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Author Archives: drrichardstemp

125 – Twin Sisters

Jean-Claude Richard, ‘Abbé de Saint-Non’, Two Sisters, 1770. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. On Monday I will be talking about pastel painting, with a brief introduction to the technique and to its history, in the first of my talks about Three Women in the 18th Century – Rosalba Carriera and Power of Pastel. However,Continue reading “125 – Twin Sisters”

Posted bydrrichardstemp17th Apr 2021Posted in18th Century12 Comments on 125 – Twin Sisters

124 – A Sign of the Times

Jean-Antoine Watteau, L’Enseigne de Gersaint, 1720. Schloss Charlottenburg, Berlin. I wanted to write about today’s painting last year, during the original ‘Picture of the Day’ – but somehow I ran out of days… But even if this is a year later than I had hoped, I’m glad, as I know so much more about itContinue reading “124 – A Sign of the Times”

Posted bydrrichardstemp11th Apr 2021Posted in18th Century18 Comments on 124 – A Sign of the Times

Easter!

Andrea Bonaiuti, The Resurrection, 1365-8. The Spanish Chapel, Santa Maria Novella, Florence. Happy Easter! Yesterday I referred to last year’s blog on The Devils in Andrea Bonaiuti’s Harrowing of Hell – and then I thought I ought to read it through, just in case there were any embarrassing typos. I’m glad to say that thereContinue reading “Easter!”

Posted bydrrichardstemp4th Apr 2021Posted inBible, Flag, Jesus, Lent, Resurrection31 Comments on Easter!

Lent 46

Andrea Bonaiuti, The Crucifixion, 1365-68. The Spanish Chapel, Santa Maria Novella, Florence. As I said on Thursday, the Master of Delft does not take us any further than Good Friday, and so, for the final day of Lent we will leave the Netherlands and head down to Italy, and to Florence, to consider one ofContinue reading “Lent 46”

Posted bydrrichardstemp3rd Apr 2021Posted inAngels, Bible, Crucifixion, Devils, Hell, Jesus, Lent, Saints, Virgin Mary8 Comments on Lent 46

Lent 45 – Good Friday

The Master of Delft, Triptych: Scenes from the Passion of Christ, about 1510. National Gallery London. https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/NG2922.1 https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/NG2922.2https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/NG2922.3

Posted bydrrichardstemp2nd Apr 2021Posted inCrucifixion, Jesus, Lent, Saints, Virgin Mary16 Comments on Lent 45 – Good Friday

Lent 44

On the right hand panel of the triptych, Christ is taken down from the cross. The stark, empty form appears against the sky, which is partially clouded, as we witness the gradual emptying of the top half of the painting. A ladder leans against the cross, one man climbing down, lowering the lifeless form asContinue reading “Lent 44”

Posted bydrrichardstemp1st Apr 2021Posted inCrucifixion, Jesus, Lent, Saints, Virgin Mary6 Comments on Lent 44

Lent 43

The central panel of the triptych shows The Crucifixion. Christ appears at the top centre of the painting, outlined against the sky, the weather deteriorating from the clear blue we saw yesterday as we move from left to right. He is presented formally to us, an icon outside of the worldly clamour all around. TheContinue reading “Lent 43”

Posted bydrrichardstemp31st Mar 2021Posted inBible, Crucifixion, Jesus, Lent, Saints, Virgin MaryLeave a comment on Lent 43

Lent 42

It is Holy Week, and for the remaining days of Lent, I will say relatively little (apart, maybe, from Saturday), but leave you with the painting itself to explore. By now, if you have a good memory, you should find almost all of it familiar, although I am imagining that, if you haven’t located theContinue reading “Lent 42”

Posted bydrrichardstemp30th Mar 2021Posted inBible, Jesus, Lent2 Comments on Lent 42

Lent 41

This is the same painting – although you would be forgiven for not recognising it. The work is a triptych – a painting on three panels – and for most of the time it would have been closed, only to be opened when mass was celebrated at the altar on which it was originally found.Continue reading “Lent 41”

Posted bydrrichardstemp29th Mar 2021Posted inBible, Jesus, Lent, Saints, Virgin MaryLeave a comment on Lent 41

Lent 40

If I have cliff-hangers, I left you with one yesterday. Admittedly, it would have left you hanging at the edge of a very low curb, but there you go. At least none of you would have had a sleepless night, especially good as, thanks to daylight saving, we in the UK – and Europe asContinue reading “Lent 40”

Posted bydrrichardstemp28th Mar 202128th Mar 2021Posted inBible, Crucifixion, Lent, Virgin Mary7 Comments on Lent 40

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