A Coign of Vantage by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

by 19th century ArtArtArt of the United KingdomPowerpointsVictorian Art
Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, O.M., R.A., R.W.S., Anglo-Dutch Artist, 1836-1912
A Coign of Vantage, 1895, Oil on Canvas, 63.8 x 44.7 cm, Private Collection https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/what-to-see/alma-tadema-home-antiquity-leighton-house-museum-review/

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema was a renowned Dutch-born British painter who had a profound interest in Roman antiquity. He was one of the leading artists of the late 19th century and early 20th century, specializing in historical and classical subjects. Alma-Tadema’s fascination with Roman antiquity was central to his artistic vision and played a significant role in shaping his career. The painting A Coign of Vantage by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, regarded as one of the artist’s quintessential masterpieces, is a favourite of mine! SIR LAWRENCE ALMA-TADEMA, O.M., R.A., R.W.S. (BRITISH, 1836-1912) (christies.com)

The painting A Coign of Vantage by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema has an interesting title! The phrase comes from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, no jutty, frieze, Buttresss, nor coign of vantage, but this bird Hath made his pendent bed and was later popularized by Sir Walter Scott. The word coign, meaning a projecting corner or cornerstone, is a variant of the coin from Old French meaning ‘wedge, corner, die’, from Latin cuneus ‘wedge’. Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema’s painting is perfectly titled! https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/coign-vantage

The focal point of the painting is a group of three young women, elegantly dressed in vibrant gowns, olive green, beige, white, and pink, standing on a marbled terrace, over a thrilling, vertiginous drop, an advantageous viewpoint, overlooking the sea below. May I suggest this is the island of Capri and the Bay of Naples, in the distance? The women stand against a marble railing and gaze down at the sea, where a luxuriously decked trireme is depicted arriving. The composition is further enhanced with the addition of an impressive bronze sculpture of an animal, wreathed with vibrant yellow flowers. Was the artist inspired by the Egyptian Sphinx he probably saw in Villa San Michele on Capri? Alma-Tadema would have visited the famous Villa after inspecting the sites at Pompeii and Herculaneum, seeking inspiration for his pictures, and gathering material for use as props for his paintings. https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6426695?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6426695&from=salessummary&lid=1

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, O.M., R.A., R.W.S., Anglo-Dutch Artist, 1836-1912
A Coign of Vantage (detail), 1895, Oil on Canvas, 63.8 x 44.7 cm, Private Collection https://makeupandbeautyblog.com/daily-photo/more-pics-of-a-coign-of-vantage/
The Sphinx at Villa San Michele, approximately 3200 years old, Red Granite, Villa San Michele, Anacapri, Italy https://www.villasanmichele.eu/collection

The painting A Coign of Vantage is a prime example of Alma-Tadema’s ability to transport viewers to a distant time and place, evoking a sense of nostalgia and fascination for the grandeur of ancient Rome. The painting captures the artist’s dedication to historical accuracy, his love for opulent settings, and his skill in creating an alluring atmosphere through his meticulous technique. This is a picture of grand luxe, according to the experts at Christie’s, ease and well-being, an escapist fantasy perfectly attuned to the wishes of a picture-buying public who reveled in the warmth of its Mediterranean light. At the height of his fame, his pictures of Ancient Rome, wealthy, secure, and insouciant, reflected the success enjoyed by the newly rich plutocrats of Victorian Britain, who had made their fortunes building another Empire, a couple of millennia later. https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6426695?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6426695&from=salessummary&lid=1

A view of the Blue Parlor in the Temple of Wings Mansion, and Alma-Tadema’s painting ‘A Coign of Vantage’ as displayed in the Parlor… The contents of the Ann and Gordon Getty Collection in their Mansion, The Temple of Wings were auctioned at Christie’s (May 31 – June 15, 2023) https://www.artandobject.com/news/masterpieces-alma-tadema-moore-and-bouguereau-headline-getty-collection-auction

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, born as Lourens Alma Tadema on January 8, 1836, and died on June 25, 1912, was a Dutch-born British painter. He is known for his meticulously detailed and beautifully rendered paintings depicting scenes from ancient civilizations, particularly ancient Rome, and Egypt. Alma-Tadema’s works often portrayed opulent interiors, lavish costumes, and intricate architectural details, capturing the splendor and decadence of the ancient world.

