When painting was epic.Byline: Bob Keefer The Register-Guard Yes, there was French painting before Impressionism impressionism, in painting impressionism, in painting, late-19th-century French school that was generally characterized by the attempt to depict transitory visual impressions, often painted directly from nature, and by the use of pure, broken color to . Though those 19th century artistic rebels have dominated museum blockbuster shows and gift shops for the past 20 years, it turns out that, indeed, France actually had real artists before Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro and Pierre Auguste Renoir Noun 1. Pierre Auguste Renoir - French impressionist painter (1841-1919) Renoir . Georges Lallemant's ''Adoration of the Magi,'' painted about 1636, is now on display at the Portland Art Museum The Portland Art Museum (PAM) in Portland, Oregon, United States, was founded in the last days of 1892, making it the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest. Upon completion of the most recent renovations, Portland Art Museum became one of the twenty-five largest art museums in . The grand, detailed canvas is 6 feet high by 10 feet wide. Thousands of people are shown in Adam-Frans van der Meulen's ''Louis XIV Crossing the Pont Neuf The Pont Neuf, oddly enough, is the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris. Its name— the "new bridge"— which distinguished it from the old bridges that were lined on both sides with houses, simply stuck. ,'' from about 1666. In case you don't believe it, the Portland Art Museum has mounted a show of Baroque French painting that's good enough to make your mouth water. Put together by the museum through FRAME, the French Regional and American Museum Exchange, "The Triumph of French Painting" draws together Old Master paintings from the collections of 18 museums on both sides of the Atlantic. As you tour the galleries here, you're forced to realize that painting held a far different place in the world of the 17th century than it does today. These works are complex, deeply layered, often based on stories known by their viewers. They are technically magnificent, giving a substantial reward for close and extended viewing. They are epic poems, not haiku haiku (hī`k  ), an unrhymed Japanese poem recording the essence of a moment keenly perceived, in which nature is linked to human nature. .
As you walk in the gallery entrance, you're met by the large portrait of a French painter, Nicolas Mignard, done by his son Paul Mignard in 1672. This detailed work includes not only a full-length image of the haughty haugh·ty adj. haugh·ti·er, haugh·ti·est Scornfully and condescendingly proud. See Synonyms at proud. [From Middle English haut, from Old French haut, halt artist himself, a well-dressed man at the height of his craft and power, but also a full array of the tools of his trade: palette and brushes, of course, but also a draftsman's compass and ruler, a stack of books, and various preliminary sketches and drawings the artist is using to complete the Annunciation Annunciation dove and lily pictured with Virgin and Gabriel. [Christian Iconography: Brewer Dictionary, 645] Elizabeth Mary’s old cousin; bears John the Baptist. [N.T. he's working on. A painting of a painter painting a painting: Our postmodern era has little to tell the Baroque about artistic self-reference. These paintings work artistically something like today's movies. One, Adam-Frans van der Meulen's 12-foot-wide ``Louis XIV Louis XIV, king of France Louis XIV, 1638–1715, king of France (1643–1715), son and successor of King Louis XIII. Early Reign Crossing the Pont Neuf,'' literally has a cast of thousands. Even the less populated canvases have story lines and plots as well as their own special effects special effects, in motion pictures, cinematographic techniques that create illusions in the audience's minds as well as the illusions created using these techniques. . Stop and look at Georges Lallemant's "Adoration of the Magi The Adoration of the Magi is the name traditionally given to a Christian religious scene in which the three Magi, often represented as kings, especially in the West, having found Jesus by following a star, lay before him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh: in the church ," which is more than 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide. It stops you in your tracks with its sheer visual heft. It's as big and gaudy as a Hollywood epic. Simon Voulet's ''Christ on the Cross'' is from 1636. Painting of the Baroque era Noun 1. Baroque era - the historic period from about 1600 until 1750 when the baroque style of art, architecture, and music flourished in Europe Baroque, Baroque period was dramatic, highly detailed and often depicted stories or events that viewers would know well. ''Judith,'' painted by Valentin de Boulogne This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the for details. This article has been tagged since September 2007. Valentin de Boulogne (1591-1632) was a French painter. about 1628, has just slain Holofernes. No fewer than 16 people populate the traditional stable scene as the three Wise Men visit the infant Jesus. Each figure is separately and interestingly painted, to such a level of detail that you can trace the veins in a Wise Man's hand, or admire the dimpled fat of Jesus' pudgy thigh. Mary is serene and beautiful, with what appear to be rouged cheeks. Joseph, as if wearying of his son's unexpected celebrity, looks like he's checking out for a nap. Groups of people interact with each other and contribute to the painting's intricate composition. Lallemant shows off his virtuoso technique by including what seems like miles of silk and brocade costumes, tons of ornate jewelry, animals and the ruins of a classical column or two in the painting. The lighting is as complex and frankly unnatural as a film such as ``Casablanca,'' where Ingrid Bergman's face always glowed softly and brightly next to Humphrey Bogart's deeply shadowed visage no matter where the lamps in the room were. For the best dramatic lighting tricks of the Baroque, check out the gallery of Caravaggio look-alikes. Caravaggio created a film noir film noir (French; “dark film”) Film genre that offers dark or fatalistic interpretations of reality. The term is applied to U.S. films of the late 1940s and early '50s that often portrayed a seamy or criminal underworld and cynical characters. look that was wildly popular in Europe at the beginning of the 17th century: harsh, directional light and deep shadows against nighttime backgrounds. There are no Caravaggios here, but there is a whole stable of people who used his tricks, including one painter called simply "the Candlelight Master" because his true name is uncertain. This master, about 1620-30, created "Saint Sebastian Cared for by Irene," a brutally lit image of the wounded saint. Sebastian, by tradition, was sentenced to be used for target practice by Roman archers after refusing to renounce his faith. Here, he is being gently tended by the rich widow Irene as her squeamish squea·mish adj. 1. a. Easily nauseated or sickened. b. Nauseated. 2. Easily shocked or disgusted. 3. Excessively fastidious or scrupulous. maid holds up a candle shielded by a paper bag, which glows like a lantern. My own favorite painting in the show is Valentin de Boulogne's "Judith." The common Biblical theme - Judith saved the Hebrews by seducing and then beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes - had been painted by Caravaggio himself. Valentin painted another canvas of Judith, more gory go·ry adj. go·ri·er, go·ri·est 1. Covered or stained with gore; bloody. 2. Full of or characterized by bloodshed and violence. than the one in this show. The one hanging in Portland stands out for its subtlety - the gory head is a minor part - and for the melancholy and earthy beauty of his Judith, who appears to reflect deeply, even sorrowfully sor·row·ful adj. Affected with, marked by, causing, or expressing sorrow. See Synonyms at sad. sor  row·ful·ly adv. on her violent
act.
The show offers much more. A gallery of devotional images features two crucifixions in real-life scale. Simon Vouet's "Christ on the Cross" of 1636 concentrates on the emotional drama at the foot of the cross. Philippe de Champaigne's 1655 painting of the same name is eerie and symbolic, with its lone figure of Jesus accompanied only by a single skull. You'll find genre painting genre painting Painting of scenes from everyday life, of ordinary people at work or play, depicted in a realistic manner. In the 18th century, the term was used derogatorily to describe painters specializing in one type of picture, such as flowers, animals, or middle-class - scenes of everyday life - some of which are so homey they could have been painted almost anywhere in the world. And the show ends in a burst of royal fancy, with a series of paintings related to the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King, whose patronage brought new strength to the arts in France. Baroque Europe seems far, far away from 21st century America. But in many ways, its excesses and sumptuousness make a good match for our own outlandish culture. "There is a lot we can identify with in this art," says Penelope Hunter-Stiebel, the museum's New York-based curator of European art. "Certainly the idea that art is being used to demonstrate that their nation is on top of the heap, and this immense pride in being the superpower." Besides all that cultural relevance, the show is beautiful and fun and well worth a trip to Portland to see. Reach Bob Keefer at 338-2325 or bkeefer@guardnet.com. EXHIBIT REVIEW The Triumph of French Painting Where: Portland Art Museum, 1219 S.W. Park Ave. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, through Jan. 4 How much: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and students over 18, $6 for children 5 to 18, free for children 4 and under |
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