작품 상세

HENRI FANTIN-LATOUR, CRYSANTHEMUMS IN A EARTHEN VASE CRYSANTHEMUMS IN A EARTHEN VASE Signed and dated upper right: Fantin. 1872 This depiction of a knight is a highly curious work. It shows the head and shoulders of a knight, dressed in a helmet and chain mail beneath a pale cloak. He leans on his sword in front of a castle which appears to grow out from a steep, rocky hill, and the snow-capped peaks of a mountain range can be seen in the background. The knight's face shows no sign of fierce or militant qualities, in contrast, his features are fine, almost soft, and his beard well groomed. However, especially his gaze - turned slightly to the left and overshadowed by his helmet - appears thoughtful and melancholy, as does his general pose. One asks oneself automatically who this figure depicts - a character from an old German legend or fairytale, or perhaps a Saint? The quality of the painting, however, leaves no room for doubt. The face is depicted in a fine play of light and shadow, and the metal of the helmet, chain mail and armour is shown in realistic detail, but without appearing cold. The heavy, pale cloak provides a material contrast to the armour and lends the figure a sculptural quality. In contrast to the knight, the castle and mountains appear lighter, and have been painted in smooth, translucent colours to show distance, but this also adds to the mysterious quality of the work. It can generally be said that the work captures a vague, "romantic" atmosphere.