January 7

 

 

 

 

Miscellany

 

 

You gotta have art:

James Abbott McNeill Whistler

b. 1834 Massachusetts, d. 1903 London

Nocturne in Black & Gold

1875

Detroit Institute of Arts

This work, which is a depiction of a fireworks display in London’s Cremorne Gardens, is probably Whistler’s most infamous painting. It was the central issue of a libel suit that involved the art critic John Ruskin and the artist. Ruskin had publicly slandered the work by making the statement, “I have seen, and heard, much of cockney impudence before now; but never expected to hear a coxcomb ask two hundred guineas for flinging a pot of paint in the public’s face.” Whistler won the libel suit; however, he was awarded only the token damages of one farthing. This is one of Whistler’s many “Nocturnes,” which are characterized by a moody atmosphere, a subtle palette, and overall tonalist qualities.

   

May 13

 

 

 

Fifty shades of gray:

 

OK. So it's only 10 shades.

Duly noted.

Shower time:

You gotta have art:
M a r k  H o r s t

A graduate of Yale Divinity School, Mark (1955-2022) served as a pastor

before he turned to studying art.
While he grew up in Minnesota, he later made his home in Albuquerque.
Mark usually painted from photographs and often produced
multiple paintings from the same image, varying color and texture.

Mark's images of the male form were featured

in the ninth edition of THE ART OF MAN quarterly 2012.