Student Activities Archives - Page 5 of 25

Sleeping Eros

December 5, 2023

by admin Ancient Greek Art Art Greek Art Hellenistic Art Mythology Sculpture Student Activities Worksheets

**Bronze statue of Eros sleeping,** 3rd–2nd century BC, Bronze, 41.9 × 35.6 × 85.2 cm, the MET, NY, USA https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/254502

Attributed possibly to the archaic Greek poet Sappho, the following fragment of Greek lyric poetry is preserved by the Alexandrian Grammarian Hephaestion. It reminds me of Sleeping Eros, the beloved Hellenistic bronze statue displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The verses paint a vivid scene… The moon and the Pleiades have set, / it is midnight, / time is passing, / but I sleep alone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_poem

In Greek mythology, Eros, portrayed as the son of Aphrodite and Ares, is the god of love, desire, and attraction. Various myths and stories are associated with Eros, in which he played a prominent role in matters of love and relationships. Well-known stories involving Eros include the myths of Rhodopis and Euthynicus, Apollo and Daphne, and his own love story, the myth of Psyche—a mortal princess who became the object of his affection. All these stories explore themes of love, trust, and the trials involved in achieving fulfillment with Eros projected as a significant figure in Greek mythology.

Eros is often depicted in various poses and contexts in ancient art, usually as a mischievous and playful winged youth armed with a bow and arrows. The arrows are said to have the power to incite love or desire in those they pierce. The Sleeping Eros statue in the MET depicts, on the other hand, a young, winged infant Cupid in a relaxed, reclining position, emphasizing the peaceful and gentle aspects of the god of love.

In the realm of Hellenistic sculpture, the motif of the Sleeping Eros emerged as a captivating and symbolic representation, offering a glimpse into the nuanced artistic expressions of love and vulnerability during this period. The Hellenistic era, spanning from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE to the establishment of the Roman Empire in 31 BCE, witnessed a remarkable evolution in art, marked by a departure from the rigid idealism of Classical Greece. Hellenistic period statues were known for their attention to detail, realistic anatomy, dynamic poses, naturalism in the composition, and the expression of strong emotionalism along with the introduction of the ‘genre’ and a shift in artistic sensibilities.

In the realm of Hellenistic art, ‘genre’ refers to the inclusion of everyday life scenes and common people as subjects in sculptures, paintings, and other artistic expressions. This departure from the rigid canons of Classical Greek art allowed artists to explore a wider range of emotions, experiences, and individual characteristics. The Sleeping Eros serves as a poignant manifestation of these transformations, capturing the subtleties of emotion and narrative in sculpture.

Eros is portrayed in a state of repose, inviting viewers into an intimate exploration of the deity’s more tender and human aspects. As we delve into the intricacies of the Sleeping Eros sculpture in the MET, we untangle not only the technical abilities of the Hellenistic artist who created it, but also the deeper cultural and philosophical underpinnings that inform this artistic motif. Through a lens of mythology, symbolism, and craftsmanship, the Sleeping Eros sculpture offer a captivating window into the Hellenistic worldview, where the divine and the mortal meet in a harmonious dance of form and emotion.

According to the MET experts, during the Hellenistic period… Young children enjoyed great favor, whether in mythological form, as baby Herakles or Eros, or in genre scenes, playing with each other or with pets. The MET Eros, the god of love, has been brought down to earth and disarmed, a conception considerably different from that of the powerful, often cruel, and capricious being so often addressed in Archaic poetry. One of the few bronze statues to have survived from antiquity, this figure of a plump baby in a relaxed pose conveys a sense of the immediacy and naturalistic detail that the medium of bronze made possible. He is clearly based on firsthand observation! https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/254502

For a Student Activity inspired by the MET Sleeping Eros, please… Check HERE!

Another aspect of Eros’s character and artistic representation is offered in Eros and the Bee, a February 2023 BLOG POST by Teacher Curator… https://www.teachercurator.com/art/eros-and-the-bee/

Corinthian Alabastron

October 5, 2023

by admin Ancient Greek Art Art Greek Art Pottery Student Activities Worksheets

**Corinthian Alabastron,** 600 BC, Orientalizing Period, Terracotta, black-figure, Height: 28,5 cm, Canellopoulos Museum, Athens, Greece https://camu.gr/item/korinthiako-alavastro/

The Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum in Athens, Greece, is a small treasure trove of outstanding antiquities, showcasing the Museum’s Ancient Art collection spanning from Prehistory to the Roman Era. The collection boasts objects dating back to the Neolithic period (6000-3200 BC), followed by representative examples from civilizations that thrived in the region during the Bronze Age (3000-1100 BC), the Early Iron Age (1100-88 BC), and the Archaic period (7th-6th century BC). Notably, the Archaic period exhibits Corinthian vases adorned with decorative motifs inspired by imaginary beings from the East, such as the Corinthian Arybalos, which I would like to present to you today!

So… Let’s explore the How of an amazing small masterpiece in the Canellopoulos Museum, in Athens… by answering some questions!

How can we best describe the characteristics of the Orientalizing period in ancient Greek Art?

The Orientalizing period in ancient Greek art refers to a significant phase that occurred during the 7th century BCE. It is characterized by a notable influence of artistic motifs and elements from the Near East and Egypt, which were collectively known as the “Orient” to the ancient Greeks. During this period, Greek city-states began to engage in increased trade and cultural contact with the civilizations of the Near East, such as Phoenicia, Assyria, and Egypt. As a result, Greek artists and craftsmen were exposed to new artistic styles, techniques, and iconography, which they integrated into their own artistic expressions.

A key characteristic of the Orientalizing period in ancient Greek art is the adoption of Eastern motifs that included animals like lions and sphinxes, as well as mythical creatures and floral patterns. Greeks, however, were always fond of expressing narrative in their vase painting and they appropriated Near Eastern creatures like the sphinx, for example, or the siren and altered their basic function by making them a part of a larger story. Orientalizing art may look Oriental on the surface but is still recognizably Greek below.

It is important to note that the Orientalizing period was not a homogenous style but rather a phase of artistic transition that laid the groundwork for the subsequent Archaic period. The influence of the Orient on Greek art gradually declined during the 6th century BCE as the Greek city-states developed their own distinctive artistic styles, leading to the flourishing of the Classical period of ancient Greek art. https://www.colorado.edu/classics/2018/06/15/orientalizing-period-ancient-greece

How can we best describe the characteristics of Pottery during the Orientalizing period in ancient Greek art?

