Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Claude-Joseph Vernet (14 August 1714 – 3 December 1789)

















Pictured above are several of Claude Joseph Vernet‘s most famous paintings, all of which, I am extremely partial to. I bring these to the attention of any who listen because I believe him to be one of the most over looked and little known French masters of the Enlightenment period. I found in studying this period of painters there was a huge divergence (Neoclassical) from the norm (Baroque) which was often encouraged by the then prominent Roman Catholic Church. Claude Joseph Vernet paintings really capture my attention. If you walk up to his work from many feet away you first are dazzled with color and light. You may find yourself as I have, furiously searching for the source of the light and confirmation of the intensity he is able to capture. I equate the imagery in his paintings to pausing an often dramatic, fast paced movie and scanning the entire screen looking for something you have never noticed before. I find his elegance in form and interesting blending of characters very intriguing. An example is the first pictured above, often referred to as: 
A Seaport at Sunset

In this painting, the artist depicts an idealized Mediterranean seaport, rather than a specific location, and uses a variety of features from the region. The lighthouse is from Naples, whereas the mountains behind it are unlike any in the vicinity of Naples. At the far right is the Arch of Constantine, which is from Rome. The lateen-rigged ship on the right is a type common to the eastern Mediterranean. The large warship is firing a salute and the nearby ships fly the Dutch flag, indicating that the painting may have been commissioned by a Dutch client.ß Quoted

I find the breath of his work a refreshing in comparison to those many would call, the French masters (Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin)

Please explore and a send your reflections.

About Me

My photo
Jason Eric Lee was born in Clarinda, Iowa. He moved to and continues to reside in, the arid region of the world, often referred to as a desert. Jason is a fan of all things science fiction. Some of his favorite authors include Douglas Adams, George Lucas and Michael Crichton. Jason has several friends and family members, who have always been an inspiration to him. There are several rumors that he secretly trains small puppies to do household chores, for him and his family. Jason emphatically denies this, continually pointing out that he would rather shoot himself than ever own let alone train any animals, including the small furry and albeit sometimes cute ones. There are other rumors still that he has also been spotted repeatedly having brunch with such characters as Bob Sasquatch and Joseph Big Foot. When confronted by this he is most likely to respond with, something along the lines of: “Stepped in what?” Jason does however thoroughly enjoy life – what-ever the cost. He is most proud of (in this order): Mckenna Kaeko Lil Al a small book he published named "Visions of the Unknown"

Followers