Where Art Thou?

Still Life—Violin and Music, 1888
William Michael Harnett (1848–1892)
(Click all pictures to enlarge)

"It is the complexity of melody which makes music beautiful, just as negative spaces make a painting work. When next at the easel, remember we are making music for the eyes."
~ Mary Kilbreath

Music is art for the ears and no instrument evokes more emotion than the strings, the violin. In one moment it can be carefree and lively, cavorting with the square dancers as they twirl around the floor with their partners. In another instant the violinist brings forth great strength and resolve in sharp, short draws of the bow and loud discordant tones; one pictures the charge of a warrior! Then above the din, a melody emerges... sweet, soft, hauntingly sad; a melody that reaches into your deepest soul and the tears flow. Itzhak Perlman and his violin paint a picture of horrible loss and pain with those beautiful but wrenching notes in the theme from Schindler's List; and we weep. Almost any emotion can be painted with the sound of a violin under the master hand and this artist has painted us a violin; an image so real we might reach out and pluck it from the frame to make music the whole night through.

"People are like stained glass windows: they sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within."
~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

I loved the colors in this stained glass example, but cannot find the name or the artist or origin presently. It is on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as are all the works photographed here. The museum was very careful to have lighting behind each piece of stained glass, to bring out all the deep jeweled tones and they are stunning!

"In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it."
~ Michelangelo

Sculptures beg to be touched, to have fingers feel the cool of the marble or the bronze. To touch the same stone as the master Michelangelo and know that his hands felt the same smooth curves and edges as yours... amazing! The museums in Italy don't allow this touching.. but it was not prohibited in many areas of the Metropolitan. I really liked this piece, but again can't seem to find the name right now. She looks to be resting with her head on her bent knees; maybe she's worked hard in the field, or run in a marathon, or lifted babies up and down or any number of things and now she rests. Or perhaps she has lost a loved one or a friend or life has just become too overwhelming and she hides her face to weep. Perhaps the sculptor simply let her story be born in the eyes of the individual beholder.

Jungle Tales (Contes de la Jungle), 1895
James Jebusa Shannon (1862–1923)

"Painting is an adventure to an unknown world. New ideas and concepts develop along the way." ~ Ratindra Das

In this last painting, a mother sits reading to her two daughters, apparently the book is an adventure story of the jungle. The girls are on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the next word; the little red head has big blue eyes wide with excitement. Jungle stories have danger, exploration, exotic animals; and what holds more mystery than a lush green rainforest or traveling up the dark waters of the Amazon? One might think that these adventure stories would have been encouraged and read only by the boys during the 1800's... this mother is obviously progressive; yes, girls love adventure stories too!

This was just a sampling of the fabulous art at the Met. I didn't mention the tapestries, jewelry, gold and silver works, clay, fabrics, and book sections... much less the extensive Egyptian exhibits... If you are ever in New York City, don't pass this museum up!

The theme for Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt this week is "Art". You can go here to "Grab the Scavenger Hunt code" and here to join the blogroll. This really cute logo is available there as well. The link to other participants is in my blogroll on the sidebar.
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