During the Orientalizing period in ancient Greek art, pottery underwent significant changes in terms of style, decoration, and iconography. Vessels became more varied and sophisticated, with influences from Eastern pottery shapes and forms. For example, the aryballos (a small, globular-shaped container) and the alabastron (a slender, often pointed bottle) were popular shapes during this time. The period, which occurred from approximately the late 8th century BC to the early 6th century BC, was marked by the influence of Eastern motifs, like lions, sphinxes, and griffins, as well as floral and geometric patterns which became popular, along with the representation of human figures in a more lifelike manner.

How can we best describe the characteristics of Corinthian Pottery during the Orientalizing period in ancient Greek Art?

During the Orientalizing period in ancient Greek art, Corinthian pottery underwent a transformative shift from its earlier geometric style to a more figurative and narrative-focused approach. Influenced by artistic traditions from the Near East and Egypt, Corinthian potters embraced animal motifs, mythical creatures, and composite beings in dynamic poses. Corinthian vessels were adorned with intricate designs, covering the entire surface, exemplifying the abundance and opulence of this period. Utilizing the black-figure technique, they painted dark silhouettes against a yellowish-orange background, embellishing the scenes with incised lines to add detail. To fill empty spaces on these vases, palmettes and lotus blossoms were utilized in place of traditional geometric patterns, and in some cases, negative space gained more prominence.

How can we best describe the Corinthian Alabastron in the Canellopoulos Museum, in Athens?

The Canellopoulos Museum Alabastron from Corinth is typical of the Orientalizing period. This type of pottery, used for holding precious perfumed oils, originated around the 11th century BC in ancient Egypt, and spread via ancient Greece, to many parts of the Mediterranean world. Most Alabastra vases of the Orientalizing period have a narrow body with a rounded end, a narrow neck, and a broad mouth. Alabastra vases were often left without handles, but, for easy mobility, some types were equipped with one, or two, small projections into which holes were punched for strings to pass through, just like the Corinthian Alabastron in Athens.

According to Dr. Moschonesioti… The horizontal rim of the Canellopoulos Museum Alabastro is decorated with a tongue pattern and the vertical side of the rim with broken lines. The neck of the vase is decorated with a tongue pattern and the uppermost part of the vase with three parallel lines. Below them, two wide bands separate three decorative zones with (dancing?) komasts (mythological figures associated with God Dionysus) holding horns. Around the figures, which are presented dressed in purple, floral ornaments, such as large and small rosettes, heart-shaped leaves, and lotus flowers, densely cover the remaining surface of the vase. https://camu.gr/item/korinthiako-alavastro/

The Canellopoulos Museum Alabastro vase boasts an exquisite display of intricate decorations. From the tongue patterns adorning the horizontal and neck rims to the graceful lines and mythological figures of komasts, the artistry captivates the viewer’s eye, standing as a testament to the creativity and craftsmanship of its time.

For a Student Activity inspired by the Corinthian Alabastron in the Canellopoulos Museum, please… Check HERE!

The Choice of Heracles by Annibale Carracci

September 25, 2023

by admin 16th century Art Art Baroque Mythology Student Activities Uncategorized Worksheets

**Annibale Carracci,** 1560-1609
**The Choice of Heracles,** 1596, Oil on Canvas, 273 x 167 cm, Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy
https://el.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%91%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BF:Annibale_Carracci_-_The_Choice_of_Heracles_-_WGA4416.jpg

The Choice of Heracles by Annibale Carracci is probably loosely inspired by Philostratus’ Life of Apollonius of Tyana (6.10)… You have seen in picture-books the representation of Heracles by Prodicus; in it Heracles is represented as a youth, who has not yet chosen the life he will lead; and vice and virtue stand in each side of him plucking his garments and trying to draw him to themselves. Vice is adorned with gold and necklaces and with purple raiment, and her cheeks are painted and her hair delicately plaited and her eyes underlined with henna; and she also wears golden slippers, for she is pictured strutting about in these; but virtue in the picture resembles a woman worn out with toil, with a pinched look; and she has chosen for her adornment rough squalor, and she goes without shoes and in the plainest of raiment, and she would have appeared naked if she had not too much regard for her feminine decency. Interesting and revealing to say the least! The ancient Greek myth was invented by the sophist Prodico and perhaps suggested to Annibale Carracci by Fulvio Orsini, the librarian of the Farnese family. Interesting and revealing to say the least! https://www.livius.org/sources/content/philostratus-life-of-apollonius/philostratus-life-of-apollonius-6.6-10/

A young, thoughtful Heracles dominates the center of an extremely busy composition. He is depicted in heroic nudity, resting on his club contemplating… whether he will approach life by the path of virtue or the path of vice… And there, writes Xenophon, appeared two women of great stature making towards him. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Xen.%20Mem.%202.1&lang=original and https://cal.byu.edu/macfarlane/OGCMA/HeraclesChoice1.0019_Carracci.htm

**Annibale Carracci,** 1560-1609
**The Choice of Heracles,** 1596, Oil on Canvas, 273 x 167 cm, Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy
https://artpaintingartist.org/the-choice-of-heracles-by-annibale-carracci/

On Heracles’s left side, Carracci presents a striking woman, the personification of Pleasure, standing in front of a lush landscape, green, luxuriant, and blossoming. She gestures to play cards, musical instruments, and theatrical masks. She entices him with her presence, the symbols of carnal pleasures, and her words… Heracles, I see that you are in doubt about which path to take toward life. Make me your friend; follow me, and I will lead you along the pleasantest and easiest road. You shall taste all the sweets of life; and hardship you shall never know. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Xen.%20Mem.%202.1&lang=original

