2019

Wadi Rumm TE Lawrence Augustus John Wadi Rumm TE Lawrence Augustus John : Dawn at Wadi Rumm. Watching the sun rise over the horizon. Magical. Other-worldly. Listening to Maurice Jarre’s score for David Lean’s ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on a mesa overlooking Wadi Rumm,   … it was not difficult to imagine both the presence of the 1917 hero and the 1962 film crew capturing the drama and excitement. Balfour, Sykes and Picot apart, reading his ‘Seven Pillars of Wisdom’ and ‘Revolt in the Desert’, Lawrence genuinely believed he was endeavouring to gain the Arabs their independence. How betrayed he must have felt. This emotion can be seen in Augustus John’s poignant capturing of his image as he gazed out of a London window to watch a victory parade pass below. This drawing of 30 lines was brilliantly executed whilst John … Continue reading Wadi Rumm TE Lawrence Augustus John →

Jordan John the Baptist Caravaggio Jesus Jordan John the Baptist Caravaggio Jesus: Passing through The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the visitor is treated to a number of outstanding sites: Petra, Wadi Rumm, Amman, Mount Nebo, Aqaba and … … the site of John the Baptist’s baptism of Jesus Christ at Bethany Beyond the Jordan. The ‘power of the place’ quietens the mind of even those of an agnostic, sceptical frame of mind. To give my snapshot more contextual poignancy I’ve added Piero Della Francesca’s ‘Baptism of Christ’ c1448-50, now in London’s National Gallery. I believe this gives both the painting and the site itself a far greater visceral meaning (and Caravaggio’s ‘John the Baptist’ to my photo of the wilderness). In Francesca’s time as in Biblical times, the River Jordan would have been free flowing and John the Baptist’s wilderness … Continue reading Jordan John the Baptist Caravaggio Jesus →

Caravaggio Heaven and Hell The fantastic thing about(Michelangelo Mersisi da) Caravaggio is the way he draws you into his story. Caravaggio Heaven and Hell How does he do this? Notice his use of lighting? What is its source? Sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes it’s off to the side. Often it’s from the front, from you, you are helping to illuminate the scene, why? Because you are there, included with the other players as an observer or participant. The other device Caravaggio uses is the positioning of his scene on the canvas. More often than not to the fore, right at the front of the canvas. The effect being that the scene is within your space not in some far off distance. By implication, you are drawn into the scene along with your light. Caravaggio depicted his characters in dramatic action poses. … Continue reading Caravaggio Heaven and Hell →