Artwork of the month by Jean Léon Gérôme

I would like to take a look at two works in the permanent collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.  Jean Leon Gerome was an amazing oil painter.  His sense of composition and his application of oil paint was profoundly admired and copied.  I do not want to talk much about this because my knowledge of this artist is limited to these two works, both of which I chose to ignore for a decade.  

Jean Léon Gérôme

French, 1824-1904

"The carpet merchant"

1887, oil on canvas

"Young Greeks in the Mosque"

1865, oil on panel

Theses are surprisingly small works...
...rendering the real is easier when done smaller.

Artwork of the month: "Judith"

There was a time when the subject of "Judith" was a popular trend for artists to work on.  The character Judith is a heroine, the savior of her people as a result of her own sacrifice and belief in the Hebrew god.  Judith is a beautiful woman, widowed and del reliant.  Her anger with her people over their mistrust that God will deliver them from the coming invader's army, she sets off with her maid to take maters in her own hands.  

She promises the general of the Assyrians information on the Israelites, and gets him drunk, seducing him with her beauty.  When Holofernes passes out, Judith cuts his head off and sneaks out of camp with it.  The Assyrian army is demoralized and disbands, not attacking the Israelites.  Judith is a hero.

The book of Judith is not in the Hebrew bible, and as a result it is excluded from the Protestant scriptures.  The Catholic church has always maintained the the book of Judith is the word of god and can not be excluded.

The character Judith is a powerful archetype that has been played over and over again.  I would even consider Rosy the Riveter to fall into the same archetype as Judith.  A strong-willed, self-reliant, powerfully intelligent, god fearing woman, and a patriot.  The Archetype is common throughout history and is used as propaganda when needed to inspire a nation.

Judith has been a very popular subject for artists.  The Minneapolis Institute of Arts has over 20 "Judith" works in its permanent collection.

Agostino Carracci

Italian, 1559-1602

"Portrait of a woman as Judith"

Oil on canvas, 1590

Attributed to Antonio Gionima

Italian, 1697-1732

"Judith presenting herself to Holofernes"

Oil on canvas, first half of 18th century

Francesco Ladatte

Italian, 1706-1787

"Judith with the head of Holofernes

Terracotta, 1738

Pietro Della Vecchia

Italian, 1603/5-1678

"Judith with the head of Holofernes"

Oil on canvas, 1635-50

Giovan Gioseffo dal Sole

Italian, 1654-1719

"Judith with the head of Holofernes"

Oil on canvas, 1695

There are hundreds of works featuring Judith, but none of them have the impact as Caravaggio's "Judith beheading Holofernes," as it is and always has been the masterwork about Judith.  This painting is a perfect harmony of brutality and beauty.  This painting is at the National Gallery of Ancient Art of Barbarini Palace.

Michelangelo Merisi detto il Caravaggio
Italian, 1571-1610
"Judith beheading Holofernes" 
Oil on canvas, 1598-99

I intend to paint my own version of Judith...
...It will be abstract, but you will know it.

Artwork of the month: "The Death of Germanicus"

The dirty little Emperor Tiberius poisoned his adopted son Germanicus.  Envy will do that to a guy if he is as twisted as Tiberius was.  This romantic painting is a stoic tribute to his death. 

Nicolas Poussin

French, 1594-1665

"The Death of Germanicus"

1627, oil on canvas

What I love more than anything is that Poussin was giving respect to the past, and at the same time, taking the composition for his own, reinterpreted in his own voice.  The original composition was based on a roman sarcophagus relief.  Poussin connected the history of his subject matter with his composition.   His forms were an important part of his content, and I am very happy that someone understood the importance enough to record it.  

Painting history, it is a noble art...

...and one where I will be mistaken.

Artwork of the month: "Head of a Philosopher"

This is one of my favorite oil paintings t the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo

Italian, 1727-1804

"Head of a Philosopher"

1750-1760, oil on canvas

Artwork of the month by Alexander Roslin

There is an Alexander Roslin exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts showcasing the MIA's recent acquisition.  It is a worthy exhibit and worth taking a moment or two to walk through.  I am mesmerized by the fabrics, they appear so real.  

