My prior Art posts can be found HERE.
How do we move away from being a civilization that produces art that causes comments like, “my five year old could make this,” back to being one that creates beauty and inspires deep questions? We must reject modernity and embrace tradition. To embrace tradition, we must first learn about it..
Let’s study art history together.
Portrait of Oliver Cromwell
| Artist | Robert Walker |
|---|---|
| Year | c.1649 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, portrait painting |
| Dimensions | 12.7 cm × 101.6 cm (5.0 in × 40.0 in) |
| Location | National Portrait Gallery, London |
This is the earliest and most well-known portrait of Oliver Cromwell. He was an important figure during the English Civil War and one of the most divisive people in English history. He’s pictured here wearing a full suit of armor, though it’s likely he never wore or fought in a full suit of armor. The fact that he is portrayed this way – and in his own lifetime no less – tells us a lot about how he wanted others to see him. Cromwell was also an advocate for Puritanism – and once I tell you that you can see it in the aesthetics of his portrait, can’t you? This is the portrait of a Puritan warrior.
In short, this portrait is a bit of public propaganda.
(more via wiki)
Portrait of Oliver Cromwell is a c.1649 portrait painting by the English artist Robert Walker, depicting the politician and general Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell was a Parliamentarian commander during the English Civil War and in 1653 he became head of state as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth.
This was the earliest produced portrait of Cromwell and by far the most well-known. It has drawn comparison to Anthony van Dyck‘s 1636 depiction of the Royalist Earl of Strafford. Cromwell is shown at three-quarters length wearing a full suit of armour, although during the Civil War only the cuirass was usually worn.
The work was likely produced the same year Cromwell sat as one of the judges at the Trial of Charles I leading to his execution on 30 January. Later he spearheaded the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. Several versions were produced, with one version of the painting thought to have been given by Cromwell to Nathaniel Rich, a colonel of the New Model Army. Today it is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London.
This painting introduced the world to the man who rose from relative obscurity into a position wherein he is credited as the executioner of a King (Charles I.) The portrait does a great job of introducing us to a man, but I think it’s helpful to know his story before viewing the work. Cromwell saw himself as an instrument of God. Whether that was actually the case, he lived his life with that type of fervor. You see glimpses of that character in his portrait.
