Paintings of the National Gallery

I LOVE ART. I've been wanting to pay another visit to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston because I need some inspiration and something to take me out of reality for at least a little while. Art, much like acting, is essentially recreating the human emotion and expression (at least for paintings of people). As someone who wants to become an actor, paintings have shown me how to express my emotions and pay attention to the human anatomy and how someone can express with their body.

London is a very arts-oriented city (but what do I know, I'm a tourist). I wanted to observe the arts aspect little closely and what better way to do that by visiting the National Portrait Gallery of London! I said melodramatically. Art means different things for different people. Writing this was a long work in progress, but I was finally able to pick out some paintings that I really liked and will include descriptions and of course, credit the artist. Also to be safe, these paintings are displayed in the NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM. Great. Now that we got that out of the way, let out your inner artist (or critic) and enjoy some artwork! I know its a lot of paintings and a lot of words so find a painting that intrigues you and read away!

Two Crabs, 1889

By Vincent van Gogh

This one was definitely one of my favorites. And why wouldn't it be? THEY'RE CRABS. According to the blurb next to the painting, Van Gogh began to take an interest in painting still lifes after being released from the hospital in 1889. Van Gogh uses parallel strokes to create the crabs. I find it so aesthetically pleasing; I would hang it up in my dream home. If you look closely, you'll notice one crab is standing upright and the other upside down. The blurb says they could be the same crab.

Queen Charlotte, 1789

By Sir Thomas Lawrence

This woman married King George III of Great Britain according to the blurb (the same King George III that was completely against the American Revolution). Her bracelets are wedding gifts from her husband. One of them is a miniature portrait of him. What drew me to this painting was that I've never seen a painting depicting an elderly woman. Maybe one in her forties or fifties, but never older. For some reason I drew a parallel between how older women can't find a job in Hollywood and they don't seem to be painted as often. Let me know if you've ever seen a painting of a much older woman.

The Painter's Daughters chasing a Butterfly, about 1756

By Thomas Gainsborough

This painting had a very playful look about it. It depicts two little girls holding hands while being surrounded by nature. According to the blurb, this is one of six of the portraits of the painter's daughters. The girl in yellow, her name is Mary and other girl's name is Margaret. "The painting is unfinished." I definitely overlooked that bit of information. Even unfinished, it completely illustrates child innocence and the painter's love for his daughters. Not to mention these little girls are so cute!

Mr and Mrs Coltman, about 1770-2

By Joseph Wright of Derby

There was something very eloquent about this work. According to the blurb, Coltman was the artist's friend. I thought the woman had a very elegant dress on and the background, horses, and the naughty dog made for a very nice piece of art.

The Watering Place, before 1777

Thomas Gainsborough

Paintings with only animals and nature are always fun. This painting is by the same artist of the painting of the two girls, Thomas Gainsborough. I'm really warming up to this guy. Until I read the blurb I never noticed the two girls sitting on the side of the watering hole. Are they his daughters? The painting illustrates all I love about nature: waterfalls, trees, streams, rocks, and..... sunsets! Might I also mention I love depictions of gentle human interaction with nature.

Self Portrait in a Straw Hat, about 1782

By Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun.

I love paintings that depict women in a positive light. I saw her holding a painting pallet and I feel that signifies independence and it means she's exploring her own interests. I also feel that her hat and dress look very fashionable and her neutral expression completes the look. This is actually a self portrait titled, "Self Portrait in a Straw Hat" (about 1782). How original. So yes; she is an independent woman exploring her creativity.

The Scale of Love, 1715-18

Jean-Antoine Watteau

Sometimes there's nothing specific you like about a painting... but you like it anyway. This is the perfect example! Once again, two people (and more in the background) seemingly happy, and living in the moment. Making music. I feel that's how you know an artist did a good job; if they can portray someone living where they are (not to quote Meryl Streep or anything 😉). Of course, different artists have different priorities of what they want to portray. This is just something I'm particularly drawn to. The name of the painting (and a great name), as the blurb states, "the title refers to the music which the couple in the foreground are making." If that's not clever then what is?

The Boar Hunt, about 1700

By Joseph Parrocel

Can you guess why I liked this work? Because there is a woman fighting just like the men. She's sitting on a horse, holding a spear, attempting to kill the boar in the picture. There is another woman in the scene behind. There is also a very powerful contrast between the clothing and the animals and background. Again, I've never seen a woman depicted this way, at least I can't remember the last time I saw something like this. I'm thoroughly surprised the blurb didn't mention anything about it. 