On Heracles’s right side, Carracci painted the personification of Virtue, who according to Xenophon, addressed young Heracles in an exemplary way… I, too, am come to you, Heracles: I know your parents and I have taken note of your character during the time of your education. Therefore I hope that, if you take the road that leads to me, you will turn out a right good doer of high and noble deeds, and I shall be yet more highly honoured and more illustrious for the blessings I bestow. But I will not deceive you by a pleasant prelude: I will rather tell you truly the things that are, as the gods have ordained them. [28] For of all things good and fair, the gods give nothing to man without toil and effort. If you want the favour of the gods, you must worship the gods: if you desire the love of friends, you must do good to your friends: if you covet honour from a city, you must aid that city: if you are fain to win the admiration of all Hellas for virtue, you must strive to do good to Hellas: if you want land to yield you fruits in abundance, you must cultivate that land: if you are resolved to get wealth from flocks, you must care for those flocks: if you essay to grow great through war and want power to liberate your friends and subdue your foes, you must learn the arts of war from those who know them and must practice their right use: and if you want your body to be strong, you must accustom your body to be the servant of your mind, and train it with toil and sweat.’ [29]

Carracci’s personification of Virtue is presented as a young, unpretentious woman, dressed in blue and red. She stands in front of an arid landscape, and points at the winding road up a mountain plateau, where the winged Pegasus, emblem of the Farnese family, awaits Heracles to guide him to Mount Olympus. A life of Virtue, however, does not come without fame and distinction. In the lower-left corner, Carracci painted a poet crowned in laurels looking up to Virtue and Heracles, ready to immortalize the Hero’s accomplishments and assure him great renown.

**Annibale Carracci,** 1560-1609
**Camerino Farnese (the ceiling),** 1596, 4.8×9.4m, Private Room of Cardinal Oduardo Farnese. Palazzo Farnese, Rome, Italy
https://it.ambafrance.org/Camerino-d-Ercole

The Choice of Heracles by Annibale Carracci once graced the center of the ceiling in a small room known as the Camerino di Ercole in the Farnese Palace in Rome. The room’s iconography was determined by the palace’s librarian, Fulvio Orsini, who knew the fifth-century Ancient Greek parable involving Hercules… Cardinal Odoardo Farnese selected Annibale to execute the Camerino’s decor, which the artist completed between 1595–97. In 1662 the Carracci’s canvas was replaced by a copy, still in place, underwent various movements, and then became part of the “Cabinet of obscene paintings” of the Royal Bourbon Museum. Today, it is exhibited in Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/hercules-at-the-crossroads-annibale-carracci/EwGkF5dbmWVeHw and https://capodimonte.cultura.gov.it/oggi-e-il-compleanno-di-annibale-carracci/

For a Student Activity inspired by Annibale Carracci’s The Choice of Heracles, please… Check HERE!

The Monument of Episkopi on Sikinos

September 16, 2023

by admin Art Byzantine Art Byzantine Church Architecture Byzantium Cycladic Art Roman Art Student Activities Worksheets

**The Monument of Episkopi on Sikinos**
https://www.europeanheritageawards.eu/winners/monument-of-episkopi/

The Monument of Episkopi on Sikinos, one of the smallest Cycladic islands, is a Roman mausoleum dating back to the 3rd century. Because of its conversion to a Byzantine church, it was continuously used and has therefore survived nearly intact. Its ancient structure, combined with interventions from several historical periods, offers an incomparable palimpsest of archaeological periods that is rarely preserved in ancient monuments. Severely affected by destructive earthquakes and human interventions throughout the centuries, the monument was abandoned in the 20th century. The Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades decided to restore the building in 2016. In 2022 the monument, fully restored and fully studied by the scientific personnel of the Cyclades Ephorate of Antiquities, reopened to the public. https://www.europeanheritageawards.eu/winners/monument-of-episkopi/

How can we introduce the Island of Sikinos? Sikinos is a tiny and rocky island with few permanent inhabitants, located in the Cyclades, between the islands of Ios and Folegandros. It has an area of approximately 42 square kilometers and a population of around 300 people. It is a quiet and peaceful island with a traditional way of life. The main village, called Chora, is built on a hill and has narrow streets, white-washed houses, and stunning views of the Aegean Sea. Other villages on the island include Alopronia, a small fishing village with a sandy beach, and Episkopi, where the historic Episkopi Church is located.

Is the Island of Sikinos related to any Greek Myth? According to Greek Mythology, the island of Sikinos is named after the son of Thoas, King of Lemnos, and son of God Dionysos and Princess Ariadne. Ypsipyli, Thoa’s daughter, trying to save her father from the Lemnian women who were killing the male inhabitants of the island, hid him in a wooden box and threw him into the sea. The waves of the sea led Thoa’s box to the island of Oinoe, where the king married the nymph Niida, who gave birth to a boy called Sikinos. It was Thoa’s son and grandson of Dionysos and Ariadne, who gave his name to the island during his reign.

The History of the Island: The island has a long and fascinating history, dating back to ancient times when the island was known for its vineyards and wine production. The island was also known as an important religious center, with a temple dedicated to Apollo the Pythian located on the island’s highest peak. Sikinos’s history parallels that of the other Cyclades islands, passing from Roman to Byzantine rule, and then falling to the Venetians and the Ottomans.

In the 13th century AD, Sikinos was conquered by the Venetians, who built a fortress on the island to protect it from pirates and other invaders. During this time, the island became an important center for trade and commerce, and its wine was exported throughout the Mediterranean. In the 16th century, Sikinos was occupied by the Ottoman Turks, who ruled the island for nearly 300 years. During this time, the island’s population declined, and many Sikinians migrated to other parts of Greece and to other countries. In the early 19th century, Sikinos became part of the newly formed Greek state, and the island began to experience a period of growth and prosperity. The island’s vineyards were revived, and Sikinos once again became an important center for wine production. https://sikinostravel.com/sikinos-island/history/

Which is the most important monument on the Island of Sikinos? Undauntedly Episkopi, or the monument of the Diocese of Sikinos. According to Dr Dimitrios Athanasoulis, Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades… The monument of the Diocese of Sikinos, one of the smaller islands of the Cyclades, was, originally, a Roman period mausoleum, built during the 3rd century AD. The mausoleum became a Byzantine church, and subsequently, an important landmark of cultural heritage for the island community throughout the centuries. https://www.lifo.gr/now/entertainment/episkopi-sikinoy-ena-monadiko-mnimeio-apodidetai-simera-sto-koino

What new archaeological information did the restoration of Episkopi bring to light? The archaeological research that took place during the restoration of the monument, Dr Dimitrios Athanasoulis said, enriched our knowledge of the funerary monuments of the Roman period in the Eastern Mediterranean region, as well as of Byzantine church building in the Cyclades. During the restoration work of Episkopi, valuable evidence of the past was revealed, such as inscriptions and fragments of Roman and Byzantine frescoes, for the preservation of which a microclimate monitoring system was installed. The most important find was the hermetically sealed, undisturbed burial of a woman of the upper class, named “Neiko”, with findings that betrayed superstitions and necrophobic notions. https://www.lifo.gr/now/entertainment/episkopi-sikinoy-ena-monadiko-mnimeio-apodidetai-simera-sto-koino

Why was the monument of Episkopi on Sikinos bestowed the Europa Nostra Award in 2022? The monument of Episkopi is a cultural landmark and a source of pride for this small island community. Building materials were reused as much as possible and new masonry was incorporated using locally collected stones. The combination of architectural elements of a Roman mausoleum in a Byzantine church forms a unique monument that is simply striking… emphasized by the Awards’ Jury. https://www.europeanheritageawards.eu/winners/monument-of-episkopi/

For a Student Activity, please, Check… HERE!

The Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux Queen of France

August 30, 2023

by admin 14th century Art Art French Art International Gothic Art Student Activities Worksheets

**Jean Pucelle**, French, active Paris, 1319–34
**The Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux, Queen of France,** Folios 9v-10r, Calendar Pages for September, ca. 1324-28, Grisaille, tempera, and ink on vellum, Single folio: 9.2 x 6.2 cm, the MET, NY, USA Jean Pucelle | The Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux, Queen of France | French | The Metropolitan Museum of Art (metmuseum.org)

The Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux, Queen of France, is a famous medieval illuminated manuscript created around the year 1324-1328. Currently housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, on display at the Cloisters, the manuscript is considered one of the most exquisite examples of Late Gothic manuscript illumination. It was probably commissioned for Jeanne d’Evreux, by her husband, King Charles IV of France, between the date of their marriage in 1325 and his death three years later.

At first glance, this tiny prayer book, the size of each vellum folio is 9.2 x 6.2 cm, with not a trace of gold, might seem an unlikely possession for a queen of France. The Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux, however, offers much more than meets the eye. This manuscript consists of 209 folios, containing not only twenty-five full-page paintings featuring depictions of significant moments from the Infancy and Passion of Christ, but also scenes portraying the life of Saint Louis, a notable ancestor of Queen Jeanne. Additionally, the margins of the manuscript are adorned with an astonishing array of nearly 700 illustrations. These illustrations vividly portray a diverse tapestry of medieval Parisian society, including bishops, beggars, street dancers, maidens, and musicians. Furthermore, interspersed among these depictions are whimsical creatures from the realm of pure fantasy, such as apes, rabbits, dogs, and other enigmatic beings. The combination of meticulously crafted religious imagery and glimpses into the vibrant urban life of medieval Paris makes The Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux an extraordinary testament to the artistic and cultural milieu of the time. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/470309

**Diminutive in size, the Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux** was made between 1324 and 1328 https://www.facsimilefinder.com/facsimiles/hours-jeanne-evreux-facsimile

**Jean Pucelle**, French, active Paris, 1319–34
**The Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux, Queen of France,** Folios 15v-16r, The Betrayal of Christ and The Annunciation to Mary, 1324-28, Grisaille, tempera, and ink on vellum, Single folio: 9.2 x 6.2 cm, the MET, NY, USA https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:4_Jean_Pucelle._Hours_of_Jeanne_d%27Evreux._1325-28,_Metropolitan_Museum,_New-York.jpg

While there is no positive proof establishing the identity of the artist behind the Cloisters manuscript, three extraordinary documents, Jeanne d’Evreux’s will, King Charles V’s inventory of treasures, and the successive 1401 and 1406 inventories of the collection of Jean, Duc de Berry, led scholars to accept Jean Pucelle as the artistic genius behind the manuscript’s illuminations.

Jean Pucelle was a fine Parisian manuscript illuminator of impeccable taste and refined elegance. He was a great innovator, introducing the art of Giotto and Ducio to Northern Europe. He had the ability to present sculpturally modeled figures, capture psychological expressions, and convey human emotions. Finally, Pucelle was the artist who presented ideas such as the use of naturalistic settings and narrative continuity within his miniatures.

His name became synonymous with exceptional craftsmanship and artistic excellence, but much of his life remains shrouded in mystery. However, his surviving works serve as a testament to his profound impact on the art of illumination during the medieval period, earning him a well-deserved place among the great masters of the era.

The illuminated manuscript of Jeanne d’Evreux in the Cloisters is a Book of Hours, that is, a devotional and instructional book that was popular in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. It was primarily used by laypeople, particularly wealthy individuals, for personal prayer and devotion. It was essentially a private prayer book, containing a collection of prayers, psalms, hymns, and other religious texts, often accompanied by illustrations. It was called a “Book of Hours” because it typically included a series of prayers that were meant to be recited at specific times throughout the day, corresponding to the canonical hours of the liturgical day.

The book usually began with a calendar, which listed important feast days and saints’ days. It would then include various sections, such as the Hours of the Virgin Mary, the Office of the Dead, and other prayers dedicated to specific saints or events. Each section would contain specific prayers, psalms, and readings associated with the particular devotion.

The decoration for the Calendar page in Books of Hours can vary depending on the specific manuscript and the artistic style of the time. For The Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux, Pucelle employed scenes depicting the agricultural activities commonly carried out each month of the year, such as plowing, sowing seeds, or tending to crops, along with scenes of the countryside, fields, or farms. For the Month of September, the artist chose to depict the labor of harvesting or tending to the vineyards. Pucelle’s page shows workers engaged in grape harvesting and winemaking activities, such as picking grapes, stomping on them, and hungrily tasting the fruits of their labour.

**Jean Pucelle**, French, active Paris, 1319–34
**The Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux, Queen of France,** Folios 9v-10r (detail), Calendar Pages for September, ca. 1324-28, Grisaille, tempera, and ink on vellum, Single folio: 9.2 x 6.2 cm, the MET, NY, USA Jean Pucelle | The Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux, Queen of France | French | The Metropolitan Museum of Art (metmuseum.org)

What I like most is how the illuminations created for the Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux employ a diverse range of artistic techniques. One of them is the grisaille technique, described as de blanc et noir in French, which involves using shades of gray created through hatching and cross-hatching. Grisaille, however, is not enough for Jean Pucelle. He wants to introduce vibrant colours, so along with grisaille, he adds tempera paints as well. The combination of these two techniques, known as “camaïeu gris,” results in a harmonious interplay of grayscale and color. The application of grisaille and the skillful use of tempera bring forth a visually captivating effect, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the manuscript.

