Giotto's Frescoes

 

What could be better, on Christmas Eve, than to visit the nativity scenes from a masterpiece of Western art--the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy. Just to enter the little chapel and see the view pictured above takes your breath away. The frescoes that cover every surface of the Chapel were painted by Giotto de Bondone (a.k.a. "Giotto"). They were done over 700 years ago--and they are as beautiful today as when they were first created. 

The Annunciation

Giotto's fresco cycle tells the story of God's promises and the life of Jesus. The nativity portions of the frescoes start with the Annunciation (above). They show the Angel Gabriel coming to Mary with the message that she would bear the Son of God. To quote from Madeleine L'Engle's book, "What an amazing, what an impossible message...!   Possible things are easy to believe. The Glorious Impossibles are what bring joy to our hearts, hope to our lives, songs to our lips."

The Visitation

Next we see Mary go to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth was also with child, and her unborn child recognized the baby Mary was carrying, and leaped for joy. Another Glorious Impossible event! 

Nativity (above), and Detail (below)

Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. Nearby, shepherds with their flocks were visited by an angel, telling them of the birth. I love Giotto's depiction of this story in the fresco above, showing the host of heavenly angels, singing to the glory of God. And I can't resist mentioning how Giotto took a huge leap forward in the history of art by depicting these figures in such a natural, human way. No more stylized figures. Here we see very human gestures and expressions. The great art critic John Ruskin said that Giotto painted "the Madonna, Saint Joseph and the Christ, yes, by all means...but essentially Mama, Papa and Baby."  

The Adoration of the Magi (above), and Details (below)

Now we come to the Adoration of the Magi. What a gorgeous fresco, and how full of life! Madeleine L'Engle writes that the Magi (or wise men) were serious scholars who studied the heavens and movements of heavenly bodies. Each came to Judea at the time of Jesus' birth because of what he had read in the movement of the planets and stars. It is very fitting that this fresco shows a comet streaming through the heavens. The wise men believed that something happening in Bethlehem would change the world, and they brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Above many of these frescoes we see the stars in their courses. Echoing the individual frescoes, the ceiling of the Chapel shows a vast expanse of sky, punctuated by beautiful stars. Their brilliance shines above all, and reminds me of the majesty of creation. Stirring thoughts during this advent season!

Small Works for the Holidays

 "Hillside", 8 x 8, Oil on Linen, Mounted on Panel, (c) Lesley Powell

Everybody else is doing it, so I decided to throw my hat in the ring too.  And what is "it"?  The annual Small Works for the Holidays project, of course~!  In the past I've held a "Small Gems" sale, and so I guess I am returning to my roots.

I'm offering a group of paintings that are sized and priced ideally for gift giving.  Whether it is a gift to yourself, or to somebody else, there is nothing like original art to add warmth to the home and the holidays.  Prices are below--if you'd like to purchase or get more information, just contact me through my website by clicking here.

"Sunset Magic", 8 x 8, Oil on Canvas, Mounted on Panel, (c) Lesley Powell

Here's the scoop on each of these paintings.  The top painting, "Hillside" was painted on location in Provence this past summer.  I can almost feel the hot, arid earth when I look at this one.  Lots of palette knife work--and I didn't event touch it up when I got home!  (Price: $325)

The next painting, "Sunset Magic", was also painted on location in Provence.  You have to be quick when you paint a sunset, because the colors change so fast.  I did this one a couple of years ago, and I have held it as a study to work from in the studio.  But I have finally decided to offer it to a new home. (Price: $295)

"After Corot", 5.5 x 9, Oil on Paper, (c) Lesley Powell

The next painting is a "master copy"-- painted from studying masterpieces of one of my favorite painters, Camille Corot.  This process is a time-honored way of learning.  The idea is not to reproduce a copy, but to interpret the master's work and to learn his thought process.  I learned a great deal from this project, and these one has informed some of my ongoing work. (Matted to 12.5 x 15.75, Price $300)

"Top of the Village", 7 x 10, Oil on Linen, Mounted on Panel, (c) Lesley Powell

Last but not least is "Top of the Village", which depicts the village of Gordes, in the heart of Provence.  This one was also painted entirely on location.  Those perched villages can be a challenge to paint, but a FUN challenge!  I love the cubist vibe that the buildings create as they tumble down the slope. (Price $350).

Thanks for taking a look at these, and do feel free to reach me here for any further information.  Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

 

Photo (c) Lesley Powell

The holiday season is in full swing, and this will probably be my last post of 2021.  I want to thank all of you who read this blog for your support and encouragement throughout the year.  I close with thoughts of stars, and one star in particular:

Star of wonder, Star of night,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Lead us to thy perfect Light.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, ALL!

Lyrics from "We Three Kings", Christmas carol composed by John Henry Hopkins, Jr. in 1857.

