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A love of the unusual inspired a German artist to create profound and admired work

9/28/2014

 
Illustration of moth
Merian's admiration for entomology led to the collection and deep study of insects as a child. She was a keen and excited observer looking to discover new knowledge. This approach yielded tremendous new information about the insect world that would later evolve into what some consider her masterpiece, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium. This work documented insects from Surinam, a Dutch Colony, in their full life cycle. It helped clarify the delicate process of metamorphosis. The work features a plate illustrating stages of Cocytius antaeus, otherwise known as the Giant Sphinx. Another example of her ability to artistically combine plants and insects is plate 52 titled citrus sinensis. In this piece, Merian illustrated a butterfly in mid landing on a branch with an orange. She had an artistic eye that could create an image of a natural habitat in motion.  

Merian married an apprentice of her stepfather in 1665. His name was Johann Andreas Graff. They would eventually have two daughters, Johanna Helena and Dorothea Maria Graff. Both girls learned to paint under the tutelage of their talented parents. Merian divorced Graff in 1692 and moved with her daughters to Amsterdam. It was Amsterdam that later sponsored her trip to Surinam. What she observed there culminated in the aforementioned Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium or Insects of Surinam.  

Merian's work continued throughout her life, even after becoming partially paralyzed by a stroke. She died in Amsterdam in 1717, but her legacy endures. Her work is still reproduced and collected by art lovers and entomology fans alike. Merian's face was featured on the German stamp in 1987 as part of a Women in German History series. Some of her pieces can still be found on exhibit in art galleries and museums. In 2008 the Getty Center in Orange County, California featured Merian and her daughters in a 2008 exhibition to share her unique and eye-catching familial works with the world. In 2013 Google honoured Merian on what would have been her 366th birthday with a Google Doodle, a modified logo created by Google for special occasions and holidays. Today, the collections acquired by Peter the Great after Merian's death are in St.Petersburg for academic purposes.


Illustration of plant
When we think of flying insects, spiders, and beetles our first instinct might be to call the local pest control company to exterminate those creepy crawlers! What if we could look beyond that compulsion and make an effort to embrace what others might see? One artist in particular created enduring works of beauty from the study of entomology for the world to learn from and appreciate for centuries. 

From her birth in 1647, artist Maria Sibylla Merian's future could appear predetermined. She was born in Frankfurt into the family of Matthaus Merian, a Swiss engraver and publisher. Sadly, when Merian was just three years old her father passed away. As fate would have it, she didn't have to look far to find a new mentor. Her mother soon married Jacob Marrel, an artist and art dealer. Marrel was trained by still life artist Georg Flegel. With so much talent to guide her it is no surprise that by age 28 she had already published her first book of natural illustrations titled Neues Blumenbuch. This publication contained colorful and detailed floral engravings. It was unique for its time because the engravings are not simply individual flowers. As a pioneering entomologist who didn't shy away from observing bugs up close, she combined foliage with various insects such as butterflies, worms, and other creepy crawlers that come to mind. Her combination of self-taught knowledge and artistic talent allowed for a more organic result in her engravings. Her scientifically accurate detail garnered respect and credibility in the world of entomology and is still revered today. 


A Mantegna Gets Moved

9/26/2014

 
Mantegna
Guest Author Marce Castro

One of the greatest art museums in Italy is the Pinacoteca di Brera. It is found in Milan and offers a number of stunning pieces of art that are centuries old. The Andrea Mantegna work from 1498 is one of the pieces that hangs in the museum. It is the Lamentation over the Dead Christ. People from near and far come to gaze upon it.
The painting has been very real and it makes it look as though the flesh of Christ is real, which can be very disturbing for many. There are also the faces of Saint John and the Virgin Mary within the photo.

The Mantegna had almost always hung in the same area of the gallery. In December of 2013, it was moved, replacing it with a Carpaccio. However, the Mantegna was still in place, simply moved to another area where it hung on a black wall, recessed, and at waist height. It was behind heavy glass and lit well in order to show off ore of the details.

The art had been removed from the frame, showing the edges of the canvas. By doing so, it was possible to see new angles and the compression that the Christ figure had was no longer as extreme. The image began to make more sense for more people who had always been troubled by the foreshortening.
The museum curator had decided to change the way that the Mantegna, as well as the Madonna by Bellini, were displayed. It would place it into new context so that lovers of the art world could examine it in new light.

The reason for the change?

Interior shotPhoto by Alessia Damone
New research had come out that led people to believe that Mantegna had envisioned the painting to be hung closer to the ground than where it had previously hung within the Pinacoteca di Brera. With this new information and the new display, it made sense.
The Milanese art circles have suffered an upset, however, While some people are pleased to see the art the way that it was intended, others are genuinely upset with the move. They believe that a desecration of fine art has happened.

The professor at the Accademia di Brera believes that the move was a disaster. He feels that the painting looks more like a projected slight with the lighting and recess. The design for the new installation was done by Ermanno Olmi, who is a film director. He chose to hang it just 28 inches from the floor of the museum.

While many are upset with where the Dead Christ has been moved, it will remain there and art enthusiasts from around the world are heading to Milan in order to render their own thoughts.

Tickets for this museum can be found online on several websites.

London and The Growth of the Art Scene

9/9/2014

 
Guest Author Ken Laing
London is one of the best cities in the world when it comes to celebrating the arts. From museums to architecture to music to fashion it is all there.Visual arts in London is really pretty amazing. Whenever you think of visual arts or you see an article discussing art in general the three cities that are always mentioned on London, Paris, New York with good reason. 
Whitechapel Gallery

A commitment to the arts such that London has means that you can expect to be excited because you know that there is something “new” and happening always going on. Whether it is the newest gallery opening or a traveling exhibition being featured at the new Whitechapel Gallery (that recently underwent a 13 million pound renovation and expansion) there is something for everyone that appreciates art in London.


The New Commitment
While the economy was sagging a bit across London the visual art scene was flourishing. Even with some budget cuts the visual art scene has taken off. The financial support that was long withheld for the arts took a turn around and it seems it has paid off nicely.
Even with economic recession looming the visual art scene in London was simply bustling. Whether you are a creative designer looking for ideas or someone who likes art, London has now become the go to place for auctions of the visual arts. The art movement in London has slowly crept across the city like a blanket of moss. Galleries that were once relegated to the cheaper rents have spread across the city to the higher rent areas thanks to a very busy international market.


The YBA
A few decades ago a group of young artists gathered to create a push for the London art scene the Young British Artists started a movement to get people more interested in the visual arts in London. This very hip collection of artists drew international interest in their work and helped to put the East End on the map.
The East End is still very much the epicenter of the art scene in London with at last count about 50 galleries. While there has been some movement of some of the galleries over to the West End it does seem for every gallery owner that leaves there is a new eager artist waiting to snatch up the property and open his own.
The spread of the visual art scene in London does not seem to have slowed up and is predicted to continue to grow exponentially!


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    The Great Hug Me Too by Donna Pidlubny

    Anna Lia & The Magical Christmas Gifts by Donna Pidlubny

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Copyright Notice: All artwork on this site is copyrighted and owned outright by the artist. If you wish to use any of the material you must provide payment for reproduction rights. Final usage rights not guaranteed. Contact Donna at 623-565-9918 to see if the image is available for your project.