Wednesday, April 9, 2008

A Favorite Paintintg




One of the great schools of 19th century English painting was the group of zanies known as The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. One of their founders was John Everett Millais. Most people remember Millais for his stunning "Ophelia" langurously floating? sinking? in a lush brook.


Beyond Millais' extremely refined style, his pictures are laden with symbolism. I think it is fun to see how much you can extract from a close look. Here for example is one of his best works: Christ in the House of his Parents, (oil on canvase, 1850)


It is really unlike most of the Jesus pictures in western art tradition, no? It is a very realistic workshop. Real work is being done by real people, no Madonna's or crucufixions or entombments, or flagellations. But look closely. Do you see the tools in the picture? Surely this refers to the implements of Christ's execution. Nail pullers appear to be on the table. What about the ladder in the background. Many many renaissance pictures show the ladder up against the cross. (See Filippino Lippi's Descent From the Cross, for example in the late 15th c.)

What is happening in the picture? The child has wounded his hand, the palm specifically? Surely a reference to the childs future death. Who is the lad bringing water? I guess it is none other than John the Baptist. What do you think of the table behind the child? Are the symbollically working on a cross? I would love to hear what other references and symbols you see in the picture. Email me with your thoughts at cliff@fineartconcierge.net

1 comment:

Caio Fern said...

he is one of my favorite painters as all this britsh generacion.
i cant count how many times i went to tate just for see this painting and the contempoarys of it.