'The 50 Paintings ' Project


Painting # 19

"Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop's Grounds "

by

John Constable

John Constable , one of Britain's greatest landscape painters painted this  194 years back for his friend and Bishop John Fisher. If you visit the Victoria and Albert Museum in London you can see it.

He included the Bishop and his wife in the painting ( on the left side)

8 years later he painted another one of the Salisbury cathedral . This was only a year after his wife died and "Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows" depicts his grief and turbulent emotions . The turbulent sky is a portrayal of his own changing states of mind.

Along with various symbols he included in the painting :
The grave marker - Symbol of death
Ash Tree - Symbol of Life
Church - Symbol of Faith and Resurrection
Rainbow - Symbol of Renewed Optimism

Its been almost 200 years and the Salisbury cathedral and the area around has not changed much ever since the day John Constable sat around it and drew numerous sketches to  take to his studio to paint. 


  

Before I go let me share with you that just last week late artist 
Tyeb Mehta's painting was sold at 
Christie's auction for 23 crores.
 An Indian Art collector bought it .

Have a look at it  ..

..And now don't think too much :)

See you next week :)

"The 50 Paintings" Project 

Painting # 18

"School of Athens" by Rafael

This Fresco was painted by Raphael about 506 years back and you can still see it if you visit the "Raphael Rooms" in the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican .

At the same time Michaelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling a few blocks away :) Remember Painting # 9 ?

Leonardo Da Vinci , Michaelangelo and Raphael Sanzio were the Rennaisance masters each one of whom contributed to the paintings and frescoes in the Vatican.

These rooms in the Pope's palace

 are called the"Raphael Rooms"  

In this imaginary scene Raphael has pictured various philosophers, writers , artists, mathematicians to capture the spirit of the wonderful era of learning, knowledge that was the Renaissance!

Let's find out who all are here :)

Right in the center is Plato in Red (whom Raphael gave the likeness of Leonardo da Vinci) and his student Aristotle in blue

Seated on the left is Pythagoras, the mathematician 

On the Right is Euclid the one whose forte was geometry...and here he seems to be drawing a geometrical diagram for some curious students

Then there is the famous philosopher Heraclitus who seems to be engrossed in thought and writing something...Raphael made him look like Michaelangelo as a tribute to him.

Zoraster , the Persian Prophet is shown holding the celestial orb. (Whats the significance of a celestial orb ... I don't know)

  

And Raphael himself stands next to him .

He died nine years later when he was just 37 years old

but created great enough artwork to be remembered for next 500 years at least...:)

See you :)

'The 50 Paintings' project 

Painting #17

A Tender Embrace by Emile  Munier

Emile Munier , a french artist painted this portrait of a mother and child 130 years back. 

As you check out the softness and the gentle expression created out of brushstrokes its interesting to note that the mental state of the painter plays a big role while painting something like this. 

To be able to generate the calmness on the canvas he has to be calm and relaxed within. No way can he paint such serenity if he is agitated or upset. Secondly each brushstroke needs to be soft and gentle as well.

And Emile Munier was a master at that!

Another one by Emile Munier

So enjoy "The Tender Embrace" with a 
Happy Happy Mothers' Day !

 

Love

'The 50 Paintings ' Project

Painting # 16

"Dancers in Pink" by Edgar Degas

Painted 132 years back  by Edgar Degas a French Artist who was part of the Impressionists group but did not like to be called an Impressionist .  

Though he exhibited with them but could never relate to the Outdoor painting Activities  (Painting "En Plein Air")  of the impressionist Painters. 

A recluse and loner he preferred to paint indoors and liked to remain private.  

I  did not know about him till I had to paint for a  Ballerina friend of mine who wanted to have a hand painted clutch which would be just appropriate for her.

So we decided to take inspiration from Edgar Degas's work and here's what was created. :)

First the painting was done on cloth with fabric colors .

    

Then the painted cloth was used to make a clutch with a beautiful svarowski studded lock .

She loved it :)

See you again..same time next week ! 

Love