George Tooker, Reqcuiscat in Pace

I was saddened to read that George Tooker had died Sunday.

I have only just begun to appreciate his work, and that of his circle, and now he has passed, link to NYT obituary.

George Clair Tooker Jr.

Self Portrait

1947

b. 5th August 1920

d. 27th March 2011

age 90

Described as a Symbolist and  a Magic Realist, labels he eschewed ; I find in Tooker’s work  ( this is  certainly not an original thought ) a strong link to the Renaissance, in particular the work of Piero della Francesca. It is not just his medium,  egg tempera, that calls this association to mind, his sensibilities, though decidedly modern, have strong roots in the rich Renaissance tradition, a modernist Neo-Renaissance perhaps.

Pierro della Francesca

St. Sebastian and St. John the Baptist

George Tooker

Window XI

part of the Windows series, 1950-1960.

Having a strong determination to paint, which was contrary to parental desire, Tooker majored in English Literature at Harvard ( this boy was no slouch) yet continued to paint. His circle included Reginald Marsh, Paul Cadmus ( who introduced Tooker to egg tempera) and Jared French; fine company, tremendous inspiration.

George Tooker by George Platt Lynes

source

Cornice

Difficult to ignore a certain resemblance.

Perhaps his most disturbing portrait is Children and Spastics , three effeminate men being pummeled by little monsters. Was this mocking? empathetic? or merely an observation?

It is striking, and quite modern.

Children and Spastics

1946

Museum of Contemporary Art

Chicago

I was first drawn to Tookers work due to the following image, it is easy to understand my attraction.

Coney Island

1947

Difficult to ignore the Pieta reference.

As I mentioned with the earlier image, Tooker created a series, Windows, during the 50’s and 60’s; comely Puerto Rican neighbors being  his inspiration.

Window XIII

The Window

lithograph

After his longtime partner the painter William Christopher died in 1973 ( they had met in ’49, quite a commitment ), Tooker was understandably devastated. He followed a path I can sympathize with, he found comfort in the arms of the Mother Church, and moved to Vermont. Seems quite sensible.

The following link is a recent interview he gave to Vermont Public Radio, it’s a treat to hear his thoughts.

sourced from the New York Times

I found a rather complete gallery of Tooker’s work, unfortunately much isn’t titled or dated, but the images are ravishing.

It is a great loss, we will miss out on new Tooker paintings, mysterious, gorgeous work; fortunately he left a large body of work to absorb, contemplate and enjoy.

Dance

1946

Good Night,

Babylon Baroque

In Celebration of César Chávez, the murals of Boris Deutsch

It appears odd to celebrate the Latino Chávez’s birth with the work of a Teuton, but such is the logic of Babylon.

Having recently visited  for the first time the Terminal Annex Post Office quite close to my home, I was struck by the WPA murals by the painter Boris Deutsch. His panels set into architectural lunettes are painted in the  odd Colonial-Latino-Indiginous-Deco sensibilities of the architecture; it is strange, not exactly beautiful, and thoroughly LA.

I thought they were a fitting tribute to man loved by so many here in the City of Angels.

Please pardon the quality, they were taken with my phone.

I really love the mask motif.

 

 

This is perhaps my favorite, the horned Kachina-like figure of particular interest .

This panel was barricaded off from the public, there might be other panels that are  also restricted from viewing.

 

César Chávez

b. 31st of March 1927

d. 23rd of April 1993

 

Happy Birthday Mr. Chávez.

Wishing all a pleasant day,

Babylon Baroque

Babylon Beefcake

No rhyme or reason, just cute fellas long gone…

sourced from The Haunted Lamp

Love this guy, so damn cute!

Enjoy the weekend my friends,

warm wishes from  Babylon

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, Reqcuiscat in Pace

We knew it was coming, but nonetheless…

She will always hold a special place in my heart, her beauty, her brashness, her talent.

She stuck by her “boys” during the dark hours , that isn’t easily forgotten.

God bless you Elizabeth.

more info

Perfection

I wish I had posted this for St. Patrick’s Day

More perfection

yet more

We all have a favorite scene, my favorite is the high heel crush from Butterfield 8, one of my favorite films.

Wishing you a safe journey!

Love from Babylon

Just one more, I love this image and couldn’t locate it before.

off into the sunset…

Follow this link and this for more information concerning Miss Taylor.