The Exhibit goes from now until Sunday, November 30, 2008.

It is located on the ground floor in the Cargill Gallery.  

This panting of his wife is by far the best in show. 

Alexander Roslin

Swedish, 1718-1798

"The Comtesse d'Egmont Pignatelli in spanish costume."

1763, oil on canvas

"Let them eat cake."

-Marie Antoinettee

Artwork of the month: "Temptation"

I am not the kind of man to fall for religious oil paintings, albeit this painting is a masterwork.  In fact almost everything Bouguereau ever painted was a masterwork.  The subject... just make up your own mind.  I like to think mom is giving her "knowledge," not temptation.  

Go to my temple and see this painting anytime you want.

William-Adolphe Bouguereau

French, 1825-1905

"Temptation"

1880, oil on canvas

A religion that takes no account of practical affairs and does not help to solve them is no religion.
-Mahatma Gandhi

Artwork of the month by Walter Elmer Schofield

This is my second favorite landscape at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
I really don't have anything to say except that I like it.

Walter Elmer Schofield

American, 1867-1944

"Mining Village in cornwall"

1920, oil on canvas

Artwork of the month: Minnesota Art history

With Minneapolis now being the center of the art world, its good to look at artists in Minnesota's past that helped build our current art scene.

Robert Koehler is a serious figure in the development of the arts in Minnesota.  Koehler was the director of the Minneapolis School of Art (the Minneapolis College of Art and Design) in 1893, and he also assisted in the establishment of the Minneapolis Museum of Fine Art (the Minneapolis Institute of Arts).  Koehler was an integral part of training artists and creating a local appreciation of art in Minnesota.

These painting are on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Robert Koehler

American, 1850-1917

"Head of a Woman"

1881, oil on canvas

"Rainy Evening on Hennepin Avenue"

1902, oil on canvas

Philip Little

American, 1857-1942

"Portrait of Robert Koehler"

1910, oil on canvas

Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
-Mahatma Gandhi 

Artwork of the month: "The Gamblers" restored

Hendrick ter Brugghen

Dutch, 1588-1629

"The Gamblers"

1623, oil on canvas

Restored.

Hendrick Ter Brugghen's painting, "The Gamblers," returned from the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, where it was restored to its original composition and color.

During the restoration, it was discovered that smalt was originally used in the painting.  Smalt (a fugitive pigment) is a transparent blue pigment made from ground glass that is colored with cobalt oxide.  Smalt will discolor from exposure to light and air, as blue will eventually appear gray, as the blue smalt turns black over time.

This exhibition documents the complete conservation process of the painting.
Saturday, May 24, 2008—Sunday, August 3, 2008

X-radiograph before restoration.

Hendrick Ter Brugghen

Dutch, 1588-1629

"The Gamblers"

1623, oil on canvas,

(post-conservation)

Hendrick Ter Brugghen

Dutch, 1588-1629

"The Gamblers"

1623, oil on canvas

(pre-conservation)

Two strips of canvas were added to the sides of the painting, extending the original dimensions of the canvas.  The extra canvas was removed, the surface was cleaned, and the pigments restored.  

The exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts details the restoration process.
Go check it out, the exhibit runs until Sunday, August 3, 2008.

Artwork of the month: "Veiled Lady"

If there is one thing that I can count on while working at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, is that someone will ask me where the "Veiled Lady" is.

The "Veiled Lady" is the most popular work of art at the MIA.  There is a good reason for it, it is simply amazing.   The marble was sculpted to look as if the woman was wearing a veil, and it truly captures the illusion.  This is a magnificent work of art.  Albeit, this type of sculpture was extremely popular in Italy during the late 1800's.  Regardless of this type of sculpture being common, this is a masterwork.

Raffaelo Manti

Italian, 1818-1881

"Veiled Lady"

1860, marble

Come down to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts...

