tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post1607115992454755732..comments2024-03-26T07:58:59.761+00:00Comments on I'll think of something later: Painted ladiesDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-53935548564983602512009-12-27T10:16:34.538+00:002009-12-27T10:16:34.538+00:00Yes, Colin, the St Serapion is by Zurburan (whose ...Yes, Colin, the St Serapion is by Zurburan (whose Virgin of Mercy of Las Cuevas I also loved). Imaginative the way they put it in the last room by itself in a 'Sala de profundis'. I was fascinated but a little repelled by St Francis's teeth.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-9992034091287582022009-12-27T01:04:07.050+00:002009-12-27T01:04:07.050+00:00David, thank you for writing about the Sacred Made...David, thank you for writing about the Sacred Made Real exhibition at the National Gallery. I my humble opinion three works are spellbinding and worth the entry alone. The first is, as you rightly say, the marvellous (in all senses of the word) depiction by Zurbaran of Christ on the Cross. It's not only the lighting that's worthy of attention, but the passage work in his depiction of the cloth that surrounds Christ and gives Him a degree of privacy. It's a case of how many shades of white can you see (a similar instance of this is Monet's fabulous painting of the ice breaking up on the Seine in the Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon). The simplicity of the form offers a sense of monumentalism, akin to Fra Angelico's Crucifixion in the Louvre which, incidentally, also has a black background. Concentrates the mind wonderfully. <br /><br />The second piece in the show that's worth the entry is the lovely, and humbling, statue of St Francis in the third room: standing in near darkness this tiny figure begs attention. The silver foil behind his eyes make it appear that his eyes are wet and hence that he is alive. The little bone teeth are good too, but it's the simple rope, knotted several times, that gets me (as well as his stance). To call it a "statuette" would be criminal because it's so much more than that. <br /><br />And finally, the portrayal of St Serapio - the sole painting at the end of a long rectangular room , beautifully lit not only by the National Gallery, but also by the artist (is it a Zurbaran? I can't remember). He hangs on his ropes, head down at a diagonal to the torso. <br /><br />Unmatcheable.Colin Dunnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-70863411297096118892009-12-24T19:53:49.848+00:002009-12-24T19:53:49.848+00:00Oh, thanks for that, Will, and all seasonal wishes...Oh, thanks for that, Will, and all seasonal wishes to you both who celebrate Xmas in so much more style!<br /><br />Well, I do recommend this exhibition as a total one-off worth travelling to see, Likewise I should book for the Caravaggio/Bacon exhibition in your eternal city. Saw the catalogue which a friend had bought back, though the Bacon Oresteia triptych which so took my fancy apparently isn't on show...Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-39814127329409721502009-12-24T14:32:27.670+00:002009-12-24T14:32:27.670+00:00Ciao David
As always you make me envy the richness...Ciao David<br />As always you make me envy the richness of life in your corner of the world. Almost feel like hoping on - gasp - Ryanair and seeing both exhibitions. Many thanks.<br /><br />Wanted to respond to your comment about Trieste but couldn't find an e-mail address. We stayed at Le Corderie - a very charming boutique style hotel - great staff, wonderful breakfast - only down side is that it is about a 10-15 minute walk to Centro which is fine going but all uphill coming back. Not sure if that is much help.Willymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03652532356102638621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-16750286633311452992009-12-23T14:22:04.318+00:002009-12-23T14:22:04.318+00:00Sorry, punters, the above comment was meant to be ...Sorry, punters, the above comment was meant to be a response to Will's on the previous thread.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-7508626427558073052009-12-23T14:19:11.366+00:002009-12-23T14:19:11.366+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.com