4. The Magdalene With The Smoking Flame
A slightly more high-brow one now. When Ariel sings of her desire to become human and walk in the sun, she plucks at the flame of a painting that forms part of her trove of treasures. It's only on screen for a short while, but the significance of the painting chosen will not have escaped anyone with any real knowledge of art history and the bible. The painting in question is Magdalene With The Smoking Flame by French artist Georges de la Tour, which portrays Mary Magdalene, repentant and devoted to Christ, seated and lit by the flame of a single candle. Thanks to the paintings underlying focus on vanity, the sanctity of femininity and the period's pre-occupation with trial by God, it's not difficult to see why this particular image was used. What the painting alludes to is the fact that Ariel is the new Mary Magdalene (hence the red hair, which was a popular symbol of Magdalene), bound by a restrictive patriarchy, and castigated for her desires. Heavy duty stuff for a kids' film.