Susceptibility, Sword, Token, Trust, Understanding, Virgin, Vulnerability, War, Wedding, Women, Writing
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I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on contraception. Many point to the Church of England’s embracing of contraception is the start of their collapse.
I think that contraception is detrimental to respect for authentic femininity.
My wife does 2″ groupings with our SA XD .45ACP (5″ slide) at 21′ (which is the longest defensive distance in our house).
It’s hawt.
Thanks for your thoughts on this. I especially keyed in on this:
“Reading literature is the best way to learn, or by watching your parents get along, if you have a good father and mother (I did not!). But another way to learn is by studying the great works of art.”
Oh more convincting words couldn’t come from rereading Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God… This truism, that good parental interrelation leads to children doing well (and it’s opposite), I’m convinced is the key to the “sins of the father are visited to the 3rd and 4th generation” passages.
I would also say that I did not observe good relationship from my parents, and am all to aware of the failings I demonstrate to my son and wife that are an echo of what I saw growing up.
There are a few additional resources I would add on ways to learn: The Holy Spirit. Teaching us is His function. The Bible has a plethera of instruction, and studying this, especially under the guidance of the Counsellor will yeild good results. Good community is so important. Latch onto a family or three that is Godly and share meals with them as much as they’ll let you. Observing how husband and wife and children can interract under the guidance of our Lord can be very very instructive.
James, thank you for this great comment! I appreciate you writing it.
Your advice is the best advice for learning chivalry. I actually have two strong Christian families that I visit and spend time with whenever I can, and eat up all their food, too. They are awesome. This is the best way to learn how to behave around other men and women, whatever their ages.
The Bible is definitely a major source. The thing men need to realize is that women have to know God, too. And that means when you meet one, that should be your first priority. No matter what she is like, every woman has a duty to know God, and your duty is to help them. It is irrelevant whether they meet your needs or not. Men are on the hook and we will be held accountable.
Having your wife fire guns is hot because it means that she can protect herself if something happens to you.
Great stuff! Great post! Thanks.
I quickly read the title of your post and thought it said that “What Christian men want from Christian women…paintings.” Whoops! That’s a different article.
I think you have to include physical intimacy. It’s not only a natural part of a man’s physiology but it we were designed by God that way and He calls it good…of course it might be hard to include paintings to make that point…
Yes, but how the heck am I supposed to find that in a painting?
I blogged previously about the problem of wives denying their husbands sex.
Yes, I just read some of the posts there. I sort of feel dirty now…
WK,
Thanks for this; very unique, but meaningful. I especially liked:
“A woman should be able to drive a stick shift, fire a Springfield Arms XD accurately, do the family tax return, throw a football 20 yards, and barbecue steaks.”
I’m going to give my wife a test…:-)
God Bless
Thanks. I find this beautiful. ( I’m a 30+ y old Christian woman who have had no experience with men.)
But, since you are apparently male if I read you right, perhaps you should meditate and post on the opposite- “What Christian men should do for Christian women“?
[...] Great post on the art of feminine chivalry. [...]
Beautiful, beautiful art and revealing of the delicate balance in the relationships of men and women! Thanks for posting.