Baudelaire's "Invitation au Voyage" inspired a
painting by Henri Matisse (the title came from Baudelaire's lines on "luxe,
calme e volupté", perhaps the same that describe, in ADA, Villa Venus
and "volupty"). I append a reproduction of his vision which surprised
me because of Matisse's hot colors
that lurked in its rainbow-hues.
My
dreamt-afterlife paradise is similar to tropical Rio's beaches all in blue,
green and crystal radiance. Never orange and pink but "vair", perhaps like
silly Flora's stereotypes: "She saw their travels in
terms of adverts and a long talcum-white beach with the tropical breeze tossing
the palms and her hair..."
Wilde, perhaps, admired "the
orange awnings of southern summers" and the long "orange sunbursts" - like Matisse.
Shade alternated Flemish-infernal travels
led by seraphs with "flamingo wings" and
the greenish peripatetic talks in "cypress walks..." but IF (or
IPH) sported no black yew ( like Plath) but alpine summits and a
white fountain.
Van Veen's paradise was Ardis? With its rivers,
underwater cities and orchids and Ada, Ada and childhood.
To each his particular paradise and not
only a private hell??? Never before did I consciously entertain the image
of colored paradises...
.