Since I have discussed mostly architecture in my last few blogs, I decided to mix it up by analyzing some of the beautiful paintings found in Chester Beatty's collection. The 30 paintings in the exhibit are of some that were presented to Ireland in 1950 when Beatty moved to Ireland from London. These paintings can normally be found in the National Gallery of Ireland, but were luckily available to us at the Beatty Library during our visit.
Jean Louis Ernest Meissoneir (1815-1891)
Group of Cavalry in the Snow: Moreau and Dessoles before Hohenlinden, 1875
This painting is oil on canvas and depicts a snowy scene of men just before battle. This scene in particular is an important battle in history because it shows the strategic planning between two military generals, Moreau and Dessoles, before their victorious battle at Hohenlinden which was fought during the French Revolutionary Wars in December of 1800. Meissoneir loved painting Napoleonic campaigns, so this specific one was significant to him.
By observing this painting, we can deduce that it is one of importance just by paying attention to the use of line. The two generals stand far off, two vertical lines that reveal their assertiveness. The horses and other men blend into horizontal lines, making them more passive and less important. The diagonal lines in the general's coats and horses' tails suggest movement and action, implying the wind that we can only see the effects of. The light in the painting is illusionistic, and creates a feeling of darkness like the coming of a snowstorm (also referring to the impending battle). There is a nice balance of warm and cool colors, although the excessive white does successfully give the feeling of cool--like winter. The dark horses and men stand out against the white snow, making them the obvious focus of the painting. The generals in the distance also appear to be the vanishing point of the painting, leading our eyes to them. I think that this painting is beautiful and I appreciate the intricate details used. I believe that no matter what time this was painted it should be admired as great work.
Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904)
Caravan on the Nile, 1897
This painting is oil on canvas and depicts a caravan walking along the Nile River. The artist, Gerome, was a French painter and sculptor who also focused on historical painting like Meissoneir. This scene was probably inspired from his trip to Egypt in 1856 along with many other paintings that depict North African landscapes like this one.
By observation, we can deduce that the lines in this painting create direction and movement around the edge of the river, following the caravan from the front to the back. The shapes of the people and animals are organic while the mountains in the background seem to take on a more geometric shape because they appear somewhat rectangular. The illustionistic light used in this painting creates the illusion of a bright and sunny day, typical of Egypt. The warm colors of the mountains and sand create the sense of heat while the cool colors of the river feel cold like water. The atmospheric perspective shows that the man riding the donkey at the front of the caravan is the main focus of the painting because of the sharpness of detail while the other members of the caravan are blurred and far away. Our eye is drawn to the first rider in the caravan and then slowly moves back with the flow of the line. I really loved the intricate details in the face of the donkey and the beautiful colors. I wanted to have this painting in my own house!
After leaving the Beatty Library, we headed down the street to Trinity College where we ate lunch and had the wonderful opportunity to see the Book of Kells and the Long Room (filled with thousands of beautiful books!). It was a large campus full of history and stories of famous/influential people who have attended school there. But one thing stood out to me when we walked to the Long Room... a bronze sculpture in the shape of a sphere that spun as the wind blew.
This scuplture is called Sphere within Sphere by Arnaldo Pomodoro and I learned that it is not the only one in the world. This sculpture exists in over ten locations across the world without any markings or explanations on or around it. We asked the tour guide what the scuplture meant, and she said that no one had any idea. I decided to research it myself and discovered that the artist claims that the scuplture represents Christianity, but not many people believe him. There are many speculations about what the scuplture actually represents (the end of the world? The birth of a new one? Just the death star?) and real concerns behind the reasoning of why it keeps popping up everywhere without a second glance. This one was donated to Trinity College from the artist in the 1980's.
But beyond all of the supersition, this scuplture can be analyzed like any other piece of artwork. This particular one is a "In the Round" sculpture because it is free-standing and can be viewed from any angle. The artist worked with bronze casting for this scuplture, a common method for sculptures. There is little information about why the artist made this the way it is, but its modern look and confusing imagery works well to cause viewers to ask questions: something that all art should do. This particular sphere is slightly different than the ones across the world, making a unique statement at Trinity College in Dublin. I thought it was interesting at first glance and it made me curious, causing me to stop for a moment and observe it, a quality that respectable art has. I think that if the artist wanted to stir emotions and questions, he has succeeded.
Overall the final weekend spent in Ireland was full of laughter and good times. I have learned so much here and I can't wait to take back what I have experienced and share it with everyone I know.
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