The Parting of Hero and Leander, before 1837

By Joseph Mallord William Turner

This is one of those paintings that takes me to another world, merely because of the paint strokes. I can here the waves crashing and the wind blowing and possible sound of singing. You never know. So pretty! The sky is large and wide and the people are so small. At some point, it looks as if the sky and the water meet. "See the line where the sky meets the sea, it calls me." There's no harm in fitting in a Disney reference! This work is referring to the Greek myth Hero and Leander. "Hero looks on as her lover Leander begins his daily swim across Hellespoint. Sea nymphs who were thought to control the waves are shown on the right. The brewing storm foreshadows Leander's drowning."

Mr and Mrs William Hallett ('The Morning Walk'), 1785

By Thomas Gainsborough

I don't know what intrigued me specifically about this painting, but I like how the woman, or Mrs. Hallett is of equal, if not more, height as her newly-wed husband, Mr. Hallett. I thought their attire looked very elegant and bouncy and the dog of course adds a lot to it. The background is very well painted. The woman is very beautiful and looks very confident and in love with her husband. The blurb states the couple may be wearing their wedding clothes, which says a lot about weddings at the time. The technique Thomas (we're on a first name basis now) used highlights his style during the "last phase of his career."

Whistlejacket (about 1862)

By George Stubbs

This was one of the larger paintings in the gallery and definitely one of the more memorable ones. The horse looks so powerful and yet playful. The artist did a swell job of contrasting the horse's fur and the background and the shading and lighting is exquisite. No surprise so many other art-lovers crowded around it. The blurb states, "The racehorse Whistlejacket was painted life-size for his owner...in celebration of the Arabian-bred stallion's superb proportions and beautiful appearance." I'm going to call him Button.

The Fighting Temeraire tugged to her Last Berth to be broken up, 1838

By Joseph Mallord William Turner

That's a mouthful. I especially like this painting for the sunset and beautiful portrayal of the water. The sky has a roughened texture if you look closely, but it has a really nice effect on the work altogether. I also really like sea-themed paintings, especially with hulking ships. If they're pirates ships, I like them even more. Am I the only one who thinks pirates seem so cool in movies, but in real life, they're absolutely cruel and terrifying? The blurb says, "The painting depicts the last journey of the Temeraire, a famous warship sold by the Royal Navy in 1838...Turner contrasts the veteran ship, seen against the setting sun, with the modern stream-propelled tug." So not a pirate ship, but still really pretty! 

Mrs Siddons, 1785

By Thomas Gainsborough

Another beautiful woman painted by the very skilled Thomas Gainsborough. I love this woman's attire: the hat, what appears to be a choker but probably isn't, her scarf, and her dress. I also really like the velvety background behind her. The blurb says, "Sarah Siddons (1755-1831) was one of the most famous actresses of her time, specialising in tragic roles. She is portrayed as a fashionable lady, wearing an elaborately trimmed black beaver hat and caressing her fox-fur muff. Gainsborough is reported to have had difficulties painting the woman's nose and to have exclaimed, 'Confound the nose, there's no end to it.'" Well isn't that interesting. I didn't know actresses existed back then. How horrible does that sound. Usually, at least during Shakespeare's time, men acted out women's roles. But I'm happy for Sarah for being successful!

Still Life with Water Jug, about 1892-3

By Paul Cézanne

We are now entering a new era of art, using new painting techniques. The paintbrush strokes of this painting were particularly interesting. Cézanne didn't paint the entire canvas and only brought color to certain aspects of the painting. I wonder what drew Cézanne to paint like this. I can kind of understand; sometimes I intend to paint an entire poster board, but I notice painting it partially has a better look. Maybe other artists of Cézanne's time painted a lot of still lifes and he wanted to make his a little more interesting, more of an attention-catcher. But to my surprise the blurb states, "This unfinished work belongs to a series of still lifes made by Cézanne....The tall blue water jug appears in all these paintings." Whether it was Cézanne's to catch the viewer's attention or not, it certainly worked for me.

Water-Lilies, Setting Sun, about 1907

By Claude Monet

I wish the river I live next to looked like this. We can only dream... in artwork. According to the blurb, the painting stayed in Monet's studio until "only a few years after his death." So I guess he just never sold it. I probably would've done the same. It's quite a piece. The blend of colors was executed very well. I can feel the warmth of the setting sun in the painting. Good job Monet.

The Water-Lily Pond, 1899

By Claude Monet

Quite the art-enthusiast summoner. If you look closely, most of what you see is just dots of color, woven together to create this lovely bridge over the lily pond. I can hear the faint sound of birds chirping and the occasional water splashing. The blurb says, "For more than 30 years at the end of his life, Monet found the subject matter for his art in the gardens at his home in Giverny." I'd love to visit a place like this sometime and then sleep there for the next ten years.