His paintings typically featured historical or mythological themes, and he was known for his thorough research and attention to detail. Alma-Tadema would often reconstruct historically accurate settings for his works, using models, props, and costumes to bring his visions to life. His compositions were carefully arranged, with an emphasis on color, light, and texture. They were highly sought after, and he had a significant influence on later artists. His attention to detail and ability to create immersive and visually stunning scenes made him one of the most successful painters of the late 19th century.

For a PowerPoint presentation of 10 Important Paintings by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema inspired by Ancient Rome, please… Check HERE!

Seascape Study with Rain Cloud by John Constable

by 19th century ArtArtArt of the United KingdomRomanticismStudent ActivitiesWorksheets
John Constable, Artist of the United Kingdom, 1776–1837
Seascape Study with Rain Cloud (Rainstorm over the Sea), 1824-1828, Oil on paper laid on canvas, 22.2×31.1 cm, Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Constable_-_Seascape_Study_with_Rain_Cloud.jpg

…Look! look! that livid flash! / And instantly follows the rattling thunder, / As if some cloud-crag, split asunder, / Fell, splintering with a ruinous crash, / On the Earth, which crouches in silence under; / And now a solid gray wall of rain / Shuts off the landscape, mile by mile; / For a breath’s space I see the blue wood again, / And, ere the next heart-beat, the wind-hurled pile… writes James Russell Lowell and the Seascape Study with Rain Cloud by John Constable in the Royal Academy of Arts comes to my mind. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38520/38520-h/38520-h.htm, page 97

John Constable, a British landscape painter who was known for his beautiful paintings of the English countryside, was also fond of rendering the dramatic English sky. In fact, in a letter to fellow artist and friend John Fisher, he wrote back in 1821… It will be difficult to name a class of landscape in which the sky is not the keynote, the standard of scale, and the chief organ of sentiment. The sky is the source of light in nature, and it governs everything. If you paint the colours of the sky and reflected light, you cannot do otherwise than produce beautiful pictures. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/clouds-john-constable/IwH3AnjdEZxMEg

Constable believed that clouds were an essential element in creating a sense of atmosphere and mood in landscape paintings. He studied them carefully and believed that they were constantly changing, creating an ever-evolving and dynamic landscape. In his paintings, he often depicted large, billowing clouds that filled the sky, adding drama and depth to his compositions. He used a variety of techniques to capture the fleeting nature of clouds, including layering paint and using bold brushstrokes to create texture and movement. His works continue to inspire artists today, and his philosophy on the importance of capturing the ever-changing beauty of nature, including clouds, remains relevant.

Constable’s love for clouds is evident in his many paintings, including Seascape Study with Rain Cloud, a painting created between 1822 and 1824 in Brighton, and currently held in the collection of the Royal Academy of Arts in London. According to the Museum experts… This is one of the most dramatic studies of sea and sky that Constable sketched at Brighton. The thunderous black clouds and torrential downpour have been painted rapidly to capture the fleeting nature of the scene. https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work-of-art/rainstorm-over-the-sea

The painting depicts a seascape with a large rain cloud looming in the distance. The sea is choppy, and the waves are rough, with white caps visible on the surface of the water. The sky is dark and moody, with the rain cloud dominating the upper half of the painting. The lower half of the painting features the sea and the horizon, with a few distant boats visible on the horizon.

The painting is a study of mood and atmosphere, with Constable expertly capturing the power of nature. The sky has been created with a series of hasty sweeps of the brush. The surface of the sea has been given emphasis by a number of horizontal incisions perhaps with the end of the brush. The dark, stormy sky and the shaft of sunlight suddenly breaking through the glowering black clouds is beautiful, uplifting… sublime! https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work-of-art/rainstorm-over-the-sea

Seascape Study with Rain Cloud by John Constable is considered to be one of the artist’s masterpieces and a prime example of his ability to capture the beauty and power of nature in his paintings. It is a significant work in the history of British landscape painting and remains a popular piece in the Royal Academy’s collection.

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