Insights into Art
The Carpenter Georges de La Tour
One of my favourite paintings in The Louvre is this masterpiece by Georges de La Tour of Joseph the carpenter with his son, Jesus. The dramatic use of light is immediately striking. This form of chiaroscuro, called Tenebrism, is often the hallmark of a Latour painting: a strong light, shaded by Jesus’ hand, throwing the composition into sharp contrasts of light and shade.
Read MoreA Bigger Splash David Hockney 1967 Tate Britain
Hockney’s famous painting ‘A Bigger Splash’ is commonly regarded as the depiction of the new, idyllic Californian lifestyle he was experiencing: a perfect blue cloudless sky, perfect blue swimming pool, a stylish, modern house, some elegant palm trees and a life of untroubled leisure.
Read MoreChrist in the Carpenters Shop
This painting by Millais caused an uproar. Charles Dickens led the assault: “Here is a kneeling woman so horrible in her ugliness … she would stand out from the rest of the company as a monster in the vilest cabaret in France or the lowest gin shop in England.” Victorians were horrified to see the icons of their faith treated with such realism.
Read MoreHoly Family with a Shepherd Titian 1510
This masterpiece by Titian in the National Gallery appears at first glance to be a perfectly conventional depiction of the birth of Christ and the adoration of a shepherd. It seems to have all the usual ingredients, but as Eric Morecambe might say, ‘Not necessarily in the right order!’
Read MoreLa Belle Ferronniere Leonardo Da Vinci c1490
If you ever visit the Louvre in Paris, forget the Mona Lisa! She will be buried deep in tourists, most of whom have their backs turned to her as they take selfies with the painting dimly behind them.
Read MoreMadeleine at the Nightlight by Georges de Latour
Over the years, Mary Magdalen has provided the opportunity for some highly erotic forms of religious art.
Read MorePiero de la Francescas Baptism of Christ
I have been familiar with Piero de la Francesca’s painting of the baptism of Christ for half a century, but on my last visit to the National Gallery saw it again with totally fresh eyes. https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/piero-della-francesca-the-baptism-of-christ
The Marriage at Cana Mattia Preti
Many of you will be familiar with Veronese’s vast depiction of the marriage at Cana which has pride of place facing the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. In the National Gallery in London there is a far less well known version by Mattia Preti, a Baroque painter, which intrigues me.
Read MoreTiepolo Lamentation at the foot of the Cross 1750-60 National Gallery
This small painting in the National Gallery immediately caught my eye. As I approached it from a distance, I assumed that it was a painting of the crucifixion with Christ in the centre of the canvas, but soon realised that it was a painting of the deposition, with Christ’s body slumped on the ground being lamented by his mother and Mary Magdalene, while the two criminals are still on their crosses.
Read MoreStrayed Sheep by Holman Hunt 1852
‘Strayed Sheep’ in Tate Britain is a breathtaking painting by Holman Hunt. The minute detail and painstaking brushwork is outstanding, while the painting as a whole glows with the effects of the afternoon sunlight streaking across the coastal downs of Sussex.
Rather like the Impressionists twenty years later, it was largely painted outdoors, but to a totally different effect: not to give ‘an impression’ but to be relentlessly realistic; uncompromising in its truth to the appearances of nature.
Gazing at it for a while I am in awe at the texture of the grass on the far
Ecce Ancilla Domini Dante Gabrielle Rossetti 1849 Tate Britain
This painting of the Annunciation has always troubled me. The perspective is so tight, so steep, it creates a sense of extreme claustrophobia and deep tension. The line of the edge of the bed is almost vertical while Mary cowers in the corner, retreating as far as she can from the wingless angel. This is far from the treatment of the subject by such painters and Fra Angelico, Fra Filippo Lippi or Titian. Mary here is petrified and defenceless rather honoured and blessed.
Rossetti used his sister, Christina Rossetti, who eventually became one of England’s great
The Courtyard of a House in Delft Pieter de Hooch 1658
I love this painting of the most tranquil domestic scene set in a courtyard in Delft. Dutch painters in the 17th century were masters of such tranquil domestic scenes.
Pieter de Hooch here brilliantly captures the texture of brick, paving stone, rickety wood and weathered paint; all rendered in stunning detail. Add to that the tenderness of the mother holding her daughter’s hand as they go about their chores. The mother has fetched something in a dish to take back to her kitchen, while the girl has something in her apron. There is beautiful communication between them!
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