Glyn Philpot, A Student with a Book, 1920. Ömer Koç Collection. Glyn Philpot is one of those artists who should never have been forgotten. There’s a long discussion in ‘The History of Art’ which asks who the last ‘Old Master’ was – but of course it’s a question which has no answer. There is alsoContinue reading “164 – Nude, with clothes…”
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160 – Painted by a madman?
Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1895. Private Collection. If you think I’m being rude – or insensitive – I should point out that the title of today’s post is simply a translation into English of words that Edvard Munch himself wrote on the first (or second) version of The Scream. An infrared photo of the offendingContinue reading “160 – Painted by a madman?”
148 – We’re all human
Francis Bacon, Head VI, 1949. Arts Council Collection, South Bank Centre, London. There is nothing quite so exciting in 20th Century painting as getting close to the surface of a work by Francis Bacon – there was no one who handled paint as well, with such power, and with such variety, who had worked soContinue reading “148 – We’re all human”
146 – You’ve been framed
Rembrandt van Rijn, Portrait of Nicolaes van Bambeeck, 1641. Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels. At the end of last week’s talk I said that the Royal Collection contained some of the best portraits ever painted. I’m not going to talk about them today – I will leave that until Monday, as they are included inContinue reading “146 – You’ve been framed”
131 – Memento Mori
Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Skull, 1655. It seems like it’s been a while since I wrote anything, but as I’m getting ready to talk again on Monday – the continuation of the series Caravaggio: A life in three paintings – I suppose it’s about time I got my brain in gear. It would make sense toContinue reading “131 – Memento Mori”
118 – Epiphany in Ravenna
The Adoration of the Magi, c. 504/560 and later. Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna. It’s Epiphany – a moment of sudden and great revelation – and today celebrates the moment at which the wise men recognised Jesus as the Boy Born to be King, their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh usually interpreted as gifts suitable forContinue reading “118 – Epiphany in Ravenna”
Mary, revisited…
Giotto, Stories from the Life of the Virgin, c. 1305, Scrovegni Chapel, Padua. Yesterday was the Feast of the Birth of the Virgin, and I had meant to post then – but sadly I seem to be getting busy again. However, I thought, ‘Why not have a look back to the end of May, when I lookedContinue reading “Mary, revisited…”
Day 88 – Juan de Pareja
Diego Velázquez, Juan de Pareja, 1650, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. I used this portrait as an illustration last week when I talked about Juan de Pareja’s own painting of The Flight into Egypt (Picture Of The Day 85), but I wanted to look at in its own right, because it is rather wonderful – and also becauseContinue reading “Day 88 – Juan de Pareja”
Day 86 – Ethiopia
Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller, Ethiopia, 1921, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington DC. Today we make it into the 20th Century – so far I’ve deliberately avoided it, to be honest, for reasons of copyright, but that is the only reason… I’m assuming nothing will happen on this occasion, though. However, despite what IContinue reading “Day 86 – Ethiopia”
Day 82 – The Death of Cleopatra
Edmonia Lewis, The Death of Cleopatra, 1876, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. Today I’m finding it hard to say who or what had the most unusual history – the artist or their art, the subject or the sculpture – and given the fame of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt that’s really saying something. But Edmonia Lewis wasContinue reading “Day 82 – The Death of Cleopatra”
dr richard stemp 