Day 36 in Milan

The beginning of another slow week... or not.

Started a small painting today, influenced mainly by several points i've been considering,

No.1

The beautiful, but somewhat ridiculous depictions of the Virgin Mary with child that adorn every single wall in every gallery, museum and church, were all but eclipsed by one painting by Niccolò of Cremona, inventively titled 'Virgin Mary with Child' (1520) which, despite being severely damaged, still Luca Pignatelli titled Madonna del Neve (2007), stands tall at the apex of one of Chieza Santa Maria Delle Grazie's many alters. The painting itself is extraordinary, it has faded to such an extent that only the creamy pink blobs that once held usually hold the same, perfect, idealistic (Italian) features of Mary and Child are left surrounded by a gold floral patterning, the piece actually made me think of Klimt, Dumas and Tuymans among others.

[edit. I'm an idiot]



An example of Luca Pignatelli's work

No.2

Mark Rothko.
With the tate retrospective coming up/already on. I've been re-thinking my opinions on Rothko, who i once thought of as merely decorative. How wrong i was. I am still a great believer of Art as an experience, like in the way people describe the experience of viewing Guernica, they are moved by it, some brought to tears, i want my work to influence emotion. Not just intellect.


(Incase you didn't know)

No.3

Francis Bacon (tate again). Need i say more? Fantastic portraits...



No.4

The Black Paintings of various different artists.




I will post some photos shortly.

Joe and I are going to see Il Cenacolo tomorrow, for those who don't speak italian, that means 'The Last Supper' quite excited, especially as its free to accademia students.