Tag: painting

A Pastoral Visit by Richard Norris Brooke

Painting of African American family having dinner with their pastor.
Richard Norris Brooke (American, 1847 – 1920), A Pastoral Visit, 1881, oil on canvas, Corcoran Collection (Museum Purchase, Gallery Fund) 2014.136.119

In the late 1800s, it was common for families to have their pastor over for Sunday dinner. That’s what Richard Norris Brooke is depicting here.

We’ll find out what inspired him to document the lives of his African-Americans neighbors in Warrenton, Virginia and the story of the man who founded the first art museum in the country, The Corcoran Gallery.

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SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

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

Episode theme is “Which That Is This” by Doctor Turtle https://doctorturtle.bandcamp.com/album/free-turtle-achive-everything-cc-by

A Pastoral Visit information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.166432.html#overview

Richard Norris Brooke and William Corcoran information

Corcoran Gallery of Art: American Paintings to 1945 (PDF)

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

Wivenhoe Park, Essex by John Constable

Painting of an English landscape on a summer day
John Constable (British, 1776 – 1837), Wivenhoe Park, Essex, 1816, oil on canvas, Widener Collection 1942.9.10

John Constable painted this bucolic landscape for Major General Francis Slater–Rebow but it’s not what it appears to be! We’ll talk about the headaches caused by an overeager client and what one of those cows is hiding.  We’ll also see how Constable used a technique to conjure up distant figures, just like Camille Pissarro did decades later.

And we’ll find out how Constable’s cheapness and cold feet nearly cost him the love of his life!

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SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is “Piano Sonata no. 11, K. 331 – I. Andante grazioso” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Courtesy of musopen.org.

Wivenhoe Park, Essex info
https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/constable-wivenhoe-park-essex.html

https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.1147.html

https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.1147.html#relatedpages

British Paintings of the Sixteenth through Nineteenth Centuries (PDF)

Constable info
John Constable (Masters of Art Series) by John Walker (Amazon)

Slow Art Day

Woman Holding a Balance by Johannes Vermeer

Painting of a woman in an interior holding a jewler's balance with jewels scattered on table in front of her
Johannes Vermeer (Dutch, 1632 – 1675), Woman Holding a Balance, c. 1664, oil on canvas, Widener Collection 1942.9.97

Welcome back for Season 3! We’re starting with this gorgeous, mysterious painting by Vermeer. We’ll discover the layers of meaning in this simple domestic scene, what’s in the balance and just what the Jesuits have to do with her.

We’ll also find out how a guy who started out as a butcher ended up donating this painting to the Gallery.

You can find reading recommendations and a transcript at the end of the post.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.6MB)

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SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

“A Long Look” theme is Ascension by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is Caro Mio Ben in C Major by Giuseppe Giordani, performed by Joel Meza. Courtesy of Soundcloud

Women Holding a Balance information
Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., “Johannes Vermeer/Woman Holding a Balance/c. 1664,” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/1236 (accessed February 11, 2019).

https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/vermeer-woman-holding-a-balance.html

Vermeer information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1951.html

Widener information
Dutch Paintings at the National Gallery of Art: The Untold Stories behind the Acquisitions of the Rembrandts, Vermeers, and Other Treasures in the Collection (audio)

RECOMMENDED READING

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting (NGA shop)

Vermeer: Faith in Art by Daniel Arasse

Slow Art Day

End of Season 2

The word Look from the show's logo

We’ve reached the end of Season 2! Thanks to everyone who came back and all the new listeners and subscribers who joined us. I appreciate your support!

I’ll be taking some time off for the holidays and to plan Season 3. The gallery has some fantastic shows up, so visit if you can! There’s Corot’s Women, a retrospective of Gordon Park’s photography, the Birmingham Project by Dawoud Bey, the Rachel Whiteread retrospective and more.

There are also a few more dates for senior lecturer David Gariff’s The Christmas Story in Art a fascinating look at how the story we know came about. This is where I found out about the symbolism of rocks!

