It's About Time: August 2016

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Dog Days of Summer - One serious dog

Franz von Matsch (Austrian artist, 1861-1942) A Bulldog

Dog Days of Summer is the name for the most sultry period of summer, from about July 3 to Aug. 11. Named in early times by observers in countries bordering the Mediterranean, the period was determined to extend from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction of Sirius (the dog star) & the sun. The Greek poets Hesiod (ca. 750-650 BCE) & Aratus (ca. 310–240 BCE) refer, in their writings, to "the heat of late summer that the Greeks believed was actually brought on by the appearance of Sirius," a star in the constellation, that the later Romans, & we today refer to as Canis Major, literally the "greater dog" constellation. Homer, in the Iliad, references the association of "Orion's dog" (Sirius) with oncoming heat, fevers, & evil, in describing the approach of Achilles toward Troy:

Sirius rises late in the dark, liquid sky

On summer nights, star of stars,

Orion's Dog they call it, brightest

Of all, but an evil portent, bringing heat

And fevers to suffering humanity.

The term "dog days" was used by the Greeks in Aristotle's Physics. Astronomer Geminus, around 70 B.C., wrote: "It is generally believed that Sirius produces the heat of the 'dog days,' but this is an error, for the star merely marks a season of the year when the sun"s heat is the greatest." The lectionary of 1559 edition of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer indicates: "Naonae. Dog days begin" with the readings for July 7 & end August 18. But the readings for September 5 indicate: "Naonae. Dog days end." This corresponds very closely to the lectionary of the 1611 edition of the King James Bible which indicates the Dog Days beginning on July 6 & ending on September 5.

Waterside with Australian Emanuel Phillips Fox 1865-1915

Emanuel Phillips Fox (Australian artist, 1865 -1915) On the Sand

Emanuel Phillips Fox (Australian artist, 1865 -1915) The Bathing Hour

Emanuel Phillips Fox (Australian artist, 1865 -1915) The Beach, Trouville

Emanuel Phillips Fox (Australian artist, 1865 -1915) The Ferry

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Dog Days of Summer - A Poodle in a Punt

George Stubbs (English artist, 1724-1806) White Poodle in a Punt 1780

Dog Days of Summer is the name for the most sultry period of summer, from about July 3 to Aug. 11. Named in early times by observers in countries bordering the Mediterranean, the period was determined to extend from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction of Sirius (the dog star) & the sun. The Greek poets Hesiod (ca. 750-650 BCE) & Aratus (ca. 310–240 BCE) refer, in their writings, to "the heat of late summer that the Greeks believed was actually brought on by the appearance of Sirius," a star in the constellation, that the later Romans, & we today refer to as Canis Major, literally the "greater dog" constellation. Homer, in the Iliad, references the association of "Orion's dog" (Sirius) with oncoming heat, fevers, & evil, in describing the approach of Achilles toward Troy:

Sirius rises late in the dark, liquid sky

On summer nights, star of stars,

Orion's Dog they call it, brightest

Of all, but an evil portent, bringing heat

And fevers to suffering humanity.

Waterside with English artist Laura Johnson Knight 1877–1970

Laura Knight (1877-1970) The Beach 1908

English Impressionist painter Laura Johnson Knight (1877–1970) became famous for capturing the world of London's theatre, ballet, & circus as well as her images of the Nurenburg Trials, but I enjoy the freedom & joy of her early paintings by the sea.

Laura Knight (1877-1970) Self-portrait

She was born in Long Eaton, Derbyshire to Charles & Charlotte Johnson. Her father died not long after her birth, & Laura grew up in a family that struggled with financial problems. Her mother's marriage, wrote the daughter, was "an unhappy one;" and when her father died soon after Laura's birth, friends said, "It is for the best."

Laura Knight (1877-1970) Flying the Kite

In 1899, she sailed to France with the intention that she would eventually study art at a Parisian atelier. After a short time in French schools, Johnson returned to England. There, at the age of 13, she entered the Nottingham School of Art, one of the youngest students ever to join the school. But at the Nottingham art school, she was barred from life-drawing classes; because they were open only to men, & she was put to drawing from plaster casts.

Laura Knight (1877-1970) Girls Picking Flowers by the Sea

At school, she met a promising student, Harold Knight (1874–1961), aged 17. Johnson determined that the best method of learning was to copy Harold's technique. They became close friends; and in 1903, Harold & Laura married.

