tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post2345195311986614938..comments2024-03-18T07:23:32.809-04:00Comments on Gurney Journey: Blum’s Mendelssohn Music Hall MuralsJames Gurneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-75504810554528262242012-09-08T21:14:41.497-04:002012-09-08T21:14:41.497-04:00I can't say I agree with the assessment of &qu...I can't say I agree with the assessment of "precursory classical realism bland design" with regard to this mural. It's a decorative painting, intended to blend harmoniously with the architecture, as well as with the music performed in the hall. I'd say it works a lot better, along these lines, than anything you'd find at, say, Lincoln Center. Thanks, James, for another fascinating tidbit on an unduly neglected painter. Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-25532677457209043462011-10-31T16:35:04.569-04:002011-10-31T16:35:04.569-04:00Tino, I'm glad you mentioned Vlaho Bukovac. I ...Tino, I'm glad you mentioned Vlaho Bukovac. I mentioned him on an earlier post, but I'm always glad to learn more about eastern European artists, who are unjustly neglected in books in English.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-19337527732268919412011-10-31T11:35:31.237-04:002011-10-31T11:35:31.237-04:00It's really great to learn about the arduous p...It's really great to learn about the arduous processes these artists went through to get their work looking the best it could be. It's also very sad that so much workmanship, both artistically and architecturally, should just be thrown away (or very nearly had that happen) in the name of modernization.T. Arispehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03384209171396117798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-6654108879723378752011-10-31T08:19:02.793-04:002011-10-31T08:19:02.793-04:00James,
thanx for this fascinating post.
I think t...James,<br />thanx for this fascinating post. <br />I think that the work of art should be regarded and evaluated bearing in mind its historical context (and the constraints placed upon the artists, if there were any). <br />Btw, don't wish to hijack this thread, but I think that people might find this photo worth checking: a master painter working at approx. the same time as Blum, on a large curtain for the Croatian National Theater:<br />http://tinyurl.com/6gbrzmr<br />(upper left photo)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-80173261895840593372011-10-30T17:14:29.840-04:002011-10-30T17:14:29.840-04:00I visit this "The Ameya" painting by Mr ...I visit this "The Ameya" painting by Mr Robert Blum every time I pass through the NY Met. It's absolutely exquisit in real life. One of my favorites. <br /><br />http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/20010529#fullscreen<br /><br />Definitely check it out if you, or any of your readers happen to be near. For a while its been down in the Overflow room in the American wing... ...Cant wait till they re-open the painting section of that wing. Hopefully soon?enbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03639409975414487664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-72031604100668217242011-10-29T22:08:57.184-04:002011-10-29T22:08:57.184-04:00Off topic but of interest:
http://dailyroutines.ty...Off topic but of interest:<br />http://dailyroutines.typepad.com/daily_routines/artists/<br />Daily Routines<br />How writers, artists, and other interesting people organize their days.My Pen Namehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10163003696435139513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-91716660685798763372011-10-29T17:49:25.479-04:002011-10-29T17:49:25.479-04:00Another great find, Jim. Blum is another overlooke...Another great find, Jim. Blum is another overlooked and underrated American artist and illustrator who did some great work. His work can be found at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Cincinnati was an interesting place when it was producing the likes of Frank Duveneck, Robert Blum, and Edward Potthast.Steven Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02696611705204591030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-1522478874106410232011-10-29T17:20:07.590-04:002011-10-29T17:20:07.590-04:00The brooklyn musuem has a lot of great stuff it do...The brooklyn musuem has a lot of great stuff it doesn't display, too busy displaying a lot of 'abstract'junk.My Pen Namehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10163003696435139513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-16730209190370175932011-10-29T17:09:06.386-04:002011-10-29T17:09:06.386-04:00Not sure I agree with the idea of bland design. I ...Not sure I agree with the idea of bland design. I think Sargent's murals are underrated. <br />I have not seen many, if any, great murals done after this period by anyone. Artist now do murals with little, to no consideration of the architecture. I think murals are to support the building, play second fiddle the architecture- generally flat and low keyed. <br />Thanks for blogging about one of Cincinnati's greats. Blum did some wonderful work. The stuff about the use of sculptures is fascinating. While I was never fond of the studies we have in our museum, the final murals look pretty interesting.Richard J. Luschek IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17391295820585129843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-84238737670747108622011-10-29T14:29:05.529-04:002011-10-29T14:29:05.529-04:00The mural really looks incredible!The mural really looks incredible!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-36695542200959376262011-10-29T11:36:05.430-04:002011-10-29T11:36:05.430-04:00Etc, that's a very perceptive criticism, and I...Etc, that's a very perceptive criticism, and I kind of agree with it. Blashfield's book on mural painting may have engendered a lot of that tried-and-true classical spirit. <br /><br />Contemporary reviewers also said that Blum's jewel-like smaller pastels and oils don't really translate to the gigantic scale. In any event, I'd love to see the final mural in person.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-87243282946159947802011-10-29T11:27:42.499-04:002011-10-29T11:27:42.499-04:00He was a highly competent realist, but I just don&...He was a highly competent realist, but I just don't like the precursory classical realism bland design that is common in murals from this period. With the exception of <a href="http://www.sargentmurals.bpl.org/site/imagesection/11_images.html" rel="nofollow">Fall of Gog and Magog</a>, even the mighty Sargent largely struck out in my opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-77071992308371361112011-10-29T10:04:31.213-04:002011-10-29T10:04:31.213-04:00I am dually impressed on his technique of sculptin...I am dually impressed on his technique of sculpting and rearranging the figures and very thankful for photoshop that lets me do the same thing, almost, virtually. Wow-Julia Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03577906856043143102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-38695498649929638172011-10-29T08:52:55.715-04:002011-10-29T08:52:55.715-04:00Another jaw-dropper. Great post!Another jaw-dropper. Great post!MrCachethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17380421021822593083noreply@blogger.com