Easter Story

 

Detail from Giotto's "Lamentation"

As Easter approaches, I want to share some beautiful frescoes depicting events of Holy Week. I have chosen frescoes by Giotto  de Bondone from the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy. Giotto told the story of Christ's passion with a series of unforgettable frescoes. As you follow the story in a series of panels along the walls of the Chapel, you can't help but experience an emotional build-up, and an increasingly tragic tone.

Giotto, "Kiss of Judas"

Giotto, "Kiss of Judas" detail

Giotto was a early Renaissance painter, whose work marks a clear shift from the prior Byzantine style. Before Giotto, paintings tended to depict people in a one-dimensional, highly stylized, static way. The looked like flat cut-outs. But in the hands of Giotto, the figures become human. They are modeled in three dimensions, and their expressions are full of emotion. One critic has written that you can almost hear the sobs of the women and shrieks of the angels in these frescoes of the Passion. 

Giotto, "Crucifixion"

From Judas' betrayal of Christ, to the crucifixion and resurrection, we see masterpieces of Renaissance art. The  emotion of the characters is almost palpable. These frescoes were painted over seven hundred years ago (yes, seven hundred!!), but their appeal is timeless. And the Easter story that they tell--the victory of life over death--is as powerful today was it was two thousand years ago.

Giotto, "Lamentation"

It would not be an exaggeration to say that each fresco warrants hours of study. The overall harmony of the ensemble is marvelous, but I think that the details of certain characters and expressions are equally compelling. I am including close-up images from several of the panels. Any one of these, standing alone, would be a master work. The entirety makes for a very rich feast. Notice the bare little tree on the right in the fresco just above ("Lamentation"). The tiny green buds on it are said to symbolize the coming resurrection. And of course, we can't end with the crucified Christ--the focus of Easter is the triumph of the resurrection!

Giotto, "Resurrection and Noli me tangere"

I love this resurrection fresco, which combines a scene from the empty tomb with the scene of Jesus' appearance to Mary Magdalene. On the left, the Roman guards sleep at the tomb, and two angels sit nearby. On the right, the risen Jesus appears to Mary Magddalene. The flag carried by Jesus reads "victor mortis", or "conqueror of death".  Hallelujah!  Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

"Hydrangea Centerpiece with Azaleas"
18 x 18, Oil on Linen
(c) Lesley Powell 2019

Wishing you all a very 

Happy Easter!

Christmas Cometh!

Many of us are busily wrapping Christmas presents, as December 25th draws nigh. I've put my special "ribbon" (pictured above) on a few gifts this year. It's an idea that came to me last year, and it has gotten such a good reception that I kept it up this year.

My preferred painting surface is oil primed Belgian linen. I buy it in big long rolls, like the ones you see hanging in fabric stores. This means that I roll out and cut pieces of linen for each individual painting, in the dimension needed for that particular painting. I have to trim off the selvedges. But I love the way they look, with their sprocket holes and raw linen showing on the side. So I have made a point of removing them in continuous, long strips, which I use as ribbons in wrappiing Christmas presents. It's fun, different, and good for the planet!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

'Tis the Season!

"Les Astiers"
Oil on Linen, 8 x 16
(c) Lesley Powell 2018
Available at Dilworth Artisan Station Holiday Open House

Hard as it may be to believe, the holiday season is nigh! Like everybody else, art galleries and painters have their own rituals of the season. One of the rituals is the "small works" show -- a collection designed to showcase paintings that are small enough to fit under the Christmas tree, and affordable enough for gift-giving. After all, who wouldn't love a gift of art??

"Cyclamen, Winter"
8 x 8, Oil on Canvas
(c) Lesley Powell
Available at Dilworth Artisan Station Holiday Open House

Galleries often send out a call for small works as early as August or September. The early call gives painters time to plan and execute paintings that fit the bill. Many painters work in a very large scale, so producing small works is a diversion for them, something they do especially for the holidays. Some painters even paint Christmas-themed paintings just for these shows. 

"Fresh Mown Fields"
Oil on Linen, 8 x 16
(c) Lesley Powell 2018
Available at Huff Harrington

Lucky for me at this time of year, I often paint in a smaller format. As a result, I have plenty of paintings to consider for these events. And all of them have been created in the course of my ongoing approach to painting, throughout the year. I am illustrating this post with some of them.

"Gerbera and Lemon"
12 x 9, Oil on Linen
(c) Lesley Powell 2018
(SOLD)

If you'd like to see Small Works shows in person, here are a few that will include my paintings. The dates are for the opening receptions, which will feature yummy food and drinks. It's a fun way to kick off the holiday season! The shows themselves will be hanging for most of December. Click the links below for more details. Enjoy!

"Little Jewels"

Huff Harrington Fine Art

Atlanta

Reception: Saturday, December 1st, 10 AM to 5 PM

"Small Works Show"

Shain Gallery

Charlotte, NC

Reception: Friday, December 7th, 6 to 8 PM

"Holiday Open House"

Dilworth Artisan Station

Charlotte, NC

Reception: Friday, December 7th, 6 to 9 PM

Happy Easter!

