Comedian Terry Gilliam has revealed that Monty Python’s famous foot was “stolen” from a 16th century painting in the National Gallery.
The foot, which notoriously taps twice in Monty Python’s Flying Circus, was inspired by a similar bare foot in Agnolo Bronzino’s painting An Allegory with Venus and Cupid.
Gilliam appeared in a documentary celebrating the 200th anniversary of the National Gallery, where he tells how he noticed Cupid’s foot on a dove in the bottom corner of the painting.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, he said: “It looked like his foot was about to crush the unsuspecting bird.” I thought it would be a lovely punctuation: a sudden cessation of what was happening.
‘Cupid’s foot made it even better because what better than being crushed by love.’
Comedian Terry Gilliam has revealed that Monty Python’s famous foot was ‘stolen’ from a 16th century painting in the National Gallery
Agnolo Bronzino’s painting An Allegory with Venus and Cupid that partly inspired the famous opening credits caption for Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
The foot, which notoriously taps twice in the opening credits of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, was inspired by a similar bare foot in Agnolo Bronzino’s painting An Allegory with Venus and Cupid.
Gilliam is one of 16 people, including celebrities and gallery employees, who appear in the film talking about their favorite paintings at the National Gallery.
His partner Monty Python also appears in a documentary which will be shown in 300 cinemas across the UK. As a famous train enthusiast, Palin unsurprisingly chose Turner’s Rain, Steam and Speed.
He said: ‘It shows the birth of the railways.
“However, Turner also represents the countryside, counterbalanced by the train. It is a real narrative, in which you feel that the New World will win.”
Meanwhile, Princess Eugenie chose Correggio’s Virgin of the Basket. She said: A mother who takes care of her little son and struggles to put on his jacket. I recently had a second baby and I know that feeling.”
Some people even claim that a painting saved their lives, as is the case with Peter Murphy.
Murphy suffered a serious drug and alcohol addiction in the 1990s and 2000s while working on Channel 4’s Eurotrash. But a trip to the gallery in 2009 left a deep impact on him.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Gillaim said: “It looked like his foot was about to crush the unsuspecting bird.” I thought it would be a lovely punctuation: a sudden cessation of what was happening. ‘Cupid’s foot made it even better because what better than being crushed by love’
He said: “I had been before, but this time I was attracted to a blue painting.” She was Bellini’s Virgin of the Prairie.
‘Very quickly I was moved by the serenity and calm of this Virgin and child. I am not religious, although I was raised by a very strict Catholic father. Seeing the Virgin made me think that “mom is home.”
He then visited the painting every day for 12 months and credits the famous artwork for helping him quit alcohol and drugs.
Murphy added: “Painting gives me inner peace. And luckily the gallery is free. I just feel like I belong here. It’s my club. It’s my National Gallery.