You can catch up on any episodes you missed here or you can listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Soundcloud, TuneIn or your favorite podcast app. You can find links to some of these below.

I’ll be posting updates here, so check back.  And as always, thanks for joining me!

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SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is Ascension by Ron Gelinas

Exhibitions information https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/current.html

The Christmas Story in Art schedule and live stream

The Adoration of the Shepherds by Giorgione

Painting by Giorgione showing shepherds and the Holy Family worshiping Jesus after the Nativity.
Giorgione (Venetian, 1477/1478 – 1510), The Adoration of the Shepherds, 1505/1510, oil on panel, Samuel H. Kress Collection 1939.1.289

The Gallery calls Giorgione “one of the most mysterious artists in the history of art.” We’ll talk about his innovative landscape style and where he got the idea for this gorgeous and unusual depiction of the Nativity.

We’ll also find out the meaning of rocks and just what the heck is up with those floating baby heads at the top of the cave!

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SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is Ascension by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is Almain I (For Bassoon and Harp – Höger-Rønnes) composed by John Bull, performed by Mac Playback Harp. Courtesy of musopen.org.

The Adoration of the Shepherds information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.432.html

In Depth: Madonna and Child by Gretchen Hirschauer, Associate Curator, Italian and Spanish Paintings

Cherub information
Hopler, Whitney. The Differences Between Cherubs, Cupids, and Other Angels in Art. ThoughtCo, Jun. 22, 2018, thoughtco.com/cherubs-and-cupids-angels-of-love-124005.

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

Slow Art Day

RECOMMENDED READING

Inventing the Renaissance Putto by Charles Dempsey

Nonchaloir (Repose) – John Singer Sargent

Painting of young woman asleep on sofa in elegant room
John Singer Sargent, Nonchaloir (Repose), American, 1856 – 1925, 1911, oil on canvas, Gift of Curt H. Reisinger

John Singer Sargent was famous for his high society portraits set in elegant rooms like this. Find out why he gave up what he called “a pimp’s profession” and began painting just for his own pleasure, doing landscapes and scenes of his family. His niece Rose-Marie, pictured here, became one of his favorite subjects.

Painted just before World War I, we also find out what happened to them after this peaceful afternoon.

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SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is 3 Pieces composed by Lili Boulanger performed by  Pandora Selfridge. Courtesy of musopen.org

Nonchaloir (Repose) information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.35080.html

https://www.nga.gov/audio-video/audio/repose-nonchaloir-sargent.html

John Singer Sargent information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1858.html

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

Recommended Reading:

A Catalogue of the Collection of American Paintings in the Corcoran Gallery of Art: Volume 2, Painters Born from 1850 to 1910 (PDF 9.8 MB)

American Paintings of the Nineteenth Century, Part II (PDF 91.2 MB)

John Singer Sargent and His Muse by Karen Corsano and Daniel Williman

Portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci by Leonardo da Vinci

Portrait of Ginevra de Benci by Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci (Florentine, 1452 – 1519), Ginevra de’ Benci [obverse], c. 1474/1478, oil on panel, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund 1967.6.1.a

Welcome back for Season 2! I’m starting off with one of the Gallery’s greatest hits, the portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci by Leonardo da Vinci. It’s the only painting by Leonardo in America!

We’ll explore this unusual two-sided work, find out the story behind the strange combination of plants on the back and even learn a little Latin. I’ll also tell you where you can find Leonardo’s fingerprint!

close up showing Leonardo's fingerprint
Reverse side of Portrait of Ginevra de' Benci
Leonardo da Vinci (Florentine, 1452 – 1519), Wreath of Laurel, Palm, and Juniper with a Scroll inscribed Virtutem Forma Decorat [reverse], c. 1474/1478, tempera on panel, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund 1967.6.1.b

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.3MB)

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SHOW NOTES

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

Episode theme is “Galliard, Parthenia XIII (For Bassoon and Harp – Feller-Rønnes)” composed by John Bull. Performed by Mac Playback Harp.
https://musopen.org/music/31808-galliard-parthenia-xiii/

