Eugene Delacroix, The Death of Sardanapulus, 1827

Eugene Delacroix

Eugene Delacroix was born at Charenton, near Paris in 1798. Delacroix attended Lycee Louis-le-Grand where he won many awards and succeeded in many sketches. His uncle encouraged him to continue on with his passion for art at the Beaux-Arts Academy in Paris. Eugene was influenced early on in his career by English landscapists and a man named William Hogarth. He made many trips to other countries to become more inspired and to learn more techniques. He even spent six months in Morocco and was fascinated by local life and land.
His most known piece is “The Latter”, which represents liberty and freedom. He was also the leader of the French Romanticism art movement. He later died in 1863.
I chose “Sardanapulus” on page 73, in A World of Art Text Book. The painting was created in 1878. The work of art shows a king watching his servants, acquaintances and animals being slaughtered under his order of command. The painting is intense in showing death although there is beauty reflecting from the gory image.  
Cited Source: Encyclopedia of Irish and World Art http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-artists/delacroix.htm YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQLwAYSHH0U&feature=fvst

" Road to Paradise"

Shayla Plotts

9/20/10

Art 160

"Road to Paradise"

"Road to Paradise" (2008) Oil on Linen

Collection of Lisille & Henry Matheson

   

Chester Arnold's work of art is a portrayal of mankind destroying the earth around him. The "road" has been demolished by previous residents. The land now littered and used has been left vacant, with little potential left the piece of art work is shouting beauty, in what now lye. Although, the destroyer doesn't seem too far ahead!

Natural humans used to believe that land was sacred and should be cared and sought after. In today’s society, human nature couldn't deplete land any more quickly, and surprisingly land is still highly sought after. "New land hides polluted waste land." -Myself. Many remains from the oil painting are everyday things like cigarettes, paint, letters, a piano, and even a notebook. Pointless objects to those who left them, but beautiful additions to the 'ghost" land. A great piece of lush, green, turf is partially rolled out into an excited stream flowing tenderly and relaxed. The large green turf is just the beginning to the celebration that is undoubtedly occurring. An axe has been left behind in the stump of a tree. Long ago, this would have been a mistake for the axe, was an essential to undeveloped safety and living. Perhaps the celebration is life. A fountain of water is birthed through the ground of the neighborhood sidewalk and is essentially praising the earth with jewels. But do we know where the water is coming from? 

Already a wonderful green frog has discovered the empty land and gives an example of how wildlife will remain because of destiny. In turn, a sewage drain is beginning to leak pollutants in the fresh stream of water, proving that even this new sacred land will soon be spoiled. The letters thrown carelessly on the ground seem unimportant. Letters have lost face value and the electronic world has defeated “old fashioned” communication. Something also noticed in the painting, is a tire swing notifying the fact that impressionable children were present, and very well may continue through life with careless habits, conditioned into them from their parents.  I believe Chester Arnold’s message in "Road to Paradise" is beauty may be created in any situation.