Overall, the Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux is not only a masterpiece of medieval art, characterized by its elegant figures, attention to detail, and a fusion of naturalistic and stylized elements. It is a valuable historical artifact as well, providing insight into the artistic, cultural, and religious practices of the French royal court during the 14th century.

Its delicate illuminations and meticulous craftsmanship make it a treasured example of medieval book art, and it continues to inspire and captivate viewers to this day.

For a Student Activity, please… Check HERE!

Warhol by Basquiat Basquiat by Warhol

August 19, 2023

by admin 20th century Art American Art Art Student Activities Worksheets

**Jean-Michel Basquiat,** American Artist, 1960-1988
**Dos Cabezas**, October 4, 1962, acrylic and oil stick piece created on canvas and mounted on wood supports, 151.8 × 154 cm, Private Collection
**Andy Warhol**, American Artist, 1928-1987
**Self-Portrait with Jean-Michel Basquiat**, October 4, 1962, Polaroid, Collection Bischofberger, Männedor-Zurich, Switzerland
(Photos: Amalia Spiliakou, May of 2023, Exhibition Basquiat × Warhol. À Quatre Mains, Fondation Louis Vuitton)

On the 8^th of May, while in Paris, I visited the Exhibition Basquiat × Warhol. À Quatre Mains (From 05.04.2023 to 28.08.2023) at Fondation Louis Vuitton. Two Portraits of the famous duo, the first a Polaroid Photo of the two artists by Andy Warhol, the other, a painted version of the Warhol Polaroid by Basquiat, were the first steps taken towards an artistic collaboration that started on the 4th of October 1982 and resulted in about 160 paintings. My new BLOG POST titled Warhol by Basquiat Basquiat by Warhol will present you with the first impressions of the legendary first meeting of the two artists, organized by Swiss Gallery owner Bruno Bischofberger, as documented by the protagonists.

At **Fondation Louis Vuitton** for the **Basquiat x Warhol, À** **Quatre Mains Exhibition… (Photo Credit: Katerina Floran-Ioannou)**

Down to meet Bruno Bischofberger (cab $7.50). He brought Jean-Michel Basquiat with him. He’s the kid who used the name ‘Samo’ when he used to sit on the sidewalk in Greenwich Village and paint T-shirts, and I’d give him $10 here and there and send him up to Serendipity to try to sell the T-shirts there. He was just one of those kids who drove me crazy… And so had lunch for them and then I took a Polaroid and he went home and within two hours a painting was back, still wet, of him and me together. And I mean, just getting to Christie Street must have taken an hour” (A. Warhol, ‘October 4, 1982″, The Andy Warhol Diaries, ed. P. Hackett, New York, 1989, p. 462).… Warhol wrote in his Diary.

Andy Warhol’s diary entry provides a glimpse into his interaction with Jean-Michel Basquiat, highlighting the first dynamics of their relationship and capturing the essence of their future artistic connection. Warhol’s introduction to the meeting sets the tone for the casual and straightforward nature of the rest of the entry. Jean-Michel Basquiat, mentioned as the kid who used the name ‘Samo’ is significant. The reference to Warhol providing Basquiat with occasional financial support and sending him to sell his T-shirts at Serendipity adds a layer of mentorship or support that Warhol extended to the young artist. Warhol’s remark about Basquiat driving him crazy, however, hints at the upcoming complexities of their relationship. It suggests that Basquiat may have been a somewhat challenging individual to handle, but it’s also possible that Warhol found him intriguing or enigmatic in some way. The diary entry captures a sense of Warhol’s enduring fascination with unique and unconventional characters.

**Andy Warhol,** American Artist, 1928-1987
**Self-Portrait with Jean-Michel Basquiat,** October 4, 1962, Polaroid, Collection Bischofberger, Männedor-Zurich, Switzerland (Photo: Amalia Spiliakou, May of 2023, Fondation Louis Vuitton)

The mention of lunch together highlights the casual nature of their encounter. It’s noteworthy that Warhol took a Polaroid photograph of himself and Basquiat, capturing the moment of their meeting. The fact that Basquiat promptly painted a portrait of both of them, which Warhol describes as still wet, demonstrates Basquiat’s creative energy and immediate response to the encounter.

Overall, Andy Warhol’s diary entry provides a glimpse into his interaction with Jean-Michel Basquiat, highlighting the dynamics of their relationship and capturing the essence of their artistic connection. It showcases Warhol’s role as a mentor and the impact he had on Basquiat’s early career, while also revealing the complexities and idiosyncrasies of their shared artistic world.

Responsible for organizing the meeting between the two artists was Bruno Bischofberger, the Swiss gallery owner, who, at the time, represented both Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. His recollection of the Warhol-Basquiat first meeting expands upon the diary entry by providing additional details and emphasizing the creative exchange between the two artists. It portrays a sense of mutual artistic admiration and the vibrant energy that surrounded their interaction, further enriching our understanding of this significant moment in art history.

Warhol photographed Basquiat with his special Polaroid portrait camera. Jean-Michel asked Warhol whether he could also take a photo of him, took some shots, and then asked me to take some photos of him and Warhol together. We then wanted to go next door to have the customary cold buffet lunch. Basquiat did not want to stay and said goodbye. We had hardly finished lunch, one, at most one and half an hour later, when Basquiat’s assistant appeared with a 150 x 150 cm (60″ x 60″) work on canvas, still completely wet, a double portrait depicting Warhol and Basquiat: Andy on the left in his typical pose resting his chin on his hand, and Basquiat on the right with the wild hair that he had at the time. The painting was titled Dos Cabezas. The assistant had run the ten to fifteen blocks from Basquiat’s studio on Crosby Street to the Factory on Union Square with the painting in his hands because it wouldn’t fit into a taxi. This is how Bischofberger, who facilitated the meeting, recalled the events that led to the famous artworks!

For a Student Activity, please… Check HERE!