Death and the Maidens, before 1872

By Pierre Cécile Puvis de Chavannes

I love this modern take on the older story of Death and the Maiden! The story has been portrayed in so many ways. The Phantom of the Opera if I'm not wrong. The blurb states, "Girls dance in a meadow, apparently unaware of the shrouded figure of death, the reaper, in the foreground. The subject was popular in 19th century French art and literature... The work is a preliminary study for a large-scale painting." The technique Chavannes used to paint the maidens and the reaper makes the gaping hole in the ground seem very mysterious and creates a dramatic effect. I'd gladly hang this up in my room. I just love this aesthetic!

Surprised! 1891

By Henri Rousseau

I really love the name of this work. I love the tiger's funky face and the wild plants surrounding it. The different colors of leaves put such life into the artwork. I must say it seems like a strange environment for a tiger to live in. The blurb tells the story, " A tiger crouches in the foreground, surprised by man's arrival. Rousseau's jungle is imaginary, derived from specimens of tropical plants in Paris's botanical gardens." As I'm sure Rousseau knows, when you're an artist, you don't have to follow the rules of reality.

The Boulevard Montmartre at Night, 1897

By Camille Pissarro

You may have seen this painting before. I absolutely love it. I think it portrays the noisy city life really well. The artist did a great job of bringing light to the city and painting reflections on the street. I love paintings in this style. According to the blurb, "It is one of a series of view that he painted of the Paris boulevard, showing it at various times of the day and in different weather conditions. Here, the reflections of street lights and shop fronts evoke the atmosphere of a wet winter's evening." Leave a comment on whether or not you like this style of painting.

Faa Iheihe, 1898

By Paul Gaugin

The length of the painting is what caught my attention. And it appeared to be telling a story. It depicts "Four women, deliberately shown from different angles to demonstrate the variety of female beauty, and wearing a range of costumes, are spied on by two men." The name of the work comes from a Tahitian word, meaning "to make oneself beautiful for a special occasion." Now that I've properly read the description, I love this painting even more! Women are doing all sorts of tasks and they're not depicted to impress the male gaze, but to simply highlight beautiful feminine characteristics and in a way, value women even more. Let me know what you think about it.

Motherhood, 1901

By Pablo Picasso

I love the use of color in this painting and also the expressions seen on the woman's face. Is it weird that I like her really elongated hand? Were you able to guess who painted this? Pablo Picasso!  According to the blurb, "Picasso looks afresh at the subject of the Madonna and Child, dressing the mother in traditional blue. Her gaze is melancholic and her elongated arms cocoon the child in a tender embrace." I really like how Picasso kept Madonna and Child secluded in a remote location, with only a farmer plowing a field. It brings more attention to the bond between mother and child. It's a great modern take on what's been painted for hundreds of years now.

Bathers at La Grenouillére, 1869

Can you guess who painted this? You guessed it.... Claude Monet. Whenever you see a painting with this sort of technique; dots and smaller strokes, you know its Monet. Another thing I love about this style is there is no established tone in the painting. It's not sad or happy, but it's whatever you want. With classical paintings, there's usually defined expressions and a definite tone to the piece and I always fancy a piece of artwork that gives me that choice of interpretation. And even though it seems Monet didn't have to put into creating the trees and boats and people, he does a great job of making it seem like the people are walking, and the trees are dancing, and the boats are bobbing. I don't know how he does it!

Portrait of Félix Pissarro, 1881

By Camille Pissarro

I loved the color scheme of this painting and the very child-esque expression on the boy. Also isn't his clothing so fun? Imagine what it would be like if kids today dressed like this? Berets and all! Who is Félix? The blurb says, "Félix, also known as Titi, was the third son of Camille and Julie Pissarro. He was seven when this informal portrait was made... Before his premature death in London, Félix worked as a painter, engraver, and caricaturist under the pseudonym Jean Roch." Now imagine you're walking on the streets and there is a child taking payments for caricatures. What a completely different world Pissarro lived in!

Still Life with Flowers, 1826

By Antoine Berjon

Who doesn't love a good still life? The names *still* need a little improving. The still life needs to be really interesting for me to take a picture of it. Is it really strange if I say this fruit basket is motivating me to eat healthier? yes. Whatever helps, right? Berjon did a superb job (I'm running out of adjectives here!) of creating a shadow on the table and inside the flower petals. I love the flowers! and all the colors! What can I say, I'm a girl of colors. According to the blurb, Antoine became the leading flower painter at his school. "Here his casual arrangement of the basket and precisely textured peaches and petals -- the orange nasturtium is ready to fall -- gives a sense of movement to this still life."

Susanna at her Bath, 1850

By Francesco Hayez

"The biblical story of Susanna, a popular subject for painters, provided him [Hayez] with a pretext for painting one of his favourite subjects, the female nude".......... at least he's good at it! He certainly did a nice job of giving the brick wall in front of Susanna some texture. And he created a great contrast between where she is and the outside world. It brings you into her world and reality. I genuinely love all aspects of this piece. The lighting too, was executed so well!

