Norman Rockwell? I’m actually quite surprised you like Norman Rockwell, fella. I thought even midwest bible belt, god-fearing folk found him nauseating in the extreme?
Sardanapalus is the last king of Assyria. He has failed in battle. He is about to die. He broods among his intended victims. Around him, his naked slaves are being murdered, and his possessions are being destroyed. At last, his court will be burned. The king relishes his sights. In the same way, the painting encourages us to enjoy this scene. This vast canvas is full of beautiful chaos. There is flesh and rich fabric and gorgeous colour. There is turbulence and cruelty – and opulence, ruin, decadence, slaughter, luxury, despair, violation, helplessness, sacrifice, the whole business. The massacre is coming to its finale. One after another, the deeds are falling down.
And he doesn’t give a shit, all are his possessions to destroy as he pleases.
‘Jeunesse Dorée’, by Gerald Leslie Brockhurst.
It’s hidden away in a corridor upstairs at the Lever gallery at Port Sunlight.
Had a proper soft spot for this as a kid:
‘Off’ by Edmund Leighton – top of the stairs at Manchester Art Gallery on Mosely Street. Loved it as a soppy teenager. Still got a copy hung up in the back room.
‘Evolution of the Cathode Ray Tube’ by Mervyn Peake.
The bloke who wrote Gormenghast. There’s a version in Manchester Art Gallery which is an enlarged detail of this – bit of a stunner.
Way too many to list, tbh.
And as Binners said, no visit to London is complete without a nice sit down in the Rothko Room.
I’m not well informed tbh, so no doubt there’s others I should see, but as per Binners and CFH… Turner’s Fighting Temeraire, and Stubbs’ Whistlejacket.
Cool thread. (sorry I don’t know how to post pics)
I’m more of a classicist, all time fave the Isenheim altarpiece.
Rothko is a very blokey artist isn’t he, I have never got him at all, I hated that room at the Tate, which I suppose is a reaction of sorts. But anybody who likes Rothko has a nerve slagging Vettriano, both are poster art, bought by people becuase they are inoffensive and match the furniture.
But anybody who likes Rothko has a nerve slagging Vettriano, both are poster art, bought by people becuase they are inoffensive and match the furniture.
Oooooohhhhh, fight! 😀
All subjective innit?
You’ve got to be in the right state of mind for Rothko – damn things start vibrating and floating off the walls if I’m in the mood – other times they just encourage a little meditative introspection.
Forgot Hockney’s recent Yorkshire stuff:
Not seen any of it in real life yet, but have high hopes.
Joseph Wright of Derby – An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Joseph_Wright_of_Derby_-_Experiment_with_the_Air_Pump_-_WGA25892.jpg[/img]