Friday 15 October 2010

essay

well i have been trying to fine what i want to do for this essay all summer and ive managed to look into portraiture but its still VAST! im thinking royal portraiture or the stature behind the portrait
i have looked at the National Portrait gallery book and really liked some of the portraiture in there however i also like Vanity Fair Portraits - century of iconic images some of the images in there are stunning one of then looks like it was a classic painting the set up and the colours within the image is similar to Caravaggio however its a photo.
Been trying to read Hanging the Head by Marcia Pointon how ever i am finding it really hard to remember what im reading, some books i can read and get on with it really well but this one is not going too well i have another 2 books on order from the library one from Crew and the other is being returned in the next few days hopefully one of these i can get some real inspiration.
I have also been watching British Art programs and one was about royal portraiture and what some of the paintings meant and why they were done and it was fascinating how ornate some were and yet modern portraits of the royals are so simple and portray a different perspective on royal life.
Hans Holbine - paintings of Henry VIII -http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hans_Holbein_d._J._074.jpg
They are domineering and powerful and showed off how his personality was all he needed along with his stocky build to rule the nation as he was never painted with his regency crown etc compared to other kings -

Charles 1st who due to his small stature was painted upon horse back to give him power. it was anthony van dyck who painted him. - http://hoocher.com/Anthony_Van_Dyck/Anthony_Van_Dyck.htm

Yet if u look at nicky phillips's double portrait of the royal brothers it is simple but has so much emotion and power behind it. http://www.life.com/image/95620741

a good quote

Irazmus to Hans Holbine, " how the painter must capture not only the appearance of the sitter but also his character even his soul."

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