Where does "Isabella and the Basil Pot" enter the picture?
http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/isabella-and-the-pot-of-basil-31098
(By the way, my daughter learned at an early age that whatever we intended to see in the MFA, Egyptian hieroglyphs, Chinese vases, musical instruments, etc... all paths lead us past the Sargents). The beautiful, dominant curved diagonal in White's painting is the exact curve of the vase in my student's painting, and the neutral harmony very similar. This powerful, 6-foot tall painting, has lodged itself in my brain.
Okay, then what about connecting threads? A month or two later, I found an interesting web site titled "Learning to See" by a UK artist who is charting his own artistic journey which involves research, practice, practice, study, practice, and sharing his finds, and practice (did I say "practice"?) and his results. http://www.learning-to-see.co.uk/dow-three-a
Some of what Paul was posting reminded me of a series of Art Education books I have collected over the years. The books were published in 1905 and are beautiful, filled with William Morris designs, and images of lovely drawings. I use the books as reference for my painting classes. I pulled one of the books off the shelf, and it fell open to "Isabella and the Pot of Basil". John Alexander White painted it in 1898. The painting was acquired by the MFA back then, an image landed in this book in 1905, and I'm referencing it over a century later. Those are some seriously durable threads. I rejoice in the serendipity of connections.
He's one of my favorite painters, and this is one of my favorites of his! I am always inspired by and have copied (for educational purposes) other painting of his. You pick a good one.. Lovely post, Jody...
ReplyDeleteI am always inspired by your thought process and fascinated by how you are right and left brained all together :D
ReplyDeleteWelcome to GJWP.
Fasten your seatbelt :D