A Jackson Pollock Restored

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/28/arts/design/jackson-pollocks-one-number-31-1950-restored-by-moma.html?smid=pl-share 

A Pollock Restored, a Mystery Revealed

Conservators at the Museum of Modern Art have gained insights into how Jackson Pollock worked through a restoration of his “One: Number 31, 1950.”

NYT article 5/27/2013 by Carol Vogel

May inspiration and creativity be with you!

Happy Fourth of July!

Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, American, 1816-1868


George Washington Crossing the Delaware, 1851
Oil on Canvas; 12 2/5 x 21 1/4 in.

In honor of the Fourth of July, I thought it appropriate to post a classic image of one of the forefathers of the United States, George Washington.

The subject of this painting is the historic moment when General George Washington and the revolutionary troops crossed the Delaware River in order to surprise the English and Hessian troops in the Battle of Trenton (December 26, 1776). This painting is often used to show an emotional and patriotic moment in the history of the United States of America. Leutze began his first version of the work in 1849, which was burnt by a fire in his studio, restored in 1850, and eventually destroyed by a bombing raid in 1942. In 1850, he began this version of the subject, which was placed on exhibition in New York in 1851, where it was purchased for $10,000 by Marshall O. Roberts. Many artists have copied this work and created various studies of the painting.

May inspiration and creativity be with you!

Happy Father's Day!!

In celebration of Father's Day, I thought I would post one of my favorite images of fatherhood, The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1662, oil on canvas.

It is a touching image that brings about notions of unconditional love, tenderness, forgiveness, and mercy. These attributes are the things that we remember about our fathers, or wish we did, qualities that we cherish in our husbands, and the nobleness which we pray for our children to exhibit when they become men.

May inspiration and creativity be with you!

A Newly Found Michelangelo??

The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth has recently acquired what may possibly be the first known painting by Michelangelo (above), The Temptation of Saint Anthony. The painting is currently being dated c.1478, measures approximately 18 x 13 inches, and is estimated to have cost the museum about $6 million (this is speculation, the museum did not confirm the purchase price). The subject of the painting was a common theme in Northern Renaissance art but not seen often in Italian art of the period. It bears a striking resemblance to a print of the same subject created by German artists Martin Schongauer, c.1480 (shown below). It was not terribly uncommon for artists of the period to see each others work locally, but very few artists crossed the alps frequently. Michelangelo (Italian) and Albrecht Durer (German) were two of the few artists who did so with documentary evidence. So, although it is possible for Michelangelo to have seen Schongauer's work, especially since it was a print and therefore more widely circulated and likely than him having seen a single painting, it does not seem all that probable that the painting in question is a work by Michelangelo.

According to the New York Times, renowned scholar and Michelangelo expert Michael Hirst "said last year that he did not believe the work was by the artist (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/arts/design/13pain.html).  "I have personally read many articles and books by Mr. Hirst and tend to agree with his opinion. While Michelangelo was incredibly adept at absorbing the styles of other artists, this does not seem to be a work of his hand. Of course x-rays and infra-red reflectography will likely be done over the next few years and scholars will surely be abuzz about the findings.

After having studied the history of art for over 11 years, and specializing in Northern Renaissance Art as my primary area and Italian Renaissance Art as my secondary area, I must say my eye tells me this is the work of a northern artist, possibly perhaps a follower or student of Schongauer himself. This of course is only a "gut feeling," as I have not yet had the opportunity to conduct any formal research related to this work. For now at least it poses an interesting question about the likelihood of Michelangelo having seen a Northern Renaissance artist's work so early in his life and career. I will be sure to follow up on this if any more of the story which, unfolding over time, provides more intriguing evidence either proving or refuting my theory.

May inspiration and creativity be with you!