Yesterday we went to the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery. I love going there and have blogged about it many times. Today I looked, as I always do, at some of my favourite paintings by The Glasgow Boys and then, whilst listening to the afternoon organ concert, wandered around the gallery on the first floor looking at familiar sculptures and, in particular, at the faces. I have probably blogged about these statues before but when I concentrated on the faces I could just concentrate on the emotions captured in the materials.
This face is from a statue entitled The Sunflower carved in Portland Stone by Gilbert Ledward in about 1932.
I don't think that I've ever shown this one before. It's entitled Paul and Virginia and was carved in about 1841 by William Calder Marshall. It depicts a scene from a French poem with Paul carrying his devoted playmate over a raging river. She later dies at sea and Paul dies of a broken heart.
The next is a bronze cast for a gravestone. It is entitled Memorial to a Marriage by Patricia Cronin. The explanation follows the picture.
Syrinx (the beauty who attracted the unwanted advances of Pan in Greek mythology) by William Macmillan was awarded the accolade of Best Sculpture of The Year in 1925 by the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
The Spring Tide of Life by Robert Colton in 1903 depicts the children gazing from the crest of wave as if into a wonderful future.
Of course anyone who has followed my blog for any length of time knows of my love for the sculpture entitled Motherless by George Anderson Lawson (1832 - 1904). Few sculptures show more emotion than this.
Lastly is the face of the Rt Hon the Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden KT who was chairman of the Kelvingrove Refurbishment Committee amongst many other things. I just thought that it was an 'interesting' face. When we had finished wandering we went down to the restaurant for coffee. I showed Anna the photo and asked her if she know who it was. "Of course" she replied "I was sitting near him at (her granddaughter's) school production recently." That was not an answer I had expected but it reminded me of the six degrees of separation which states that everyone in the world can, supposedly, be linked with everyone else in not more than six steps.
Great stuff! I've made a statue or two (small) out of clay - one fairly good likeness, a bust of an old beau, back when I was in college. He had a mohawk hairdo, so it was inspirational! I've always wanted to try stone sculpting, though... it seems a daunting but exciting thing!
ReplyDeleteWell Mrs S I look forward to seeing the results of your efforts.
DeleteI think it's in a box somewhere in the attic. Once you're married, keeping hand-sculptured busts of old beaus around in view isn't "the done thing". 8-)
DeleteA fascinating glance at faces and how different artists have managed, using different materials and methods, to express emotions with those faces.
ReplyDeleteI am intrigued by how each artist has chosen to create the impression of hair - especially the rather wild styles of the "Marriage" faces.
Meike your focus on hair interests me because that had fascinated me too. The 'Marriage' hair reflected the rather wild hair that the couple had (perhaps still have) in real life.
DeleteWonderful sculptures. Life-like sculptures carved in stone impress me especially as the artist can have very little chance of correcting anything... I think that out of these, I like The Sunflower best. That may be because the face of that woman reminds me of a friend of mine... But I also like the way the artist made her eyes, half-closed like that.
ReplyDeleteMonica The Sunflower has fascinated me for years. One day I love it and the next I'm not so sure but I'm always intrigued. I can't recall any other sculpture with such eyes.
DeleteThanks for sharing these fine sculptures. The head of Syrinx was especially lovely though hewn from a rough lump of marble. One can only marvel at the practical and artistic skills of the makers.
ReplyDeleteI agree YP the skill amazes me.
DeleteAs I was reading down the page I was wondering if I'd see 'Motherless' again. Thank you.
ReplyDeletePauline I'm glad that I didn't disappoint you.
DeleteI like how you focused on expressions in these sculptures.
ReplyDeleteThank you Red.
DeleteHow wonderful they are, one and all. So beautiful! Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd, Lee, there are so many more.
DeleteWonderful sculptures, Graham!
ReplyDeleteThank you Liz.
DeleteYes, there are some places that I love wandering around every time I go. There's something very pleasant about meeting up with old acquaintances, even if (or perhaps because) they are made of stone, metal, etc. and don't ever change. I too think that "Motherless" is a very touching and affecting statue.
ReplyDelete