Punch Amidst the Roses

A recent painting was accepted as part of a juried show here in LA at the Pasadena Museum of California Art, I was of course pleased.

Polichinelle

by the author

colored pencil on paper

oil on canvas

Although only a student show, it is of course flattering to have your work hung upon  the unblemished white walls of a museum, a nifty nameplate puffs up one’s ego. Alas that was soon deflated.

The work most valued eluded my sensibilities, I do appreciate the notion of conceptual art, but I fear much of what is praised smacks of the Emperor’s newest wardrobe.

Or perhaps I am just griping about sour grapes.

Instead of being a pill I decided to explore the other galleries. I was pleased that I made that the decision, for I found a world quite separate from the bed-frames hanging from the ceiling, here in these empty galleries I found color, skill and the sort of painting that has long been out of fashion- the painting of lovely roses.

I know, rose paintings tend towards the insipid, but these were vibrant, strong, big juicy globs of oil truly capturing the essence of the rose.

These paintings were by an artist I was quite unfamiliar with, Franz A. Bischoff, an Austrian by birth, who  ultimately set root in Pasadena. Apparently successful enough with his lush paintings, delicate china decoration,  lessons to  society matrons and  even a line of supplies, that he was able to build a lavish neo-Renaissance home/studio enjoying fame and comfort.

Franz A. Bischoff

b. 9th January 1864

d. 5th February 1929

Tastes have certainly changed, but the Pasadena Museum put on quite a nice exhibition of his work, Gardens & Grandeur, porcelains and paintings of Franz A. Bischoff.

Unfortunately the show closed on the March 20th, but I revisited the gallery with the specific intention of sharing his paintings. He was known for his plein air work but I must confess I found them less exciting, at least en masse.

The roses seemed special.

They  reflect a time when painting for paintings sake was valued,when the craft of painting  was cultivated and admired.

Or perhaps I have adopted my grandmother’s taste…

Perla van Gadensberg Roses

ND

Roses

watercolor on paper

ND

Roses

ND

detail of above

detail of same painting, I’m just very impressed with the thick use of paint and yet still a masterful control of his medium, tricky business.

Flowers

1914

A Bouquet of Roses

ND

White and Pink Maman Cochet Roses

ND

detail of above

Roses on a Tea Table

1912

As the title of the show implies, Bischoff was gifted in the art of porcelain painting.

I admit, they may be an acquired taste.

Bischoff’s paintbox

Although the Bischoff show has ended, my painting, if you are inclined will be on view April 3rd through the 24th.

 

In some ways the museum’s  garage decorated by Kenny Scharf is as charmingly old fashioned as a Bischoff bouquet.

Difficult to not include it.

the author in a Scharfian fantasy

Wishing you all a pleasant evening,

Baroque Baroque

Primavera

In anticipation of tomorrow being  the first day of Spring, I thought a few images of hope would be appreciated by those still tormented by the last vestiges of winter.

Spring Morning

James Tissot

1875

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Spring

poster by Sumner

1893

Victoria & Albert

 

Still Life with Pansies

Henri Fantin-Latour

1874

Metropolitan Museum of Art

 

Allegory of the Four Seasons-Spring

Jacob de Wit

1751-52

Spring

Rosalba A Carriera

1725

Wishing all a happy Vernal Equinox.

For my friends back home ( or any other civilized climate) please make sure to note the delicate beauty of the Spring ephemerals, I miss them terribly in this God-forsaken desert wasteland.

Trillium grandiflorum

Good night from Babylon

Léon Bonnat, more then a pretty face

As is often the case, I was browsing through my only real guilty pleasure, the wonderful blog sissydude when I  stumbled upon this arresting face.

Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat

Self portrait ca. 1850

source

It is a self portrait  of the 17 year old Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat, aside from being sickened by his prodigious talent, I was of course struck by his great beauty.

Bonnat

age 22

b. 20th of June 1833

d, 9th of September 1922

I know of Bonnat from only one work, this very sexy image of Jacob wrestling with the tormenting angel.

Jacob Wrestling with the Angel

1876

As I researched I began to realize I was far more familiar with his work then I had initially thought; I had seen images of his work, but hadn’t placed his pretty face as the author.

Idylle

1890

Like the painter Bazille there was this interconnection between Bonnat and his contemporaries; Bonnat sat for Degas, one can understand why Degas would want to record this face. It is difficult to not read a certain homo-social element to these portraits.

