tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post6396941780988027522..comments2024-03-28T06:18:17.942-04:00Comments on Gurney Journey: Menzel’s DrawingsJames Gurneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-50027449704741660332011-03-19T13:41:39.607-04:002011-03-19T13:41:39.607-04:00Thanks for thinking on Menzel today, James! For me...Thanks for thinking on Menzel today, James! For me he's one of the most important german realist painters.<br />The "flute concert of Friederich the Great in Sanssouci" painted in 1851/52 is one of my favorite paintings by him:<br />http://www.bilder-geschichte.de/imgsg/menzel-konzert.jpg<br />In a letter from 1861 he states: "I have never taken my material lightly, but never have I set myself such a task: candle light from all sides and from above."<br />In 1903 he wrote to an admirer of his art: "Anyway, I only painted it because of the chandelier..."<br />Even more intricate are his studies of family members and scenes from everyday life, many of them on display in Berlin.Christian Schlierkamphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14486181495859389834noreply@blogger.com