...ask a security guard where it is.

Artwork of the month: "The Virgin on Prayer"

This oil painting at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts is simply pleasing to look at.

It has no real light source, she is simply bathed in light within the darkness.  

Joos Van Cleve

Netherlands, died 1540 or 41

"The virgin on prayer"

1520-1530, oil on panel

Go to the Museum and spend some time with this...

,,,it is pleasant to look at.

5 (plausible) reasons Vincent Van Gogh was ignored

We all know the name Vincent Van Gogh.  I have never met an artist that has said, "I don't like the paintings of Van Gogh."  Our current generation of artists and patrons of the arts are slightly programed to like him as a result of his lack of patronage during his life.  It's true, and its okay, so just deal with it.  Why couldn't this master oil painter, with more vision than any of his contemporaries, sell his paintings.  I do not believe it was because of his work.  People buy what is good and there are always people willing to buy new ideas.  

Five (plausible) reasons Vincent Can Gogh was ignored in his life time.  

1.  He was crazy, and not in that "cool I'm still kinda hip crazy."  He claimed to have hallucinated often (without drugs).  Some believe he may have had bipolar disorder or manic depression, or possibly even lead poisoning from the oil paint (which can make you very crazy for short periods of time).  So seriously Van Gogh acted crazy often for reasons we can guess at, but honestly can't explain without conjecture.
2.  He drove people away with his fits of madness.
3.  He was born in the wrong place and time, resulting in the unpopularity of his works.
4.  He indulged in drinking, drugs, and absinth often.

And the 5th (possible) reason Vincent Van Gogh was ignored...

5.  He was clearly one of the greatest artists of our time.

Oddly, I have never paid all that much attention to the more popular works of Van Gogh.  I have had the pleasure of being able to truly observe one of his olive tree paintings for the last 20 years.  "Olive Trees" is on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.  This is one of my many favorite works of art at the museum.

Vincent Van Gogh

1853-1890

"Olive Trees" 1889

Oil on canvas

"I dream of painting and then I paint my dream."

-Vincent Van Gogh

Minneapolis Institute of Arts Exhibit

I got the chance to exhibit two of my newest works at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.  It is just a staff show and not open the the general public, but it is still cool.  I love my job.

thanks for reading...

...more to come soon.

Artwork of the month: "The Asparagus Vender"

This is one of my favorite oil paintings at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.  

Pieter de Hooch

Dutch, 1629-1684

"The Asparagus Vender"

1675-1680, oil on canvas.

The scene is one of an upper middle class household, the wife purchasing fresh asparagus from a door to door vender.  The wife's hand is open and waiting for her husband, we presume, to give her money to buy the food.  White asparagus has a short growing season, which made it rare an expensive.  

While we believe we are watching this scene with the wife as the main character, we see clearly that the maid sewing is the main focus.  She is the only illuminated character in the scene.  She is clearly the most important individual in the room.  The maid in the background is painted with greater detail and greater emotion.  The sun shines through the window revealing her alone.  I have always enjoyed this painting just for that.

Asparagus inspires gentle thoughts.

-Charles Lamb

Artwork of the month by Ruth Duckworth

Ruth Duckworth is one of several women that I admire for their life's accomplishments.  This work is on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.  I have spent countless hours looking at this painting, investigating its simplicity and complications.  

Ruth Duckworth

American, 1919-2009

"Untitled"

2007, porcelain.

Artwork of the month by Paul Signac

Paul Signac is a simple painter, chiseling subject matter that was popular and commonplace in his time.  As was his life and his paintings - commonplace.  He married, left her later, shacked up with a woman, painted some, and died.

I have always liked this painting.  I enjoy the seemingly random color placement of his work.

Paul Signac

French, 1863-1935

"Blessing of the Tuna Fleet at Groix"

1923, oil on canvas

Go see this at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts...

...it is worth a few moments of investigation.

