Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
eterei bambocci
English translation:
heavenly/celestial/other worldly figures (please see context)
Added to glossary by
manducci
Nov 16, 2008 22:30
15 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Italian term
eterei bambocci
Italian to English
Art/Literary
Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
Frescoes by Giotto
Might this mean cherubs??... celestial creatures??
The phrase appears in the following paragraph which describes Giotto's pictorial innovations:
Egli presenta San Francesco sotto un aspetto insolito: concretamente terrestre e controcorrente rispetto all’iconografia ufficiale. Il suo stile moderno anticipa l’umanesimo (Michelangelo raccoglierà l’eredità di Giotto): non più ***eterei bambocci***, ma personaggi in carne ed ossa, ritratti secondo fisionomie realistiche, sapendo rendere la profondità dello spazio e le relazioni tra figure.
The phrase appears in the following paragraph which describes Giotto's pictorial innovations:
Egli presenta San Francesco sotto un aspetto insolito: concretamente terrestre e controcorrente rispetto all’iconografia ufficiale. Il suo stile moderno anticipa l’umanesimo (Michelangelo raccoglierà l’eredità di Giotto): non più ***eterei bambocci***, ma personaggi in carne ed ossa, ritratti secondo fisionomie realistiche, sapendo rendere la profondità dello spazio e le relazioni tra figure.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 | combination of all |
Marie Scarano
|
| 5 | airy/ethereal chubby babies |
Rossella Mainardis
|
| 4 | heavenly little cherubs |
James (Jim) Davis
|
| 3 | puffy and airy creatures/doll-like figures |
Umberto Cassano
|
Proposed translations
8 hrs
Selected
combination of all
Here there is no mention of cherubs - but of S. Francis. I would use a different combination:
ethereal creatures/effigies/icons
Here bambocci does not refer to "dolls" or little figures, but rather simply to figures or representations of the human figure.
ethereal creatures/effigies/icons
Here bambocci does not refer to "dolls" or little figures, but rather simply to figures or representations of the human figure.
Note from asker:
| I think I'd agree that the writer probably isn't referring specifically to cherubs here. HOwever, she is not referring explicitly to St Francis here but is describing Giotto's innovations in the depiction of figures both generally and specifically (to his depictions of religious figures, of whom St Francis is an example). |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, Marie. Ethereal creatures is the best option here. I agree that the phrase does not refer to cherubs or babies. Since my posting, I have received confirmation from the writer herself that the meaning here is "other wordly" figures. Thanks, however, to all my proz colleagues for their alternative suggestions."
6 mins
airy/ethereal chubby babies
...
9 mins
Umberto Cassano
Italy
Italy
Native in Italian
Works in field
Italy
Translating and teaching with skill
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, Italian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
52
puffy and airy creatures/doll-like figures
Non so, forse potrebbe rendere il concetto che intende dare l'autore di questo testo.
HTH
HTH
7 hrs
James (Jim) Davis
Seychelles
Seychelles
Native in English
Specializes in field
Seychelles
25 years experience constantly improving
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: Italian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
157
heavenly little cherubs
A cherub has two definitions. One is a second order angel with wings. The other is "sweet innocent baby" (and I think by definition, always chubby). I have added "little" to give the derision (in the context) implied by bambocci.
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Note added at 7 hrs (2008-11-17 06:06:26 GMT)
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Oh the four confidence, is simply because there are many possible translations.
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Note added at 11 hrs (2008-11-17 10:27:46 GMT)
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I can see what Marie means and understand what the Italian author is trying to convey (in fact is conveying) by the use of "bamboccio" as a metaphor. I think the English "cherub" works as a metaphor in the same way, in that the face of St Francis no longer looks like that of a chubby little cherub, but that of a real man in flesh and blood.
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Note added at 7 hrs (2008-11-17 06:06:26 GMT)
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Oh the four confidence, is simply because there are many possible translations.
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Note added at 11 hrs (2008-11-17 10:27:46 GMT)
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I can see what Marie means and understand what the Italian author is trying to convey (in fact is conveying) by the use of "bamboccio" as a metaphor. I think the English "cherub" works as a metaphor in the same way, in that the face of St Francis no longer looks like that of a chubby little cherub, but that of a real man in flesh and blood.
Discussion