Sir Joshua Reynolds' "Portrait of British General John Burgoyne"

Seven works of art I would like to see at the Frick

I recently visited New York and seeing the Frick was part of my plans, but due to time constraints I couldn't do it.  Anyway, in an effort to turn lemons into lemonade, I'm going to post seven works of art from the Frick that I wish I could have seen.  

Nationality: English

Born-Died: 1723-1792

Creation Date: c. 1766

Media: Oil on canvas 

Location: The Frick Collection, New York City, New York, USA

It may be obvious to people who follow this blog but this is my favorite kind of painting--"grand manner" portraiture.  


This is an image of a hero--an image of a man that embodies virtue.  In terms of art, it makes no difference if that actual sitter for this painting was virtuous or not.  The value of art is that the scene is it's own world reflecting what is important in our world, not that it is a journalistic recreation of the particulars of this world.  


The overall statement of this painting is positive, but the world he lives in is not world made out of Nerf and candy.  He has carved out a place for himself in it and it doesn't look like it was a cake walk.  It reminds me of Howard Roark.  Roark suffered tremendously in his world, but in the end his triumph was so great that it far overshadowed the trials he passed through.

A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, BONUS

Nationality: American

Born-Died: 1869-1934

One more.  While this cartoon is about personal decisions, it perfectly describes national situations as well.

A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, Day 7

Nationality: American

Born-Died: 1869-1934

Yet another excellent cartoon.

A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, Day 6

Nationality: American

Born-Died: 1869-1934

Another good one.

A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, Day 5

Nationality: American

Born-Died: 1869-1934


I think this is about whether to engage in World War I or not.  Uncle Sam here is right--he has plenty of his own work to do.

A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, Day 4

Nationality: American

Born-Died: 1869-1934

The only thing I don't like about this is the word "conceit" on the figure's shirt on the far right.  I think that comes from an ignorant understanding of self-esteem.  Otherwise though, I love this image.

A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, Day 3

Nationality: American

Born-Died: 1869-1934

A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, Day 2

Nationality: American

Born-Died: 1869-1934

A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, Day 1

Nationality: American
Born-Died: 1869-1934


I found these in two books called "Winsor McCay: Early Works III" and "IX" and they are really great.  I think other Objectivists will enjoy them.  Looking through his work I am very impressed by how  he supported the free market, industry, science, freedom and how anti-religion and superstition he was.  His work is not above criticism however.  He very often cast wealth, money and greed in a negative light while glorifying immoralities such as public education.  In any case, his drawings are fantastic and many of the ideas are too.  I hope you enjoy them as I do!


This first one is AMAZING.

Unkown Artist's Crucifixion Tapestry

Nationality: Flemish
Creation Date: c. 1500-1525

Size: 71.7 x 76 in (182 x 193 cm)

Media: tapestry in wool, silk, silver-gilt thread

This tapestry is interesting to me in that it is a wonderful example of visually concretized values. The first image below looks patchy because I used Photoshop to piece together the detail images that were available--unfortunately, I don't know where this tapestry is located or who made it.  In any case, flanking Jesus are the two thieves, one good, one evil.  Their body language is quite different as they hang from their crosses making it easy to guess which thief is which. 

Justin Wisniewski's "Ayn Rand"

Nationality: All American
Born-Died: 1978-

Creation Date: 2011

Size: 7.5 x 10.5 inch (19.05 x 26.67 cm)

Media: Charcoal and gouache on watercolor paper

Location: Collection of the artist, USA

This drawing is currently for sale on eBay starting at only $49.99 or you can buy it now for only $99.99! 

Rembrandt van Rijn's "Aristotle with a Bust of Homer"

Nationality: Dutch
Born/Died: 1606-1669
Creation Date: 1653
Size: 56.5 × 53.7 in. (143.5 × 136.5 cm)
Media: Oil on canvas
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York, USA

Norman Rockwell's "Freedom of Speech"

Nationality: American
Born/Died: 1894-1978

Creation Date: 1943
Size: 45.75 in × 35.5 in. (116.2 cm × 90 cm)
Media: Oil on canvas
Location: Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, USA
Happy Independence Day!

Pierre Puget's "A Philosopher"

On this Day in the History of Art: Claude Mellan born (1598)

Nationality: French
Born-Died: 1620-1694
Creation Date: 1662
Media: Marble
Size: h 15.5 x w 8.875 x d 10 in. (h 39.4 x w 22.6 x d 25.4 cm)
Location: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

A wonderful bust from the Cleveland Museum, photos by me.

Jacques-Louis David's "The Death of Socrates"

On this Day in the History of Art: Socrates died (399BC), Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony premieres (1824), Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky born (1840), Caspar David Friedrich died (1840), The Group of Seven first exhibit in the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto (1920), “Anthem” published in the UK (1938)Nationality: French
Born-Died: 1748-1825
Creation Date: 1787
Size: 51 × 77.25 in. (129.5 × 196.2 cm)
Media: Oil on canvas
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York, USA

Today is the 2,410th anniversary of the death of Socrates. This painting is commonly referred to in the US as The Death of Socrates, but I have also seen it written as Socrates at the Moment of Grasping the Hemlock. Due to the latter title's specificity I suspect this was closer to the original French title. This shouldn't be too surprising since many works from history have had changes of title, including some of the most famous works. While vast quantities of writing have been published about this painting, fortunately, it's not too hard to appreciate if you have a basic idea of what happened to Socrates. It is paintings like these that make me love the work of David (pronounced Dah-VEED).

I know why people in the art's industry would claim otherwise, but there is really no good reason why people don't make paintings like this anymore.

A copy of Jean Jouvenet's "The Triumph of Justice"

Nationality: French
Born-Died: 1644 - 1717
Creation Date: 1713
Media: Oil on canvas
Location: Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Oregon, USA

When events in the news loom large and a man is stuck in his quiet house, alone, thinking about what has happened and what is to come, if he is anything like me he very often takes this opportunity to seek out works of art. More specifically he seeks a work of art--he doesn’t quite know which one.

He doesn't want just any work. He doesn't care about intellectual games like "spot the obscure reference." Nor is he drawn to works because they broke all the rules or even because they obeyed all the rules. He has no interest in works that are intended to impress others or to make him feel stupid or confused. And while he might find history fascinating at other times, today he is not interested in the people and events of history per se.

The Glory of American Money - William Hicok Low's "History Instructing Youth"

On this Day in the History of Art: Leon Battista Alberti died (1472), “Robinson Crusoe” published (1719), Gustave Boulanger born (1824), Peter Il'yich Tchaikovsky born (1840), Tokyo opens to foreign trade, influencing Impressionist painters (1867)

Nationality: American
Born/Died: 1853-1933

Creation Date: 1896
Media: Intalgio print

"To the glory of mankind, there was, for the first and only time in history, a country of money--and I have no higher, more reverent tribute to pay to America, for this means: a country of reason, justice, freedom, production, achievement."

-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

The text to the right is the US Constitution.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Week: "The Triumph of Virtue over Ignorance"

All this week I'm going to be posting the shaped canvases of one of my favorite painters, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.



This panel's shape isn't too wild, but it's interesting to note how the figure on the bottom-left fits nicely into the shape. The edges of this piece are not flat, but slightly bowed outward and the corners are slightly bowed inward. I think those are nice details.