Chalets at Rigi, 1861

By Alexandre Calame

I'd love to live in the mountains, even in a battered shack. I guess that's what drew me to this painting; thinking, "oh, wouldn't it be nice to live there?""Calame was the leading landscape painter of 19th-century Switzerland. Here, mountain-top chalets have become almost like features of the landscape into which they seem to sink, their steep roofs catching sunlight." The tall mountain in the distance reminds me of Mt. Washington. If it were, living in the chalet would capture the perfect view. Calame did such a terrific job; I feel as if I'm looking at the mountains directly, not at a painting in a gallery.

The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, 1833

Paul Delaroche

Don't be deceived by the size of the photo! I'm so sorry for the glare. It's just this painting was heaping HUGE. Not even someone really tall can take an exceptional photo of this. Despite its gargantuan size, I loved the realistic depiction of the people in this painting. And this work also feels likes its telling a story. Why else would Delaroche paint on such a hulking canvas if not to make a statement? "Lady Jane Grey reigned as queen for nine days in 1553 until deposed by supporters of Catholic Queen Mary. She was beheaded at Tower Hill early the following year, aged 17. The French painter Delaroche was famous in his day for his scenes from the lives of British royalty, especially those who were doomed of dying." Interesting topic to portray, but he definitely brings attention to something important to acknowledge. I commend you, Delaroche!

Portrait of P. Ryder, Son of the Artist's Cousin, 1848

By Christen Købke

There's something I really like about this painting (and I'm saying this to show... I really like the painting). Other paintings have portrayed important figures or have tried to bring attention to something, but this painting portrays a simple man. His shirt is a little ragged, some of his buttons are unbuttoned, his appearance isn't very special. I guess that's a statement within itself: it's the most human I'd seen all day. This man was a baker. "[He] is seen here in his work clothes, smoking a cigarillo. The basket of pretzels behind him is the outcome of a good day's work." That's another thing, none of the paintings I showed previously showed a worker or someone hardworking. That really drew me to this piece.

Two Young Women Kissing, about 1790-4

By Louis-Léopold Boilly

Who can say they've seen something like this portrayed in classical artwork? I certainly couldn't before I saw this. "At the height of the Terror, Boilly was denounced to the Revolutionary authorities for painting works of 'revoking obscenity.' This is precisely the kind of painting his accuser had in mind. Caught in an amorous embrace, the woman in white is dishevelled, her dress slipping to reveal her breast." I wonder what drew Boilly to paint this. Was it simply to anger his accuser? Or to make a statement? Either way I absolutely love this painting, even for classical art, as it shows the women in a darkly lit room, but the light focused on them. A fantastic contrast. It puts a smile to my face and I can't explain why.

I'll now list some other paintings below that caught my eye. Some of them, through the expressions of the characters in the painting, I could feel how they were feeling. I could understand them to some level, not to cheese everything up 🧀. Some of the paintings just had funky or even surreal aspects to them that I couldn't just keep walking without snapping a pic, as if it was something I came across in a dream. I'm noticing as I write this that I picked a lot of paintings of women. Even though women weren't supported as much as they should have been, the artists certainly brought to life the beautiful aspects of women; from appearance to personality. Lastly, some paintings had something in them that I just hadn't seen before. You'll know what I mean when you see the last painting.

This post probably took me the longest to write of any other posts, but I definitely learned a lot more about art as I wrote it. Especially after having to reread the blurbs (and after proofreading). I highly recommend paying (or actually not paying, since its free!) the National Portrait Gallery a visit if you ever find yourself in London. It's flippin' free! Hope you enjoyed these really beautiful works of art and comment below: what do you look for in a painting? Which one of these were your favorite?

My Little Soldiers, 1804

By Louis-Léopold Boilly

Madame Louis-Julien Gohin, her son and her stepdaughters, 

about 1800-2

By Louis-Léopold Boilly

A Girl at a Window

By Louis-Léopold Boilly

Saints Genevieve and Apollonia (left); 

Saints Christina and Ottilia (right), 1506

By Lucas Cranach the Elder

The Death of Actaeon, about 1559-75

By Titian (Tiziano)

Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba, 1648

By Claude

Rocky Landscape with Saint John the Baptist, late 1620s

By Joos de Momper the Younger

A Woman bathing in a Stream, 1654

By Rembrandt

The Garden of Eden, 1613

By Jan Brueghel

Sun rising through Vapour: Fishermen cleaning and selling Fish, before 1807

By Joseph Mallord William Turner

Landscape in Brazil, about 1665-9

By Frans Post

Orpheus, 1628

By Roelandt Savery

Who knew an artist could paint something like this ↓?! Thanks AGAIN for viewing and reading! You are on top of the world if you were able to get through this whole thing! Shine bright💫!

Last but not least...

I didn't record the name or artist of this work. Aaaah!