Stories
The story of
the Stevenson family
In my parents' wills, I received their scrapbooks and the painting of Diogenes. The painting, a large, old oil canvas, beautifully framed, had been bought by my father in Paris in the late 1920s or early 1930s. It was probably painted in the 1800's as a copy of the famous de Ribera original that is now owned by the Dresden Museum (see http://www.abcgallery.com/R/ribera/ribera14.html.
This was especially meaningful in my relation to my family, because it always hung at a central place in our house in Neosho and exemplied our family values: Diogenes, in the painting, is searching to try to find one man who would speak the truth.
My father in front of Diogenes searching for an honest man Click here for a better view of the painting |
This was the most valuable purchase that my father made in his young life, and it shows his priorities to be philosophical, intellectual and artistic. It may have been on the same trip to Europe that he went to assist in archaeological digs in Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia in 1933 when he was 26. I still have some photos he took on that trip.
All the years that we were growing up in Missouri, and later when they moved to Massachusetts, this painting assumed the place of honor in the house.
The theme of the painting was appropriate for my father who, all his life, was a scientist, either professionally as an archaeologist or later amateur as an astronomer. It was from him that I got my ambition to be a scientist.
The theme was also appropriate for my mother. Elsewhere, I describe how we read the bible together when I was young. I remember most vividly when we came to the story of Solomon who was promised by God that he could have one wish fulfilled. As I recall it (perhaps not quite accurately), he disdained wealth and power and requested wisdom instead.
There is nothing so important to get from your parents, and to start your consciousness development, as basic humanistic values. And that's what I received from them, as exemplified by the painting of Diogenes and his unrelenting search for truth.
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Stages
1986-1992
Fall of Soviet Empire
1992-1997
UNESCO Culture of Peace Programme