Three odd studies

So I spend my days walking around the Museum all day, 8 hours a day.  All I do is read about works of art, write about art, sketch, and come up with new ideas.  I have responsibilities, and they are taken care of, but what I like is to work on my craft all day.

Here are three quick studies I worked on today...

...they are odd.

I think that I'll start working on my book again tomorrow...

...I expect chapter 3 to be complete and ready for a full edit by the end of the month.

Artwork of the month: "The Cats Paw"

The tale of the "Cats Paw" is dark and reveals a portion of human nature.

This painting is a depiction of a fable titled "The Monkey and the Cat," by Jean de La Fontaine.  The monkey cons the cat to grab chestnuts from the hot coals, promising him a share.  As the cat takes them from the fire one at a time, burning his paw each time, the monkey eats them.  They are interrupted and the cat gets nothing but a burned paw.  One animal uses another to get what it needs...typical of the animal kingdom.  

As a child, I loved this painting, the story that it told, and the scandal the story reveals.  This has been one of my true favorite paintings at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts since I was a child visiting on field trips.

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer

British, 1802-1873

"The Cats Paw"

1824, oil on canvas.

"If people only knew as much about painting as I do, they would never buy my pictures."

-Sir Edwin Henry Landseer.

Artwork of the month by Wassily Kandinsky

Kandinsky is and always has been my biggest influence in abstract art (aside from Caravaggio).  I have read everything he wrote attentively.  I have traveled to museums simply to view his works of art.  I have visited the Guggenheim in New York 17 times to spend only a few hours in front of "Composition #8," his finest work. I studied his life, his works, and his impact so completely that I feel as if I knew him personally.

I can conclude that I truly admire his work, but I would never have liked him as a person.  Kandinsky was a spoiled rich kid infused with the misguided plight of privilege.  Albeit, his works of art and his thesis are more insightful than any artist in our recorded history. Bold statement, yes it is, and I stand by it.

I have been studying this painting periodically since 1996 at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Wassily Kandinsky

Russian, 1866-1944

"Study for Improvisation V"

1910, oil on pulp board.

Kandinsky painted on both sides of the work.  It was a common practice for artists of the early 1900s to paint on both sides of fiber board, and then split them up and sell them as separate pieces.  I have painted on both sides of a canvas several times.  The sibling to this painting is in a private collection as far as I know.  I have only seen it in person once (in 2005), when the two paintings were exhibited together for the first time.

"Two Riders and Reclining Figure"

1910, oil on pulp board.

So the original paintings, "Two Riders and Reclining Figure" and "Study for improvisation V," were separated until 2005 when exhibited as "Kandinsky: A Relationship Revealed" at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.  The money tier made a huge international deal about how amazing this was and how great to have the two works reunited again, even if for only a moment.  The reality is that Kandinsky was poor at the time he painted these works and it wasn't because he wanted the extra money from a double sale for the cost of one...it was because he had to paint no matter what the consequences.  Historians, curators, directors, and investors love the tales but lack the understanding that an artist has about another artist.  

"The artist must have something to say, for mastery over form is not his goal but rather the adapting of form to its inner meaning." 

-Wassily Kandinsky.

A new year for a fresh study of oil painting

I normally don't take the passing of the new year too seriously.  I have never set a New Year's resolution and I don't make great plans for change in my life, as I like the direction its going.  I don't party until I puke like the rest of the pot-bellied vacationers taking a night off from life.  

This year is somehow different.  I have a real job, and its in a museum where I will be surrounded by works of art five days a week.  I have been visiting museums for study for nearly ten years now, and this opportunity to truly become familiar with a museum's collection is one I can't pass up. 

This time as the new year comes about, I set one goal for myself.  To empty the cup and refill it with a better understanding of art history.  I intend to study the works of art here at my new job at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and perfect my craft as an artist.

I want to keep my employment for five years.  That should be enough time to perfect my craft, set myself up for working as a professional artist full time, and refill my cup with a better understanding of art history.  

So enjoy your new year and make some art...

...why not right?