"White Roses in Footed Vase"
18 x 18, Oil on Canvas
(c) Lesley Powell 2018

Wishing you a very happy Easter,

and all the joy and hope

of the season!

A Christmas Card

"Snowbound"
John Henry Twachtman, 1895

Merry Christmas!

My Christmas card to you faithful readers: "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"--and this beautiful painting inspires me. Wishing you and all your loved ones the joy, love and peace of Christmas--now and throughout the New Year.

For some beautiful images pointing the way
to the Nativity,
check out my Nativity post here.

Things that Go Bump in the Night

"Le Mauvais Pas"
Woodblock Print
Felix Vallotton, 2893

Halloween is just around the corner, and everywhere I look there are pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts and other indicia of the holiday. I started a bit of research about Halloween for this post, but quickly despaired, because of the vast number of theories about the real origins of Halloween. 

Many of the theories are conflicting. Let's just say that it's a centuries old tradition, which some say dates from the Celts over 2000 years ago. The Celts believed that on the night before November 1 (the start of their new year), the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. 

"Black Cat"
Watercolor
(c) Beverly Brown

Most would agree that the holiday we know today has roots that are both pagan and sacred.   Halloween falls on the night before All Saint's Day--a day recognized by the Roman Catholic Church in 609 A.D. to honor those who have died and gone to heaven. According to

Celebrating Fourth of July!

"Flag Days"
Oil on Canvas, 20 x 16
(c) Colin Page

CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Thanks to those who have gone before us. Quoting John Adams: "I must study politics and war, that my sons may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain."

This year I am featuring paintings by one of my favorite artists--the Maine artist Colin Page. You can see more of Colin's work here. Enjoy!

Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20
(c) Colin Page

Nativity

What better, as Christmas draws near, than to visit the nativity scenes from a masterpiece of Western art--the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy. If you have never visited this place, I can guarantee that it will not disappoint. Just to enter the little chapel and see the view pictured above takes your breath away. The frescoes that cover every surface of the Chapel were painted by Giotto de Bondone (a.k.a. "Giotto"). They were done over 700 years ago--and they are as beautiful today as when they were first created. 

The Annunciation

Giotto's fresco cycle tells the story of God's promises and the life of Jesus. The nativity portions of the frescoes start with the Annunciation (above). They show the Angel Gabriel coming to Mary with the message that she would bear the Son of God. To quote from Madeleine L'Engle's book, "What an amazing, what an impossible message...!   Possible

Jump Start the Holidays!

'Tis the Season! JOIN ME AT OUR HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE DILWORTH ARTISAN STATION Friday, December 2nd, 2016 6 pm to 9 pm and Saturday, December 3rd, 2016, 10 am to 2 pm Lesley Powell Art Find me on the Third Floor--Studio #35 118 E. Kingston Avenue, in Charlotte's South End Above: "Village in the Vaucluse", 12 x 18, oil on linen, (c) Lesley Powell 2016. Come be Jolly!! The halls will be decked when I co-host the Holiday Open House at Dilworth Artisan Station, the first weekend in December. More than twenty-five artists will open our studios for the event. Here's who we are. Whether you enjoy art that is abstract or realistic, flamboyant or quiet, large or small--we have it all! NEW THIS YEAR: Most of us will also be open on Saturday, December 3rd, from 10 am to 2 pm. So if you can't make it Friday night, all is not lost! Take advantage of Saturday for a stroll through the studios. Friday night will feature live music, beverages and nibbles. Saturday promises to be more sedate, but I will have tea and cookies, and good conversation. Come, bring a friend, and get into the holiday spirit! Above: "Harmony in Yellow", 16 x 20, oil on linen, (c) Lesley Powell 2016

Where to Park? The lot beside our building; spaces on the street; and in the overflow parking deck behind Carrabba's restaurant. Or be adventuresome and take the light rail. I hope to see you Friday night or Saturday--or both! Above: "Straightaway", 7 x 14, oil on linen, (c) Lesley Powell 2016. See more paintings on my website, Lesley Powell Art

Happy Fourth of July!

"The Fourth of July, 1916"
Childe Hassam

CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY
AND THOSE WHO FOUNDED

OUR GREAT NATION!

Quoting John Adams: "I must study politics and war, that my sons may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain."

I am republishing this post from 2014, because it's just such a grand sentiment for the Fourth of July. Wishing you all a festive Independence Day!

Happy Easter!

"Thumper"
(c) Lesley Powell 2013
(SOLD)

Preparations for Easter are underway at my house. I could not resist sharing this painting--an oldie but goodie--and very appropriate for the season. 

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter holiday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

"Three Stems"
8 x 8, Oil on Panel
(c) Lesley Powell 2015
(Available here)

Wishing you a
Happy Valentine's Day!

"Soft Pink"
Oil on Linen, 8 x 10
(c) Lesley Powell 2015
(Available here)