Monday, June 2, 2014

Charlotte Stauffer-Getty Museum-Portrait of Louis XIV

Charlotte Stauffer
Beginning Drawing T/Th
My sister and I went to the Getty Museum in LA and were able to see all the art work from different eras and dynasties.  It was all separated into categories, based on when the artwork was created and what the subject matter was.  One specific piece of art that stood out to me was the Portrait of Louis XIV by Hyacinthe Rigaud.  He was the leading court painter at the time that Louis XIV was the king.  He is presented as very regal and powerful in the oil painting.  Everything in this painting overwhelmingly emit’s the feeling of luxury and extravagance.  It is huge, one of the biggest paintings at the Getty.  The colors are very vibrant and everything is painted very meticulously.  The King is dressed in elegant robes and is showing his sword in the forefront, representing his power.  The Kings stance is even regal, he is poised and is looking right at the viewer.  He could be seen as tall and larger than life.  Everything is drapery and flows around him, making him the obvious focal point.  The rich blues and reds, and the fabrics used were there to show his nobility.  
I thought the artwork stood out just based on its size and also, the background of the painting intrigued me.  There were reasons for why it was so large and colorful.  Only a person in 17th century France with immense wealth could have afforded this, only nobility would have the funds for this to be done for them.  It told a story and showed how the king spent his money and managed his power.  It shows me that everything has a purpose in works of art and to look more into depth to gain more knowledge of symbolism and other techniques in peoples art.


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