July lesson at the Louvre.
To change things up this time I went with a friend! It is very nice to sketch together, chat and then go to lunch 😁. This is supposed to be a group of feathers on the back of the soldier’s helmet. He’s in anguish after being captured. This sculpture may or may not be the subject of Napoleon’s defeat. I really must do more research so I can be a better guide to the Louvre for you. I like how abstract my feathers turned out to be! I was laughing with my friend about them not being light and airy, but then again they were made of bronze! Got any critique for me?
Ethiopian St George. The style reminded me of Renaissance painting.
I went to the Louvre one Friday evening for a special drawing class with Emil Ferris; graphic novelist from Chicago. By chance she brought us to one of my favorite paintings at the Louvre, Persée secourant Andromède (Perseus saving Andromeda) by Joachim Wtewael. I’ve wanted to study/copy this painting but I never dared, it’s too intimidating! But Emil showed us her drawing of herself as the monster, and I realized, Oh, I can draw something that is not literally what the painting is. She talked about letting the artist speak to us, to let the painting tell us a story. She wrote a graphic novel called “My favorite thing is monsters”. I’m going out to buy it as soon as I can. Ms. Ferris had a way to talk about the paintings around us that was so refreshing and mind expanding. I wish I could tour the whole museum with her. I hope she moves to France!
This study is from a vase in the Sully wing. It is either Greek or Roman, Aphrodite or Narcissus; held aloft by two angels carrying lanterns. These vases are called amphorae. They were used to hold olive oil and were given to winner in the athletic competitions held every 4 years. The winner could then sell the oil.
This drawing is from a life sized Egyptian fresque.
The next exercise is a palm sized Bronze sculpture.
Check out some of my previous lessons at the Louvre.