Archive for May 2010

There are some paintings that I have known… forever it seems. Paintings that I looked at as a dreamy teenager and later on during art history lessons at college. I am just back from a quick trip to London, where I knew I was going to see one of these “old friends” at the Tate Britain.

“The Lady of Shallots” by John William Waterhouse, was calmly waiting for me, and it was such a pleasure to admire her, right in front of me… The details of her skin, hair, clothing, the grass in the forefront… Here is the caption…:
“This painting illustrates Alfred Tennyson’s poem The Lady of Shalott. Draped over the boat is the fabric the lady wove in a tower near Camelot. But she brought a curse on herself by looking directly at Sir Lancelot.With her right hand she lets go of the chain mooring the boat. Her mouth is slightly open, as she sings ‘her last song’. She stares at a crucifix lying in front of her. Beside it are three candles, often used to symbolise life. Two have blown out. This suggests her life will end soon, as she floats down the river.”

Sad story…! Little did I know that a few corridors away I would discover an other “old friend”, and this was soooo unexpected I actually had a “moment”, an “Oh my God, SHE’s here!” moment.

“Ophelia”
was as beautiful as I remembered her… floating away to her sad destiny…

Anyway, on a happier note, there was two paintings at the Tate Britain which I was not familiar with and I could have looked at them forever as well..

“The Two Crowns” by Sir Frank Dicksee

The colors and textures in this are just breath-taking. The gold of the King’s armor, the petals, the ladies dresses… Fabulous.

“The Carnation Lilly” by John Singer Sargent

I just love the light effect from the paper lanterns and the whole image is so sweet…

Well, thanks for reading, I was looking forward to write about this art encounter…