Laura Knight (1877-1970) Sea Wind and Sun

In 1907, the Knights moved to the artists' colony in Newlyn, Cornwall, alongside Lamorna Birch, Alfred Munnings, & Aleister Crowley, where she painted in an Impressionist style.

Laura Knight (1877-1970) A Dark Pool 1908-18

After World War I, the Knights moved to London, where Laura met some of the most famous ballet dancers of the day, such as Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes with Lydia Lopokova & Enrico Cecchetti, and Anna Pavlova.

Laura Knight (1877-1970) Boys

In 1929, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire; and in 1936, she became the first woman elected to the Royal Academy, just as her mother predicted.

Laura Knight (1877-1970) The Cornish Coast

After World War II, she was the official war artist at the Nuremberg Trials, an emotionally draining task.

Laura Knight (1877-1970) Untrodden Sand

She continued to paint after her husband's death in 1961, producing over 250 works of art as well as 2 autobiographies, Oil Paint and Grease Paint (1936) and The Magic of a Line (1965).

Laura Knight (1877-1970) The Water Pool

Laura attributed much of her success to her mother as she remembered, "One of the greatest moments of Mother's life came when she found that I, a mere baby, was never so content as with pencil and paper; even before I could speak or walk, I drew. There was no question of my purpose in life. I remember her saying, when I was only a few years old, ‘You will be elected to the Royal Academy one day.'"

Laura Knight (1877-1970)

Laura Knight (1877-1970) Two Fishers

Laura Knight (1877-1970)

Monday, August 29, 2016

Dog Days of Summer - Maurice de Vlaminck 1876-1958

Maurice de Vlaminck (French artist, 1876-1958) Women with a dog in 1905 (a Fauvist dog!)

Dog Days of Summer is the name for the most sultry period of summer, from about July 3 to Aug. 11. Named in early times by observers in countries bordering the Mediterranean, the period was determined to extend from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction of Sirius (the dog star) & amp; the sun. The Greek poets Hesiod (ca. 750-650 BCE) & amp; Aratus (ca. 310-240 BCE) refer, in Their writings, to "the heat of late summer That the Greeks believed was actually brought` on by the appearance of Sirius," a star in the constellation, That the later Romans, & amp; we today refer to as Canis Major, literally the "greater dog" constellation. Homer, in the Iliad , references the association of "Orion's dog" (Sirius) with oncoming heat, fevers, & amp; Evil, in describing the approach of Achilles toward Troy:

Sirius rises late in the dark, liquid sky

On summer nights, star of stars,

Orion's Dog they call it, brightest

Of all, but an evil portent, Bringing heat

And fevers to suffering humanity.

The term "dog days" was used by the Greeks in Aristotle's Physics. Astronomer Geminus, around 70 BC, wrote: "It is believed Generally Sirius That Produces the heat of the 'dog days,' but this is an error, for the star Merely marks a season of the year When the sun" s heat is the Greatest. " The 1559 edition of the lectionary of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer Indicates: "Naonae. Dog days begin "with the readings for July 7 & amp; end August 18. But the readings for September 5 stated:" Naonae. Dog days end. "This Corresponds very closely to the lectionary of the 1611 edition of the King James Bible Which Indicates the Dog Days beginning on July 6 & amp; ending on September 5.

Parasols for Sun & Umbrellas for Rain - A few of unexpected parasol devotees...

Winslow Homer (American artist, 1836–1910) Artists Sketching in the White Mountains

John Singer Sargent (American expatriate artist, 1856-1925) The Sketchers, 1914

Carl Spitzweg (German artist, 1808-1885) The Botanist

Waterside with Frenchman Henri Lebasque 1865-1937

Henri Lebasque (French artist, 1865-1937) On the Beach

Henri Lebasque (French artist, 1865-1937)

Henri Lebasque (French artist, 1865-1937) was born in Champigné, France; and by 1885, he was studying in Paris at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Here Lebasque met Camille Pissarro & Auguste Renoir. Lebasque maintained an intense artistic exchange with young painters, especially Vuillard & Bonnard, the founders of the artists' associations "Les Nabis" (the prophets) & the "Intimists." In 1903, together with his friend Henri Matisse & other artists, Henri Lebasque founded the "Salon d'Automne," where Georges Rouault, André Derain, Edouard Vuillard and Henri Matisse exhibited. In 1924, Henri Lebasque moved to Le Cannet on the French Riviera. His portrayals of women & their children are colorful & intimate, full of the hope & joy of life.