Known for his “radiant sunlight” and “filmy atmosphere”, Sanford Robinson Gifford’s style as a master landscaper was well established by the 1860s. Around the time he was painting Two Pears, he was chosen as one of two artists (the other…
Green Plums – A Poem
Such is the photo-like quality of Green Plums, I didn’t realise until reading the National Gallery of Art’s discussion of Joseph Decker’s paintings in American Paintings of the Nineteenth Century, Part I (pages 123-125) that not all the plums are as…
Pub Bench – A Poem
The inspiration for this simple poem came not just from this John Frederick Peto painting, but from a photo I took a while ago (see below). It’s a warm night. I’m on holiday. I’m inside a city pub having a…
The Master Herbalist – A Poem
Well, this one was a wild ride, much like the famous Banquet for Rousseau itself. More of Rousseau’s works here. More on the outrageous party can be found here. Apollinaire’s full poetic tribute to Rousseau can be found here. A…
Plough Horse – A Poem
I deliberately chose to use the British/Australian “plough”, instead of the Americanised “plow” here. There is a weightiness to the visual of the word “plough”, I just don’t see in “plow”. I also see “dough”, “rough”, “tough”, even “ought” –…
Conviviality Near the Inn – A Poem
The first time I looked at Conviviality Near the Inn, all I saw were the peasants, dancing and hawking wares. The second time I looked, the more to me it seemed the castle (or church) dominated half the painting, not…
Quick Beef Stroganoff
My mother-in-law’s recipe for beef stroganoff (see photo below) takes up to two hours to cook. It’s great if you have a tougher cut like topside (top round). It also, non-traditionally, doesn’t use mustard. Or, you can try my quick…
Boy with a Basket of Fruit – A Poem
One of the joys of this food/art/poem project of mine is imagining life outside the painting, which leads me to research. Information on child labour in the US here. A little look at historic tin toys here. And it’s not…
Strawberries and Cream – A Poem
Raphaelle Peale was considered to be the U.S.’s first professional still-life painter. He was son of Charles Willson Peale, brother to Rembrandt and Rubens, nephew of James Peale, and his cousins were Anna Claypoole, Margaretta Peale, and Sarah Peale. But…
National Apple Pie Day – May 13
Go on, you know you want to …
National Wine Day – May 25
Raising a glass … “… good company, good wine, good welcome, Can make good people.” -Shakespeare. Henry VIII Act 1, Scene 4
Old Partner – A Poem
Why choose to paint a broken down old kettle? According to Artvee.com, John Frederick Peto was a trompe l’oeil specialist, and painted objects at their actual size. This old kettle painting is only 12.7 x 20.3 cm (5 x 8…
