The Met descibes Spring as Cephas Giovanni Thompson’s finest work. He also has a companion piece, entitled Autumn. Thompson’s Spring portrait is a misty romantic and sentimental piece, which got me thinking romantically, and sentimentally. It seems to me the…
art
Costumed Woman with Vegetables – A Poem
No one knows who painted this watercolour. It was first thought to be a Franco-Spanish artist, but then the piece was recognised as having British provenance. It’s possible even the monogram is a deception. This costumed woman with vegetables remains…
Nightcap – A Poem
There’s something cheeky about this trompe l’oeil painting, that seems to suggest someone’s raided the pantry for a little nightcap. From the Art Institute Chicago description: “In Just Dessert, the exotic clashes with the quotidian—Maraschino liqueur, half a coconut, and Smyrna figs…
Madame Tallien as a Compote Bowl – A Poem
The 19th Century loved a good compote. These serving dishes on pedestals were used for fruit, sweets, candy, or other foods, and were often the centrepiece on a table. I was struck by the design of Roesen’s compote, particularly the…
Nini in the Garden – A Poem
This painting is of Nini Lopez in the garden next to Renoir’s Montmatre studio in Paris at 12 rue Cortot. Nini was one of Renoir’s favourite models, appearing in several of Renoir’s rue Cortot garden paintings, as well as other…
Kluski with Onions and Bacon- A Poem
Kluski (pronounced klooh-ski, with a short “oo” as in book) are a dumpling, and were one of my favourite dishes. My mother mixed the dough; then would scoop the mixture with a tablespoon and simply slip it, from the spoon,…
The Kitchen Servants – A Poem
There’s more going on in this painting than at first appears. From The Met description: “Sorgh inflects a domestic scene with the art of still life. Two maids clean fish and peel vegetables in the foreground, surrounded by gleaming brass…
The Cabbage Gatherers – A Poem
According to The Met, this is one of many fans painted by Pissarro, intended for a special fan room at an 1879 Impressionist exhibition (more in source link below). I love that Pissarro chose to dignify the work of the…
Larsson House – A Poem
My poem Larsson House is a little different to my usual ekphrastic poetry. You probably recognise the style of Swedish painter, Carl Larsson (1853-1919), as many of his children’s illustrations are still around. A painter of the Arts and Crafts…
The Fair – A Poem
The Fair Drums.Dance.Monkey.Paris dreamsIn evening haze.He offers Eve a ripened pearand couples everywhere turn to each other and kiss. ©elsp 2025 If you’re interested in the form of the poem, it’s a Fib. More on Fibonacci poetry here. More of…
Struggling To Be Seen – A Poem
According to Art Institute Chicago, Cézanne painted over “at least three other pieces of fruit (presumably oranges) at lower left and near the vase attest to the artist’s changing opinion as he struggled to make the arrangement work“. You can…
Peasants Eat Herring – A Poem
This drawing reached out to me across three-hundred years. It, in turn, took me back in time in memory. I love that these journeys are happening as a result of my decision to commit to this ekphrastic poetry series. Too…
