It is good to see more and more art galleries put their entire collection on-line. The major institutions have far too many works of art to ever hope to see in a single go, and it is a good idea to check out their websites and limit yourself to just a handful of paintings on a given visit. Two of my favourites at The National Gallery in London are the absolutely wonderful 'Surprised' by Henri Rousseau, and Joseph Turner's The Fighting Temeraire. Though if you limit yourself to those two, you'll be running around the building because they are at opposite ends of the labyrinth. What's your favourite painting at the National?
Posted by Joe at December 12, 2003 11:28 PMI imagine the venerable head monk at Kiyomizu agrees with your Rousseauian tastes, Joe, as he has opted for "Tiger" as this years ideograph. Though, come to think of it, he, like me, probably prefers Hashin to Rousseau!
Posted by: martin at December 13, 2003 10:42 AMEven I prefer Hanshin to Rousseau - once in every 20 years - on most years, I'll take Henri R. thanks.
Posted by: Joe at December 13, 2003 11:27 AMTo stay on that subject (more or less...); I thought the tiger looked just like the Japanese used to draw them (the artists had never seen them, so they based their drawings on hides from China, or so I read in Nijo-jo...)
like this one: http://www.ivanweede.nl/sef/gallery/gosho/res9701
hmm... well apparantly you'll have to copy and paste it in your browser to see that link, how should I insert links in here?
Posted by: steven at December 14, 2003 12:33 AM> (the artists had never seen them,
> so they based their drawings on hides from China
A very good point Steven. It is possible that Rousseau never saw a tiger in his life either. "The figure of the tiger may have been based on a print after a pastel by Delacroix", says the National website.
> how should I insert links in here?
Unfortunately, for security purposes, no html is allowed, so do as you did above and people will copy and paste into their browser.
Posted by: Joe at December 14, 2003 06:33 PM