314 Sleeping Beauty Photo

Photographer’s Note

Sleeping Beauty

Victorian paintings

Exposition - The Hague – Gemeente Museum

4 July 2009 - 20 September 2009

Flaming June, the glorious canvas painted by Frederic Leighton (1830-1896) in around 1895, and five fabulous pictures by Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898) are the highlights of an extraordinary exhibition at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag from 4 July to 20 September 2009. These masterpieces of Victorian art come from the collection of the Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico and have never previously been exhibited in the Netherlands.

The work of the Pre-Raphaelites was England’s most important contribution to nineteenth-century painting. Artists like Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882), John Everett Millais (1829-1896) and William Hunt (1827-1910) had a heavy influence on later developments, such as Symbolism and the Aesthetic Movement surrounding Oscar Wilde. During the Victorian period, their courtly notions of mythical female beauty attracted a wide following and great attention was paid to the depiction of textiles, marble and flowers.

Frederic, Lord Leighton painted his masterly Flaming June in around 1895. It shows an innocent-looking young woman curled up asleep in a diaphanous orange gown which cautiously reveals the curvaceous female body beneath. The bench on which she reclines is covered with cushions and red draperies, while in the background the sun glitters on the sea. The voluptuous lines and glowing colours make this painting a demonstration of Leighton’s love of Classical beauty and harmony.

feather, danos, Clementi, Tue, John_F_Kennedy, bakes888, papagolf21, jafadabret, jhm, Kielia, Gerrit, ktanska, ahmetgedikli, paura, Didi, emjleclercq has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

feather (49858) 2009-08-23 11:47

Strange timing as there's just been a documentary programme about the Pre-Raphaelites on TV. You have captured wonderful detail on the painting and the frame. The two people viewing the painting are well placed. I like the attitude of the girl who is looking back as she walks away, as if she doesn't want to leave.
Kath

Ninello52 (3322) 2009-08-23 12:24

Ciao Rob,
Arancione, blu, verde e giallo..accostamenti cromatici eccellenti! Molto particolare e originale l'inquadratura! Un omaggio all'arte assolutamente da gustare!
Saluti, Nino.

danos (32364) 2009-08-23 12:40

Hi Rob,
superb your shot with the painting Sleeping beauty on the wall.I like the excellent colours of the painting as your management of the colours,as the light too.Informative your note.Well done.

Have a nice week,Danos

Fis2 (45725) 2009-08-23 13:33

Witaj Rob!
Good idea.
A very curious photo.
I like the frame and colors.
Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

Clementi (43943) 2009-08-23 13:48

Ciao Rob,
a mix of exceptional colors, that they create a beautiful depth seems a three-dimensional photo.
good job
Giorgio

Tue (25608) 2009-08-23 14:26

Hi Rob,
De kleurencombinatie is erg sterk hier met dank aan de kledingkeuze van de twee bezoekers. Maar door de lichte lijst springt het schilderij ook van de grijzige muur af.
Groeten,
Lars

devimeuxbe (55865) 2009-08-23 15:07

Hi Rob
excellent capture. You found an interesting cropping
well done
Bertrand

John_F_Kennedy (31355) 2009-08-23 22:35

Hello Rob,
Nice photo with beautiful light, a very nice idea again.
Best wishes,
Achim

bakes888 (18165) 2009-08-24 0:50

Hi Rob. Nice catch. Well timed to frame the picture between those viewing the artwork. Good work and thanks for sharing.
Have a good week, Paul.

papagolf21 (56305) 2009-08-24 0:52

Bonjour, cher ami Rob,
Encore une fois, cette photo fait "mouche" pour le spectateur.
Image très bien construite à tous points de vue.
Cette photo prise à main levée (du moins, je le suppose) est excellente.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jafadabret (39541) 2009-08-24 2:42

Bonjour Rob.
Une photo bien selon ta manière. J'aime visiter les musées avec tes photos. Ici on on a la peinture encadrée par deux visiteurs. Les couleurs s'opposent et se mettent en valeur.
Du grand art !
Amical salut !
Jacques

jhm (82421) 2009-08-24 3:35

Dag Rob,

Uw keuze is op zich zeer mooi, alleen de man links had ik er gewoon afgesneden, maar dit is een persoonlijke keuze.
Verder is uw foto zeker heel mooi en verzorgd.
De dame met lang haar past excellent bij deze slapende dame op de schilderij.
Bedankt en goed gedaan.

