13 Sep THE COLOURS OF AUTUMN IN A FRESCO
September, the time of grape harvest, shorter days, and sweet melancholy.
The summer sun is followed by the fascinating colours of autumn, fresh evening perfumes and shadows that get longer.
The appeal of certain seasons has always inspired painters and artists, motivating them to recount, through their art, unrepeatable instances that arouse emotions with each look.
A fresco by Mariani inspired by Boucher’s “Venus Consoling Love” (1703-1770)
Francois Boucher (1703-1770) portrays Venus in a landscape of autumn colours as she consoles love. A fascinating painting whose refined harmonious colours convey a very intense and poignant message. This painting was commissioned by Madame de Pompadour to place in Versailles or Bellevue. As can be seen, the Venus in this painting is sensual with Madame de Pompadour herself posing for the face.
The sweet sensations of the “Water Lilies” by C. Monet (1840-1926)
A strong sense of nostalgia and emotion is also evoked by Monet’s very famous landscape painting, Water Lilies, where the colours of the water, the soft and endless brush strokes and sensation of timelessness leave us with few words and many allusions. Monet said of his Water Lilies, “A colour that I found and sketched on one of these canvases yesterday reappears in the air. I am immediately given this painting and strive to fix this vision as permanently as possible; but it usually vanishes as fast as appears, making way for another colour I had already painted days ago on another canvas that was instantly put in front of me…And that is the way it is all day long”.
In addition to the landscapes, some still life subjects also remind us of precise moments of the year.
A splendid still life fresco painting with fruit and lobster inspired by Jan Davidsz De Heem (cent. XVII)
The reproduction of the splendid fresco by Jan Davidsz De Heem (1606-1683) – one of the greatest second-generation Flemish naturalistic painters – contains some wonderful symbols of autumn, such as grapes, wine, chestnut leaves, as well as flavours of the sea such as lobster and shells.
This last fresco perfectly represents the days of September, a classic medieval painting depicting the grape harvest season.
M.Z.
September, grape harvest time in a fresco by Mariani
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