Valuable Information for my BLOG POST came from… https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-5371726/?intObjectID=5371726

For Information and two short Videos on the Exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton, please… Check… Basquiat × Warhol. Painting four hands (fondationlouisvuitton.fr)

Madre della Consolazione

August 14, 2023

by admin Art Byzantine Art Byzantium Post-Byzantine Student Activities Worksheets

**Madre della Consolazione,**15th century, tempera on wood, 0.563×0.45 m, Canellopoulos Museum, Athens, Greece https://camu.gr/en/item/panagia-madre-della-consolazione/

Given this state of affairs and stepping out as though on the royal highway, following as we are the God-spoken teaching of our holy fathers and the tradition of the catholic church – for we recognize that this tradition comes from the Holy Spirit who dwells in her – we decree with full precision and care that, like the figure of the honoured and life-giving cross, the revered and holy images, whether painted or made of mosaic or of other suitable material, are to be exposed in the holy churches of God, on sacred instruments and vestments, on walls and panels, in houses and by public ways, these are the images of our Lord, God and saviour, Jesus Christ, and of our Lady without blemish, the holy God-bearer, and of the revered angels and of any of the saintly holy men. This is how the Council of Nicaea II, in 787 AD described the Restoration of the Holy Icons. The Madre della Consolazione Icon in the Canellopoulos Museum of our Lady without blemish, and the infant God and saviour, Jesus Christ, is a wonderful example of this declaration… https://www.papalencyclicals.net/councils/ecum07.htm

Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum in Athens has an important collection of Byzantine and post-Byzantine artworks dating from the formative years of the Byzantine era (4th-7th century AD) to the post-Byzantine and Modern periods (1453-1821). The Museum’s collection includes paintings, miniatures, gold and silverwork, wood carvings, and embroidery, as well as jewelry, coins, mosaics, wall paintings, and Patriarchal documents spanning from the 18th and the 19th centuries to the flourishing icon-painting workshops of Mount Athos. Worth noting is that the artwork in the Collection reveals diverse cultural influences that make up the breadth of Byzantine art, resulting in exceptional elegance and originality. https://camu.gr/en/art/byzantine-art/

Going through the Museum’s Collection of Icons I was impressed by the represented high-quality examples of Constantinopolitan, Macedonian, and Cretan styles of Byzantine painting. Particularly impressive is the group of Icons that represents the Post-Byzantine Cretan School. According to the Museum’s experts… almost all the great hagiographers of the Cretan School from the years after the Fall of Constantinople are represented in the Museum, including Nicolaos Tzafouris, Michael Damaskenos, Emmanuel Lambardos, Frangias Kavertzas, Ieremias Palladas, Victor, and Emmanuel Tzanes. https://camu.gr/en/art/byzantine-art/

I was immediately drawn to a 15th-century Icon presenting the Madre della Consolazione. How couldn’t I, when the Eastern Byzantine representational style, harmoniously met and adapted to the novel ideas of the ‘Maniera Greca’ style of 15^th century Venice. An added bonus to the overall impression of this remarkable Icon is its Baroque wood-carved frame. High-relief open-work decoration of scrolling leaves and fruits, a ribbon passing between them, and five angels, almost sculpted in the round, create an impression of added opulence, and luxury.

The Canellopoulos Museum Icon is a typical example of an ‘Italo-Cretan’ style ‘Madre della Consolazione’ composition. It depicts the Virgin Mary in the ‘bust’ format, against the traditional Byzantine gold background, holding the infant Jesus on her right arm. Mary is depicted with a serene expression, gazing, with slanted eyes, at the child she affectionately holds. The infant Jesus presents the gold globus cruciger of the world with his left hand, and blesses the viewer with his right.

Inspired by the Byzantine tradition, Mary wears a red maphorion trimmed with elaborate gold embroidery of pseudo-Kufic motifs on its edge and carries the three gold stars (only two are visible), which symbolize chastity, on her forehead and her shoulders. The infant Christ, on the other hand, placed on the right side of the composition, is dressed in a white chiton, a deep blue ‘chemise’ of a Western type, embroidered richly in gold, and an orange himation with gold Byzantine striations.

Superbly crafted, and refined in execution, the Madre della Consolazione composition aims to convey a sense of comfort, solace, and maternal love. The overall mood of the Canellopoulos Museum Icon is one of sweet tenderness and compassion.

For a Student Activity, please… Check HERE!

Virgin and Child

August 8, 2023

by admin 16th century Art Art Northern Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance Art Student Activities Worksheets

**Attributed to Simon Bening,** 1483/84–1561
**Virgin and Child,** ca. 1520, Oil on wood, 25.4 x 21 cm, the MET, NY, USA
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436103

Lady, Our Lady, writes Vittoria Collona (Sonnet 51), did you not press and pour / into your milk, like essential oils wrung, / the whole of you, like living breath into lung, / to nourish the whole of your divine son? Or / did his living fire scorch your holy breast, and more, / breaking into pure light and pure song / the pieces of you like a universe born? / Who can understand it, how spirit tore / into the material world like lightning, / did not burn but lit it up in a flash / that lasted through the long night, whitening / like snow the dark, dark world? In the flesh / he came and defied every logic, not frightening / but consoling like the evening’s red flush… and I think of a lovely painting of the Virgin and Child in the Metropolitan Museum attributed to Simon Bening. https://aleteia.org/2022/08/14/is-this-the-most-beautiful-sonnet-ever-written-for-mary/

**Simon Bening,** 1483 – 1561
**Self-portrait of Simon Bening, aged 75,** 1558, tempera on parchment, 8.6×5.7 cm, the MET, NY, USA
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/459254

Simon Bening is a master manuscript illuminator. Hailed by Portuguese art critic and artist, Francisco da Hollanda as the greatest master of illumination in all of Europe, Simon Bening was one of the most celebrated painters of Flanders in the 1500s. He served powerful aristocrats and worked for a group of international royal patrons including Emperor Charles V and Don Fernando, the Infante of Portugal. He is famous for creating some of the finest illuminated Books of Hours in the history of art. His specialty was painting, in the Flemish tradition, poetic landscape vistas… https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/person/103JTN

The painting of the Virgin and Child in the Metropolitan Museum attributed to Simon Bening exhibits the painter’s interest in artistic exploration. According to the Museum experts, the artist of the Virgin and Child was heavily inspired by Gerard David’s painting depicting the Rest on the Flight into Egypt. Both paintings present the Virgin as the very model of a nurturing mother. The context is, however, different. David’s painting refers to the Gospels (Matthew 2:13-14) and the arduous journey of the Family to Egypt. Bening, if the Virgin and Child painting is indeed his, presents a ‘genre’ scene of a nurturing mother and child. From Van Eyck to Bruegel: Early Netherlandish Painting in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, pp. 308-313 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/From_Van_Eyck_to_Bruegel_Early_Netherlandish_Painting_in_The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art

