The Christmas Episode

I wasn’t sure I wanted to celebrate Christmas after this dumpster fire of a year. But we’re starting to have some good news, so I’ve become cautiously optimistic. 

But did I feel optimistic enough to do a holiday episode? Would anyone want to hear one? I put the question to you in Instagram (@alonglookslowart) and the answer was a resounding yes! You guys are the best! So I pulled together three past episodes on works by Jan van Eyck, Giorgione and Gilbert Stuart that reflect the season and the idea of hope and miracles. Follow these links to their page on the Gallery’s site. On each Gallery page, click on the image and you’ll be able to zoom in and pan around.

So please join me for this extended Christmas episode of “A Long Look!”

BTW, the show will go back into hibernation after this. I’ve got some exciting changes brewing, which I’ll let you know about here and on Instagram!

SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

The Annunciation
Theme is “Greensleeves” performed by Paul Arden Taylor and Carol Holt

Gallery entry
Jan van Eyck (Netherlandish, c. 1390 – 1441 ), The Annunciation, c. 1434/1436, oil on canvas transferred from panel, Andrew W. Mellon Collection
https://www.nga.gov/Collection/art-object-page.46.html

Adoration of the Shepherds
Theme is “Almain I,” composed by John Bull, performed by Mac Playback Harp. Courtesy of musopen.org

Gallery entry
Giorgione (Venetian, 1477/1478 – 1510), The Adoration of the Shepherds, 1505/1510, oil on panel, Samuel H. Kress Collection 1939.1.289
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.432.html

Giorgione information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgione

The Skater (Portrait of William Grant)

Theme is “6 String Quartets – Quartet no. 1” composed by Charles Wesley, performed by Steve’s Bedroom Band.  Courtesy of musopen.org 

Gallery entry 
Gilbert Stuart, The Skater (Portrait of William Grant), American, 1755 – 1828, 1782, oil on canvas, Andrew W. Mellon Collection
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.39729.html

George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) (National Portrait Gallery)

Serpentine Greeting/Mohawk (YouTube video)

The Annunciation by Masolino da Panicale

Images of Annunciation painting being described

It’s Christmas and that means it’s time to look at another of the Gallery’s gorgeous  Annunciation paintings. The elaborate inlay work decorating almost every square inch of this Renaissance room almost makes you miss the main event! Masolino has chosen to show the moment after Gabriel’s astounding news but before Mary’s response.

We’ll find out why the room is so tilted and the real reason behind Mary’s silence.

SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is “Angeli, Archangeli” composed by Andrea Gabrieli. Performed by Michel Rondeau. Courtesy of musopen.org.

https://musopen.org/music/43293-angeli-archangeli/

https://musopen.org/music/performer/michel-rondeau/

https://musopen.org/music/composer/andrea-gabrieli/

Artwork information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.18.html

Tempera painting (video)
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/special-topics-art-history/creating-conserving/painting-materials-techniques/v/tempera-paint

Mary pose information
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/11/30/pregnant-pause-mary-and-annunciation

“Christmas Story in Art” (video)
https://www.nga.gov/global-site-search-page.html?searchterm=christmas%20story%20in%20art&category=Audio%2FVideo&pageNumber=1&lastFacet=category

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

SUGGESTED READING

Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finley

04 The Annunciation – Van Eyck

Jan van Eyck (Netherlandish, c. 1390 – 1441 ), The Annunciation, c. 1434/1436, oil on canvas transferred from panel, Andrew W. Mellon Collection

In this belated holiday episode, I’ll be looking at another favorite of mine, “The Annunciation,” by Jan Van Eyck. This complicated and fascinating painting illustrates the Biblical story of the Archangel Gabriel’s arrival to announce to Mary that she’s been chosen to bear the son of God.

We’ll talk about how this innovative painter wove elaborate religious imagery into this composition and the technique he used to create such gorgeous detail. We’ll also find out why a zodiac is involved, what Van Eyck did as a side gig and which Renaissance noble may have been the model for Mary. And you get to hear me mispronounce Latin!


SHOW NOTES

The Annunciation  https://www.nga.gov/Collection/art-object-page.46.html

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo goo.gl/daee6S

“The Annunciation” theme is “Greensleeves to a Ground” performed by Ariel Martin Bellio https://musopen.org/music/2096/anonymous/greensleeves-to-a-ground/