Prettige warme dag verder,
John

UlfE (8972) 2009-08-24 11:01

Hi Rob,

A really fine shot. The sharpness painting of the painting is excellent and the inclusion of two visitors in strong colours is really great. It makes the vidid and feeling of being present yourself when looking at the picture. TFS and have nice evening!

Cheers,

Ulf

Kielia (8445) 2009-08-24 12:27

Hi Rob,
very sophisticated photo work! I guess you had to be patient until these two persons came into sight so that you could create this extraordinary set of colors! The light is fantastic too! My compliments!
Warm regards
Harriet

Gerrit (35661) 2009-08-24 16:10

Dag Rob,
je moet even de tijd hebben genomen om deze fantastische kleuren combinatie bij elkaar te krijgen, neem ik aan.
Geweldig resultaat.
Groeten Gerrit

ktanska (16545) 2009-08-24 22:35

Hi Rob,
Very nice combination of orange, green and blue. The painting goes well with these visitors. Also her hair has some resemblance to painting. Fun contrast between overall softness and edgy painting frame.
Kari

rodgerg (23957) 2009-08-25 11:07

Goed avond Rob,

Zeer, zeer mooie photowerk.
A moment of life very well collected, the framing is excellent and the superb colors ( green, bluen orange) very well collected. Congratulations.
Vriendelijk,
Roger

batalay (20882) 2009-08-25 15:44

Hello Rob,

I like everything about this photograph. The two viewers of the painting, especially the young woman with the sweeping hair making a turn toward the painting, the rich colors in the painting, the woman's blouse, and the man's shirt, the definition, and your note! First class all the way.

Warm regards,

Bulent

AiresSantos (42010) 2009-08-27 6:32

Hi dear Rob
Beauty of this picture about Sleeping Beauty. Great POV and colours. I like the people like the frame to this painting
TFS and have a nice day
Aires

ahmetgedikli (21857) 2009-09-02 12:55

A beautiful shot... Superb lighting, sharpness and nice painting... Well done!
Have a good evening.
ahmet gedikli

paura (38310) 2009-09-03 16:54

Rob,
Composition in great here, with the couple looking at the pretty oil. I can feel feeling on your job. Well done.

Regards

Paulo

danyy (68672) 2009-09-03 23:20

Bonjour Rob,
j'aime beaucoup ces jeux de couleurs entre le bleu, le vert et l'orange, toutes trois fortes mais qui se marient bien. Une scène toute simple et très nette sur ce sujet qu'est le sommeil et que tu as l'air de bien aimer.
Mes compliments.
Daniel.

sacavem (8251) 2009-09-17 2:11

Olá Rob,

Wonderful capture!Excellent color and brightness.
It is always difficult to photograph in a museum ... but you did it correctly.
Best regards,
Filipe

CLODO (4170) 2009-09-22 1:43

Hi Rob
The frame in the frame and gorgeous colours. The 2 persons seen from the back force our look on the painting, so your shot is well organised to focus on the sleeping woman
A master piece!
CLODO

Didi (36074) 2009-09-28 6:46

Bonjour Rob
Ce que j'apprécie surtout c'est la présence des personnes qui admirent ce chef d'oeuvre.
Cadrage parfait : Chapeau !
Cordialement

emjleclercq (14270) 2009-10-05 13:52

A beautifull composition: the painting is interesting, but the most successfull result is the combination of the two long haired ladies, the brown one in the painting and the blonde looking at her. Very well seen, and very nicely captured.

All the best,

Emmanuel