CWC#4 @Leeds Art Gallery
Tutor said "Go the the Art Gallery and be inspired!!"
The Alfred Gilbert & Sam Wilson Chimney Piece at Leeds Art Gallery
As I enter a room I see the chimney piece, it stands tall and proud in a blank white room. It is accompanied by surrounding sculptures but yet it stands alone. It oozes age and delicate details that go on forever, it bewitches me. As I take a seat I realise a thousand faces are watching my every move, they seem to be untrusting. The chimney piece is a huge dark bronze statue, it looks heavy and strong, and it demands respect. The texture is smooth but stormy; you would be forgiven for mistaking it for a rich red wood with a polished finish, a truly organic feel.
I sit on a bench before the magnificent sculpture I feel small and overpowered, but yet protected at the same time. The more I study its detail, the more treasures I find. It reminds me of a medieval church that is guarded by its gargoyles, but in place of gargoyles this piece has a conflicting mix of lords and ladies with children that playfully hang off skulls. I see birds of all kinds accompanying the ladies, and dogs that guard from a distance. A set of traditional reapers stretch out as if to hold the heavy mantle piece, each one differs from the other. I notice the design is symmetrical but not identical, and the figures seem to contradict each other, all manner of moods are present here, the calm faces of the ladies seem to be in a war with the reaper’s dark glare. It reminds me of a scene from a Haven and Hell painting, but I know it is not as simple as that. A painting sits high upon the chimney piece, a lady in a floral hat, her eyes closed. I question for a moment if she is asleep, but then on closer inspection I decide that she is deceased. The death painting seems to explain the morbid Gothic theme of the sculpture; it is dedicated to the dead. Better then a grave stone, it is a shrine dedicated to the love that the owner lost. I imagine it growing into what I see before me today, a work of art with an alternative motive, made with the love of a man’s broken heart. As it whispers this story to me I truly believe it, regardless of the facts displayed on the left. In my mind it is stolen from the set of a Gothic love story. To me it is obvious that obsession was involved, and with obsession comes horror. I am sure the chimney piece has seen a thousand tails and witnessed history evolve around it. It becomes an old wise piece, I am still a slave to its beauty, and I have respect for it. I feel honoured to have been allowed to admire its beauty as I am sure many others will as it stands proud in the art gallery, almost touching the ceiling. It is a true piece of beautiful history, and as I leave I wish it well on its journey.
Quote from Gilbert “A Dream of joy during sleep and sorrow”
The Alfred Gilbert & Sam Wilson Chimney Piece at Leeds Art Gallery
As I enter a room I see the chimney piece, it stands tall and proud in a blank white room. It is accompanied by surrounding sculptures but yet it stands alone. It oozes age and delicate details that go on forever, it bewitches me. As I take a seat I realise a thousand faces are watching my every move, they seem to be untrusting. The chimney piece is a huge dark bronze statue, it looks heavy and strong, and it demands respect. The texture is smooth but stormy; you would be forgiven for mistaking it for a rich red wood with a polished finish, a truly organic feel.
I sit on a bench before the magnificent sculpture I feel small and overpowered, but yet protected at the same time. The more I study its detail, the more treasures I find. It reminds me of a medieval church that is guarded by its gargoyles, but in place of gargoyles this piece has a conflicting mix of lords and ladies with children that playfully hang off skulls. I see birds of all kinds accompanying the ladies, and dogs that guard from a distance. A set of traditional reapers stretch out as if to hold the heavy mantle piece, each one differs from the other. I notice the design is symmetrical but not identical, and the figures seem to contradict each other, all manner of moods are present here, the calm faces of the ladies seem to be in a war with the reaper’s dark glare. It reminds me of a scene from a Haven and Hell painting, but I know it is not as simple as that. A painting sits high upon the chimney piece, a lady in a floral hat, her eyes closed. I question for a moment if she is asleep, but then on closer inspection I decide that she is deceased. The death painting seems to explain the morbid Gothic theme of the sculpture; it is dedicated to the dead. Better then a grave stone, it is a shrine dedicated to the love that the owner lost. I imagine it growing into what I see before me today, a work of art with an alternative motive, made with the love of a man’s broken heart. As it whispers this story to me I truly believe it, regardless of the facts displayed on the left. In my mind it is stolen from the set of a Gothic love story. To me it is obvious that obsession was involved, and with obsession comes horror. I am sure the chimney piece has seen a thousand tails and witnessed history evolve around it. It becomes an old wise piece, I am still a slave to its beauty, and I have respect for it. I feel honoured to have been allowed to admire its beauty as I am sure many others will as it stands proud in the art gallery, almost touching the ceiling. It is a true piece of beautiful history, and as I leave I wish it well on its journey.
Quote from Gilbert “A Dream of joy during sleep and sorrow”