Ginevra de’ Benci information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/da-vinci-ginevra-de-benci.html

https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.50724.html#relatedpages

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

RECOMMENDED READING

Virtue and Beauty: Leonardo’s Ginevra de’ Benci and Renaissance Portraits of Women (PDF)

11 Keelmen Heaving in Coals by Moonlight – Turner

Painting of moonlit river with ships and people
Joseph Mallord William Turner (British, 1775 – 1851), Keelmen Heaving in Coals by Moonlight, 1835, oil on canvas, Widener Collection 1942.9.86

Joseph Mallord William Turner was quite a painter and quite a character. He’s described as vulgar, uncouth, unsophisticated and cheap. And yet, he became one of England’s most beloved artists through his groundbreaking vision and skill.

We’ll see how his interest in the Industrial Revolution and love of the natural world come together in this dazzling image and take a look at how he created something so gorgeous yet ominous.

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show notes

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

Episode theme is “The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave), Op. 26” by Felix Mendelssohn
https://musopen.org/music/306-the-hebrides-fingals-cave-op-26/

Turner information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/turner-keelmen-heaving-in-coals-by-moonlight.html

https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.1225.html#overview

08 Skiffs – Caillebotte

Painting of men boating on a river on a summer day by Gustave Caillebotte
Gustave Caillebotte (French, 1848 – 1894), Skiffs, 1877, oil on canvas, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon 1985.64.6

This sunny, warm painting is a welcome relief in this miserable March. Skiffs is one in a series of young men boating by Gustave Caillebotte who was a lesser known Impressionist painter until a beautiful 2015 exhibition at the National Gallery.

We’ll find out about his relationship with his fellow Impressionists, his killer art collection and how he turns up in one of Renoir’s most famous paintings.

Painting of a lively group of young people having lunch in an outdoor space
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1881. Oil on canvas, 51 1/4×69 1/8 in. The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, Acquired 1923

I’d like to thank the staff at the Phillips Collection for their help with this episode.

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SHOW NOTES

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

Episode theme is “Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15 – V. Happiness by Robert Schumann performed by Donald Betts. https://musopen.org/music/2326-scenes-from-childhood-op-15/

Skiffs information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.66404.html

Introduction to the Exhibition—Gustave Caillebotte: The Painter’s Eye

Gustave Caillebotte: The Painter’s Eye, Exhibition Catalog
https://shop.nga.gov/item/645727p/gustave-caillebotte-the-painter-s-eye-exhibition-catalog/1.html

Renoir and Friends: Luncheon of the Boating Party
https://www.amazon.com/Renoir-Friends-Luncheon-Boating-Party/dp/191128200X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520629125&sr=8-1&keywords=renoir+and+friends+phillips

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

05 Blue Morning – Bellows

Image of the painting "Blue Morning" by George Bellows depicting the construction of the original Penn Station in New York City.
George Bellows (American, 1882 – 1925), Blue Morning, 1909, oil on canvas, Chester Dale Collection 1963.10.82

Today, I’ll be looking at “Blue Morning” by George Bellows. Bellows lived and worked in New York at the turn of the 20th century and studied under artist Robert Henri (pronounced Hen-rye). His classmates included John Sloan and Edward Hopper. “Blue Morning” may have been inspired by Henri’s call for his students to paint the world around them instead of more genteel academic scenes.

We’ll find out how Bellows is connected to Mary Cassatt and how New Jersey inspired one of the greatest technological achievements of the 20th century.

And we’ll see how an artist who’s so highly regarded for realism bent the rules a little here!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.7MB)

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SHOW NOTES

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

Episode theme is “Frog Legs Rag,” courtesy of WFMU’s Free Music Archive
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/James_Scott/Frog_Legs_Ragtime_Era_Favorites/01_-_james_scott_-_frog_legs_rag

Blue Morning
Robert Torchia, “George Bellows/Blue Morning/1909,” American Paintings, 1900–1945, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/46557 (accessed January 11, 2018).

“The Rise & Fall of Penn Station”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/penn/

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