**Attributed to Simon Bening,** 1483/84–1561
**Virgin and Child,** ca. 1520, Oil on wood, 25.4 x 21 cm, the MET, NY, USA
**Gerard David,** ca. 1455–1523
**The Rest on the Flight into Egypt,** ca. 1512–15, Oil on wood, 53.3 × 39.8 cm, the MET, NY, USA https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436103 and https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436101

The MET painting of the Virgin and Child is typical of the Flemish tradition of ‘hidden’ symbolisms. Mary, for example, sits on the wall of an enclosed garden, the Hortus Conclusus, a symbol of her purity, which refers to the Garden of Eden of the Old Testament. Mint, present, in abundance, behind Mary, is a plant that grows wild in Palestine and is mentioned by Jesus in His discourse with the Pharisees. Bening uses it to further stress the virtue of Mary, as mint is a plant with healing and cleansing properties. The violets, at the lower part of the garden wall, are used by the artist as a sign of Mary’s humility. She is, after all, the Viola Odorata, meaning Our Lady of Modesty. Very important to underline is the stream of milk that flows from the Virgin’s breast to the lips of the Child, who turns to the viewer, spoon in hand, to directly communicate the notion of physical and spiritual nourishment. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/From_Van_Eyck_to_Bruegel_Early_Netherlandish_Painting_in_The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art page 312

Simon Bening was famous for his poetic landscape vistas. His manuscript illuminations, like the pages of the Twelve Months in the Book of Golf we have been examining, reveal various aspects of his innovative character. The MET painting Virgin and Child favors a landscape that recedes into the far distance, large trees with highlighted edges, and the inclusion of a vignette… a small house surrounded by trees near the edge of a pond. This is a wonderful example of early sixteenth-century art for all to enjoy! https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/From_Van_Eyck_to_Bruegel_Early_Netherlandish_Painting_in_The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art page 312

For a Student Activity, please… Check HERE!

Swimmers on a Wooden Pier

August 4, 2023

by admin 20th century Art American Art Art Greek Art Neohellenic Art Student Activities Worksheets

**Michael Axelos**, Greek Artist, 1877-1965
**Swimmers at Palaio Faliro beach,** 1935, Oil on plywood, 24.5 x 35.2 cm, Bank of Greece, Athens, Greece
https://www.bankofgreece.gr/PublishingImages/PRESS-RELEASES/2022/Thalassografies_4.jpg.jpg
**George Wesley Bellows,** American Artist, 1882 – 1925
**42 Kids,** 1907. Oil on canvas, 106.7 x 152.4 cm, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.134485.html

Michael Axelos’s painting oeuvre attests to his solid technique and undeniable talent. It was not by chance, writes Yannis Stournaras, Governor of the Bank of Greece, that he was the first Greek artist to be entrusted, initially by the National Bank of Greece and subsequently by the Bank of Greece, with the design of banknotes and coins, which he imbued with an aesthetic quality. The Exhibition Michael Axelos (1877-1965) – Between two worlds (December 22, 2015 – July 6, 2017), organized by the Bank of Greece – Centre for Culture, Research, and Documentation, shed new light on both known and unknown aspects of the artist’s life. Going through the Exhibition Catalogue, the painting Swimmers at Palaio Faliro Beach caught my attention, and curiosity… how different, or similar, is the Greek artist’s painting compared to George Wesley Bellows composition 42 Kids? A new BLOG POST, Swimmers on a Wooden Pier, will not give you the decisive answer. Maybe information to reflect upon… https://www.bankofgreece.gr/MediaAttachments/AXELOS_CATALOGUE.pdf

Michael Axelos, an artist of exceptional skill, whose significant output spanned different genres, was a graduate of the Athens Law School and of the Athens School of Fine Arts. From 1911 to 1914 he continued his studies in Paris, at the Académie Julian and the Académie de la Grande Chaumière where his rather conservative initial training was infused with the new artistic developments, on one hand, Fauvism, and on the other hand Cubism, as presented in the Salons of 1910 and 1911. Axelos devoted a large part of his life and work to the Bank of Greece, where he designed banknotes, coins, and security documents. His retirement in 1846 starts a new period in his artistic life. Without changing his style radically, his painting becomes somehow liberated, is less strict, and escapes from the conservative framework where he had consciously placed it. https://museum.bankofgreece.gr/en/exhibitions/5/–18771965—–?ctx=9b1ea4a74a6d7c70df84ae52cbab3c959873d6f8&idx=4

In 1935, while still working for the Bank of Greece, Axelos painted Swimmers at Palaio Faliro beach, one of my favorite, most charming paintings. Palaio Faliro is a coastal suburb of Athens and a popular destination for beachgoers. Axelos’ painting depicts a group of swimmers, with the blue sky, the sea, and the not-so-distant Athenian coast, forming a prominent part of the composition. The swimmers are portrayed in a gestural and loose manner, emphasizing movement and dynamism. They take advantage of the well-constructed wooden piers and enjoy a typical Greek summer day, diving into the sea, splashing with joy in the water, and sunbathing. Axelos’ use of tints and little shade, expressive brushstrokes, and direct sunlight, creates a delightful, persuasive composition of a classic Greek summer morning.

George Wesley Bellows was an American artist known for his depictions of New York City life. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, and studied at the Ohio State University before moving to New York City in 1904 to study at the New York School of Art under Robert Henri. Bellows quickly became known for his bold and expressive style, which captured the energy and dynamism of the city. His early work focused on the working-class neighborhoods of New York, depicting scenes of tenement life, street vendors, and labor strikes. He was a member of the Ashcan School, a group of artists who sought to depict the realities of modern life in their work. Tragically, Bellows died at the age of 42 from a ruptured appendix. Despite his short career, he left a lasting impact on American art and is considered one of the most important artists of the early 20th century.

