Not the biggest painting in the world but it sings and glows off the wall of the Prado (is it still there?). Much imitated (Goya, Dali), rarely bettered. Only its precursors are more powerful to me - van Dyck, Bruegal, Rubens. But Velazquez's painting was audacious as a composition - no context, no landscape, no background.
It's still in the Prado as far as I'm aware at least it was when I saw it back in the early 90's
But I was aware of it from a print much earlier.
I'm not a Left Footer, but was raised one and now consider myself an agnostic/atheist or atheist/agnostic (I like to hedge my bets) But as a youngster this spoke to me, more than any other depiction of the crucifixion with their tortured 'passion' and muscular Christ.
I can’t really put into words how this picture makes me feel, and maybe that’s the point.
(the only niggle I have formed down the years, is that the halo is not needed)
(the only niggle I have formed down the years, is that the halo is not needed)
Indeed, same here. It feels like an afterthought. But without the halo what would we be looking at? A man suffering at the hand of cruel power, I think. So the halo's rather gratuitous and clashing presence raises interesting questions about Velazquez's intent.
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4 comments:
I'm not catlick, we're more of an angles family, but that's a very moving picture.
Not the biggest painting in the world but it sings and glows off the wall of the Prado (is it still there?). Much imitated (Goya, Dali), rarely bettered. Only its precursors are more powerful to me - van Dyck, Bruegal, Rubens. But Velazquez's painting was audacious as a composition - no context, no landscape, no background.
It's still in the Prado as far as I'm aware at least it was when I saw it back in the early 90's
But I was aware of it from a print much earlier.
I'm not a Left Footer, but was raised one and now consider myself an agnostic/atheist or atheist/agnostic (I like to hedge my bets)
But as a youngster this spoke to me, more than any other depiction of the crucifixion with their tortured 'passion' and muscular Christ.
I can’t really put into words how this picture makes me feel, and maybe that’s the point.
(the only niggle I have formed down the years, is that the halo is not needed)
(the only niggle I have formed down the years, is that the halo is not needed)
Indeed, same here. It feels like an afterthought. But without the halo what would we be looking at? A man suffering at the hand of cruel power, I think. So the halo's rather gratuitous and clashing presence raises interesting questions about Velazquez's intent.
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