On the one hand, this is extremely gorgeous and a wonderful example of enameling. On the other hand, the Virgin Mary looks like she’s going, “Oh shit, are you fucking kidding me?” in response to the news that she’s going to have the baby Jesus. Guess it’s not just the modern teenaged mothers with the elements of shock and awe on their side, eh?
Author: Becky
Just another person who pretends to know something.
Wednesday
This icon not only shimmers, it glows. It’s a unique kind of enameling process and a unique outcome, and definitely a hell of a result.
Tuesday
I’m not convinced that Joan of Arc would’ve looked attentive as she listened to the heavenly voices. Certainly not like this, in a raptly ecstatic state. It’s vaguely pornographic. It’s also vaguely creepy, as she’s portrayed as far more innocent as she was, but that’s definitely the 1880s hypocritical morality coming out to play.
Monday
This, ladies and gentlemen, is why art has no color. It has no color, it has no silence, it is one howling voice in the wilderness. Art doesn’t care what you are, who you are, only that you give your voice to the need within you to create.
Sunday
*twitch* The background of this painting is more interesting than the subject and that’s a travesty, because I’m sure the poor dear was probably very pretty if she wasn’t treated like she wasn’t anything at all.
Saturday
It’s a brown and blue semi-photo-realistic painting of bridges and the River Arno. It’s pretty standard stuff, but the use of direct light v. indirect light (which was more favored at the time) makes it a bit more unique in the way it’s presented. However… it’s still nothing overly groundbreaking. American art of this particular time period is pretty pedestrian – it’s just a few years before the Impressionists really get going.
Friday
I’ve always thought that this painting looks like ye olde stereotypical Victorian drawing room: overloaded with dark colors and brick-a-brack and nick-knacks and such. It’s not very inviting.
Thursday
This looks like the beginning of an excellent horror movie. Let’s sit and watch for a while, yes?
Wednesday
This might have been one of the things that began my lifelong love affair with New York City. I remember seeing this painting as a tiny thing and marveling at how lovely it was, and then recreating the modern equivalent view on my first visit to Manhattan. (Yes, I am a nerd. No, I will not apologize for it.)
Tuesday
The difference between this more impressionistic style of painting and the old Dutch masters is… COLOR. The subject matter is the same, the church setting is the same, the exploration of light is similar, but this is colorful where the other is dull.