**George Wesley Bellows,** American Artist, 1882 – 1925
**Forty Two Kids,** 1907. Oil on canvas, 106.7 x 152.4 cm, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.134485.html

In August 1907 Bellows painted Forty-Two Kids, which depicts a band of nude and partially clothed boys engaged in a variety of antics—swimming, diving, sunbathing, smoking, and possibly urinating—on and near a dilapidated wharf jutting out over New York City’s East River. https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.134485.html

In terms of aesthetics, Bellows has used bold brushstrokes and vibrant colors to capture the energy and excitement of the children. The figures are depicted in dynamic poses that convey their movement and joy. The composition is carefully balanced, with the rough wooden pier stretching out to the right of the canvas, and the water and sky occupying the upper two-thirds of the painting. The use of color is particularly striking in this painting. The boys’ gangly bodies are loosely painted and brightly lit from the upper left. Most are nude, and Bellows employs hues of bright, cream white to medium brown to capture their skin tones. For the rest of the painting, the river in particular, Bellows uses intense shades of blue, emerald green, and yellow that convey a sense of summertime and warmth. The reflections of the children in the water create a sense of depth and perspective, and the overall effect is one of a moment frozen in time, capturing the exuberance of roaming young boys from New York’s Lower East Side tenements. https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.134485.html

Do you see similarities or differences? The decision is yours…

For a Student Activity, titled Swimmers on a Wooden Pier, please… Check HERE!

Les Meules à Giverny simply means The Stacks at Giverny

July 31, 2023

by admin 19th century Art Art French Art Impressionism Student Activities Worksheets

**Claude Monet,** French Artist, 1840-1926
**Stacks of Wheat (End of Summer),** 1890/91, Oil on canvas, 60 × 100.5 cm, The Art Institute of Chicago, USA https://www.artic.edu/artworks/64818/stacks-of-wheat-end-of-summer

My new BLOG POST title, Les Meules à Giverny simply means The Stacks at Giverny, refers to twenty-five paintings that Claude Monet began near the end of the summer, the month of August, of 1890, and continued through the following spring… Information about Les Meules à Giverny comes from Monet Paintings and Drawings at the Art Institute of Chicago | Cats. 27–33 Stacks of Wheat, 1890/91 (artic.edu) Cats. 27–33 Stacks of Wheat, 1890/91, and Monet’s Haystacks Reconsidered by Richard R. Brettell, Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Autumn, 1984), pp. 4-21 (19 pages) https://www.jstor.org/stable/4115885?read-now=1#page_scan_tab_contents, and https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2019/impressionist-modern-art-evening-n10067/lot.8.html

Claude Monet painted his famous series Les Meules, or Stacks of Wheat, also commonly referred to as Haystacks series, in his house at Giverny in France, where he saw large stacks of wheat in his neighbor’s farm, a field adjacent to his property. The decade starting in 1890 was a happy one for the artist. He turned fifty, he was established as an artist and was considered to be the leader of the Impressionist movement. He bought the house in Giverny, a beautiful place he had rented since 1883, a life-long source of inspiration, and a property and gardens he loved. It was also in 1890 that he began work on his famous Meules series.

I’m working away at a series of different effects (of stacks), but at this time of year, the sun sets so quickly that I can’t keep up with it… Monet explained to his friend Gustave Geffroy, journalist, art critic, historian, and novelist, on October 7, 1890. I’m becoming so slow in my work that it makes me despair, but the further I go, the better I see that it takes a great deal of work to succeed in rendering what I want to render: ‘instantaneity,’ above all the enveloppe, the same light diffused over everything, and I’m more than ever disgusted at things that come easily, at the first attempt… he continued.

Claude Monet first exhibited his series of paintings titled Les Meules, in Paris on the 4^th of May, 1891. The exhibition, along with seven more paintings by the artist, took place at the Galerie Durand-Ruel, a prominent art gallery in the city. Fifteen paintings of the ‘Haystacks’ series were placed together and hung in the same small Gallery room. The exhibition of Monet’s ‘Haystacks’ series was met with a positive critical response, and it achieved significant financial success.

Let me present you with two 1891 critical reviews of Les Meules à Giverny simply means The Stacks at Giverny.

The famed art critic, gallery director, art collector, and anarchist, Felix Fénéon, the man who introduced the term Neo-Impressionist, wrote about Monet in rhapsodic prose… When did Monet’s colors ever come together in more harmonious clamor, with more sparkling impetus? It was the evening sun that most exalted Grainstacks: in summer they were haloed in purple flakes of ire; in winter, their phosphorescent shadows rippled in the sun, and, a sudden frost enameling them blue, they glittered on a sky first pink, then gold (F. Fénéon quoted in D. Wildenstein, Monet or the Triumph of Impressionism, Cologne, 1996, pp. 279-80).

Les Meules à Giverny by Claude Monet made the critic Gustave Geffroy wonder if Monet, a dear friend of his, saw the poetry of the universe in the restricted space of a field… I love it!

Today, experts on Claude Monet’s achievements, and particularly the famous Meules, examine the series as a whole and draw favorable conclusions about the artist’s ability in capturing the transient nature of light, the ever-changing atmosphere, and the passage of time, and Monet’s mastery in depicting the subtle variations of color and light. The general consensus is that Monet skillfully depicted the interplay between sunlight and shadows, creating a luminous quality in the ‘Heystacks’paintings. His use of broken color and loose brushwork allows the viewer’s eye to blend the colors optically, resulting in a vibrant and harmonious visual experience.

I particularly like how Paul Hays Tucker describes Monet’s organization… The compositions are all strongly geometric—the fields, hills, and sky being reduced to parallel bands that in most cases extend across the entire canvas, with the fields occupying approximately half the surface, and the hills and sky, a quarter each. When fifteen of these canvases were exhibited at Durand-Ruel’s in Paris between May 4 and May 18, 1891, their impact was as forceful as their elemental motifs and the show was an enormous success…. In moving from one canvas to another, one senses not only the many artful choices Monet made, but also his deep engagement with the stacks themselves. They are never overwhelmed by the light or obscured by the atmosphere, and thus they never lose their identity as forms. Monet even goes so far as to outline them, often in bold colors, and to define their conical tops by rivulets of light that run down their undulating edges. Although inert, the stacks seem to be invested with great feeling… P. H. Tucker, Monet in the ‘90s, The Series Paintings (exhibition catalog), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1989, pp. 77 & 82 https://archive.org/details/monetin90sseries00tuck

For a Student Activity on Les Meules à Giverny, simply means The Stacks at Giverny, please… Check HERE!