Edgar Degas

Léon Bonnat

1863

aged 30

source

Of course I was fascinated to stumble upon this image of Bonnat’s studio.

It’s fun to see this image , with the painting of Job clearly visible.

Job

Martyrdom of St.Denis

Le Barbier de Suez

Adam and Eve Mourning the Death of Abel

1860

Aside from these frankly sexy images, Bonnat was well regarded as a painter of genre scenes.

Roman Girl at Fountain

1873

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Giotto Gardant les Chèvres

1850

I love this tale of Giotto, so I was particularly tickled to stumble upon this image.

I will certainly re-file it.

In addition to religious themed art, and genre painting, Bonnat was best known for his portraiture.

Madame Pasca

1874

Musée d’ Orsay

Victor Hugo

1879

All in all I  am terribly impressed with this painter, I admit I was drawn to that face, but his work satisfies long after his beauty has passed.

ca. 1890

age 57

As is so often the case , there is a Facebook page devoted to this great painter, please join me in and “like” the site.

I’m number 15, surely he deserves better then that!

Good night,

Babylon Baroque

Blessed Saint Patrick’s Day Greeting

 

Wishing all a happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

It is of interest that I could not locate on my quick search, paintings of St. Patrick. I did find many devotional windows to the Saint, particularly in the states, particularly from the East Coast, my home base.

We Irish immigrants love Saint Paddy!

Will try to wear a touch of green, and orange, but perhaps not to this extent.

unfortunate image.

 

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day Greetings

submitted

by

Babylon Baroque

To Japan

From one unstable patch of ground to another,

God bless.

 

 

 

 

Submitted in sympathy,

Babylon Baroque

Melchior d’ Hondecoeter’s Fantastic Menagerie

I am currently working on an allegorical self portrait, I chose as my totems the Dodo bird and the Peacock; both represent my temperament  rather well.

In my desire for avian accuracy I immediately turned not  to the works of Audubon or the ever useful Peterson’s ; instead I turned to that Dutch  master of plumed beauty, Melchior d’ Hondecoeter.

Palace of Amsterdam with Exotic Birds

ca. 1670

source

Menagerie

ca. 1690

Menagerie detail

b. 1636

d. 3rd of April 1695

Initially having focused on the paintings of sea creatures, d’Hondecoeter turned his attention to the painting of birds.

Melchior d’Hondecoeter broke from tradition pretty early  on in his career, for instead of  depicting birds solely as caught game , which had been the rather grisly norm, he depicted them as living beings full of vivacity and delight.

ca.1660 approvimately

source

detail

Peacocks

1683

Metropolitan Museum of Art

detail

I much prefer this feisty little living squirrel to the admirably painted yet quite dead hare depicted above.

Melchior d’Hondecoeter’s work was well regarded, he was commissioned by William III to paint the royal menagerie at Het Loo Palace.

King William III of England

1650-1702

painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller

1646-1723

Melchior d’ Hondecoeter was also responsible for the following image, clearly a bit of propaganda.

William III’s Lowlands Wars II

source

Like much of his work, this painting is unsigned; I almost question its authenticity, it lacks the artist’s obvious  delight in depicting fowl.

Upon his death part of Melchior d’ Hondecoeter’s estate included works by that other great painter of birds ( and critters) Frans Snyder (1579-1657).Snyder’s best remember as the artist Ruben’s employed to depict animals within his own paintings had an incredible ability to capture the essence of our furred and feathered neighbors.

It is now wonder that Melchior held his work in such esteem.

The Fable of the Fox and the Heron

Frans Snyder

before 1657

Snyder clearly delighted in birds as the following illustrates.

Concert of Birds

Frans Snyders

undated

Melchior d’Hondecoeter played upon this popular theme himself.

Das Vogelkonzert

undated

As is apparent I am crazy about this “minor” artist, perhaps even considered a mere craftsman in his day; I can only hope to aspire to the feathered magic wrought by Melchior’s studio.

Perhaps when my painting is complete I will have the audacity to post an image.

Until then the Met has put together this really marvelous “Birding” tour of their holdings, highlighting works that feature birds, I hope you enjoy it.

Believe it or not Melchior has a Facebook page, unfortunately it only has 7 followers including this author, I hope my readers will change that.

Respectfully submitted,

Babylon Baroque