Friday, July 29, 2016

Landscapes, Mythology, And Monet

This is a busy weekend here. Ottawa Buskerfest started yesterday and runs through the weekend, and we have the Civic Holiday weekend as well, so I'll be taking a good many shots.

Carrying on with the series, this is an oil painting by the British artist John Constable, done in 1820. It is titled Salisbury Cathedral From The Bishop's Grounds. 


French artist Charles Meynier painted this large neoclassical oil painting in 1810. It is titled Wisdom Defending Youth From The Arrows Of Love. It takes the Roman goddesses Venus and Minerva as two of its subjects, while its youth is divided between desire and duty, something that would have been resonating in Meynier's life and French society at the time. It is a new acquisition to the Gallery; there was a feature on it recently in one of our newspapers.


Another mythological story is the basis for this oil painting by French artist Antoine-Jean Gros, dating to 1821. Bacchus and Ariadne depicts the mythological story of Ariadne, left behind by Theseus on the island of Naxos, where the god of wine Bacchus has come to comfort her.


British artist J.M.W. Turner also drew from mythology for this oil painting from 1836, titled Mercury And Argus. Turner's style of romantic landscapes provides the setting for the messenger god Mercury (Hermes to the Greeks) lulling the shepherd giant Argus to sleep.


This is the work of Claude Monet, an oil panting from around 1884, titled A Stormy Sea.


The last time I showed you around the Gallery, this sculpture by Alexander Calder caught the eye of several readers, so I decided to show it from a couple of angles. It's Jacaranda, a mobile sculpture from 1949, hanging in the center of this space.

31 comments:

  1. Claude Monet is one of my favourite artists!

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  2. I too like Monet. And I haven't seen nearly enough of Calder's work.

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  3. I like the mobile sculpture. Have a great weekend!

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  4. Beautiful art.
    ( I just don't like these HUGE frames. I have seen them here as well as abroad.)

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  5. I have always liked Monet's paintings. Have a great weekend William!

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  6. Mais um belo conjunto de obras de arte.
    Um abraço e bom fim de semana.
    Andarilhar

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  7. The paintings are classic William, the gallery itself is beautiful. Sounds like a busy weekend ahead for you, enjoy 😃

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  8. @Linda: he is great.

    @Kay: I think this is the only Calder here, but the Gallery has several Monets.

    @Nancy: thanks!

    @Gunn: some frames can be over the top.

    @Bill: thank you!

    @Francisco: thanks!

    @Grace: it will be a very busy weekend indeed.

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  9. hope it doesn't offend any one but i wonder why is this considered art and other materials are erotica? (i don't like the "e" word. just saying.) just wondering? it doesn't bug me either way, i just wish we could just be cool with it either way. whatever makes ya happy. we only live once. ( :

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  10. 'wisdom defending youth...' is interesting. :)

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  11. Beautiful paintings, William !
    Have a great weekend !

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  12. That's an incredible place. All the paintings are superb. I, too, though am a fan of Monet.

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  13. my favorite is the monet! sounds like you have a great weekend ahead of you, enjoy!!

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  14. It's too bad that many of these paintings are restricted to galleries. I know some art is on travelling shows but a lot of it is permanent as it's too fragile for travel. You picked some goodies.

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  15. @Beth: I think the difference is that art inspires, while erotica arouses- but also has a point and a plot, a big difference that separates erotica from porn, which has no point.

    @Tex: and it's quite a big painting. It impressed me to see it.

    @Karl: thank you!

    @Norma: this is another good Monet.

    @Lowell: Monet had such a great style.

    @Tanya: it's going to be quite a weekend.

    @Red: in many cases, one has to go to the art instead of it coming to you.

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  16. The Salisbury Cathedral is on my list of places to visit when I head off to England later this year.

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  17. I have seen an exhibition with works of Turner last year and I really enjoyed that.
    Enjoy your busy weekend! :)

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  18. I love the mythology based paintings--they seem to have such fascinating stories behind them.

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  19. Beautiful art works. I really like Stormy Sea by Monet.
    The mobile sculpture is very cool!

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  20. I have enjoyed all of the paintings.

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  21. The Calder piece is my favourite!

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  22. @Sharon: if the view from this perspective is possible, you should take a comparison image!

    @Marleen: the Gallery has several Turners, according to what I've seen, but at any given time, not all of them will be on display. Next time I'm in, I'll look for more.

    @Meradeth: I was always fascinated with Greek mythology in particular.

    @Tamago: the Monet is a real beauty!

    @Janey: it's been a pleasure to show them. I have one more day before I move onto other things.

    @RedPat: it really does appeal to me.

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  23. Not a fan of that mobile sculpture. But really Jacaranda trees can be breathtaking.

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  24. I didn't care for the sculpture, but there were a couple of paintings I could have stared at for a long time. The Monet was one.

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  25. More than landscape going on in a couple of those paintings. William. :-)

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  26. A gallery I would be happy visiting. The artwork and explanations were very interesting, thank you William. Thank you also for the sweet comment about my father-in-law's passing. I can't tell you enough how much that meant. Happy weekend to you.

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  27. Monet, Calder, art, sign me up!

    Janis
    GDP

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  28. @Eve: modern art depends on the piece itself. I have seen some work that really appeals to me.

    @Mari: Monet is appealing.

    @Revrunner: oh yes!

    @Denise: it is good to see you back.

    @Janis: it is a place I enjoy.

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  29. Beautiful! You sure get around!!!

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