J.M.W. Turner. Ulysses deriding Polyphemus - Homer's Odyssey, 1829.
Honestly, if you can look at this and tell me it doesn't remind you of the Grey Havens, then you're probably lying. Into the West began playing in my head the moment I set eyes on it. Such beautiful brushstrokes and colours.
John Constable. Cenotaph to the Memory of Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1833-36.
This painting is nothing without the texture, really. I've known Constable for a while because he has a very unique style. This was my favourite because of the way it draws your eye in with the trees. So interesting.
George Stubbs. Whistlejacket, 1762.
There were so many gorgeous depictions of horses. I think they are one of the most beautiful animals and this panting was just so lifelike. (The lifeSIZE nature of it helped, of course!) Stubbs spent loads of time studying the body of the horse for both sculpture and painting. Whistlejacket here was a well loved, incredibly skilled and fast horse. My favourite part of this painting was the lack of a background. The horse is the focal point and doesn't need a background to distract from it. There was apparently a rumour that the work was unfinished, but the shadow beneath his back hooves seem to prove otherwise!
Bartolome Esteban Murillo. A Peasant Boy leaning on a Sill, 1670-80.
The placement of this painting was really interesting. It was in a room full of Spanish paintings, but about 90% of them were of religious idols or royal commissions. This still life of a young boy was so small, yet powerful, and definitely stood out.
Henri Rousseau. Tiger in a Tropical Storm, 1891.
I haven't seem this picture since it hanged in my, I believe, fourth grade classroom. It was so strange to see it in the flesh! So beautiful.
Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh's Chair, 1888.
Many of you may have expected to see the famous Sunflowers here and while, yes, they are beautiful, this is one of my favourite Van Gogh paintings. This is one of the paintings Vincent painted to represent himself and that's why I find it so beautiful. He's always been my favourite artist since I was introduced to him through The Bedroom in that same aforementioned fourth grade class. I have seen loads of his works in the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York, but it never gets less powerful.
Hope you enjoyed this mini tour of the National Gallery :P Have a lovely afternoon. x
Train journeys this year: 4.
Flights this year: 1.
Flights this year: 1.
Videos posted this year: 8.
4 comments:
I loved this post. You're so lucky to have such beautiful paintings and galleries like MoMA or the National Gallery (relatively) nearby.
A absolutely love the second one with the trees. It's really pretty. Van Gogh is also one of my favorite painters =)
Wonderful post, thank you! Your comments on each picture really made me look at them more closely. And yes, the first one = grey havens, absolutely.
I nearly took a class like that for my semester, but I'm taking one about creative writing in London instead. The National Gallery really is incredible though- I went on my own last week. The whole "free museum" thing London has going on is so great, especially for broke study abroad students!
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