Thursday, April 28, 2011

Spring Dance

In honor of this spring weather (nearly summer!) we're having here in DC, I thought I'd share with you a photograph of one of my favorite paintings at the Smithsonian American Art Museum; Spring Dance by Arthur Mathews (1917). The painting is based in aestheticism; the custom frame being a part of the whole work of art by including designs and colors found within the painting. Mathews was a prominent Arts and Crafts designer and artist practicing in San Francisco who depicted his native California. Enjoy your spring dance!
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6 comments:

  1. Reggie DarlingApril 28, 2011 at 6:23 AM

    A delightful painting, made all the more marvelous by its perfect frame. I am so happy that the mania for removing period frames from paintings was a blessedly short one. At one point MoMA removed all of the period frames of its early paintings on display, so viewers wouldn't be "distracted" by them when looking at the art. They looked naked and raw. Fortunately they have long since been returned.

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  2. David TomsApril 28, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    What a wonderful painting. It does remind me of several done around the same period in the Art Gallery of New South Wales. I am not sure of the artis, so will have to find out for you.

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  3. Mark D. RuffnerApril 28, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    I like this approach to framing. This particular one reminds me of some of the very architectural Renaissance frames.

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  4. Acanthus and AcornApril 28, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    Is there anything more beautiful that great art in an exquisite frame!? And, of course I so appreciate the inspiration of spring, especially on this stormy and gloomy day!

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  5. StephenApril 29, 2011 at 9:31 PM

    I don't know Matthews & now I need to research about him... anothe rpassion for me?

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  6. JanetMay 1, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    Oh, happy spring! Happy May Day!

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