Sunday, May 30, 2021

WINIFRED KNIGHTS

 

Post 188 -by Gautam Shah

SUNDAY Feature on ART of Architecture

Winifred Knights was born in Streatham, South London (1899-1947). She painted very few paintings in her life of 48 years and a career of 25 years. She painted just seven, finished art works. She, however, did leave, was a great number of preparatory works, drawings, studies and trial pictures. She was an artist who was obsessively meticulous. She condensed images from large repertory of studies to form a composition. She had an obscure reputation, but her greatest achievement was her originality.

Knights developed a consistent style, reducing form and colour, a characteristic of Decorative Painting. She rendered her pictures within an architectural setting and with suitable fashion dressed human beings. Landscape was an important element in all her major works. Landscape was formed of low-toned and collection of unrelated elements. The trees were superfluous. He composition was condensed from a number of preparatory drawings.

She had a deep attachment to the countryside and, was influenced by the utopian writings of the socialist philosophers. These resulted in figure compositions with rural labour. Her work reflects her attachment to Biblical scenes, though she was not a religious person.Her works include, not just drawn art, but clothing, lifestyle and interior design.

Winifred Knights’ THE DELUGE, a spectacular masterpiece won her the Prix de Rome in 1920 and the respect of the art world. In an apocalyptic interpretation of the biblical tale of the flood, she has depicted a scene riddled with hysterical panic with sharp angular forms. Figures fleeing to higher ground while Noah’s ark glides away in the distance. Originally Knights had planned something far more conventional and still, but this remarkable work feels entirely of its time. In the foreground, Knights shows herself in a self-portrait, off-center in the foreground, with her limbs and psyche shifting in opposite directions.

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Sunday, May 23, 2021

HENDRIK FRANS SCHAEFELS

 

Post 187 -by Gautam Shah

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SUNDAY Feature on ART of Architecture

Hendrik Frans Schaefels (Henri François Schaefels - Rik Schaefels 1827-1904) was a romantic painter, draughtsman and engraver from Antwerp. He was known for his seascapes, cityscapes, genre paintings, landscapes with figures and history paintings. He was highly esteemed in Europe for his representations of historic naval battles.

Schaefels began his career with Romantic art, popular at the time. His early work, consisted mainly of cityscapes of Antwerp and genre scenes. He is now mainly remembered for his seascapes, often representing the historical events such as sea battles.

Schaefels made many sketches which served as studies for his paintings. He spent much of his time, outdoors drawing the ships and related activities in the port of Antwerp. He included notes that provide historical information on maritime and river transport activities of the time. His drawings are carefully done and picturesque. Schaefels was a good engraver. . 






















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LOUISA INGRAM RAYNER

  Post -316 SUNDAY Feature on ART of Architecture -by Gautam Shah .  Louisa Ingram Rayner (1832-1924) was a British Architectural lands...