Gustave Moreau The Apparition (c. 1876) oil on canvas
Gustave Moreau’s art is one that is very
unique. I feel as though it is quite important to include his works in
my gallery because of his significant part in the French Symbolist
Movement. Symbolism rejects traditional iconography and replaces it with
subjectivity. The movement was one from universal, objective truth
articulated in academic art to individual, subjective at with an
emotional experience. The French Symbolist Movement was the welcoming of
the hallmark of modernism. Although Moreau played a large role in the
movement, he was a painter that enjoyed using mythological themes and
figures as well as themes from the Bible. He placed explicit messages
and detailed representations in his paintings, such as, those found in The Apparition (1876).
In The Apparition (1876),
Moreau’s approach, in my opinion, is to place the viewer in the position
of an attendee at King Herod’s birthday party. The story in this
painting is from the Biblical passage in Matthew 14:1-12.
The Death of John the Baptist
14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,[a] 4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.
Matthew 14:1-12
Source: http://bg4.me/YbcCAh
As you can see when you read this passage
of Scripture, it was King Herod’s birthday when John the Baptist was
beheaded. Why, one might wonder, especially after looking at this
painting? The interpretation made was that King Herod had his daughter
dance for him, which in our day seems very inappropriate, but then it
was not viewed quite the same to everyone. Nevertheless, he told her
that she could have whatever she wished as long as she danced for him,
and she did. Herod was pleased with her dancing and asked her what she
wanted and she replied saying that she wanted the head of John the
Baptist, thus he is beheaded and his head is brought to her on a
platter. Although we do not see John the Baptist’s head on a platter
here, we do see the meticulous artwork and depiction of his head without
a body floating with light gleaming from all around it. In my opinion, I
believe Moreau wished to bring light to John the Baptist’s face in
order to somewhat lighten the mood of the anxiety-ridden moment we find
ourselves in as the viewer. This anxiety is also called Mal-du-sielce.
Moreau painted this piece in the late
1800′s, which is one of the first times we see women taking the role of
men. Femme Fatale was the name that I would have given to Herod’s
daughter, Salome, because she was a deadly woman with evil initiatives
and motives. These depictions begin to emerge more about a century
later, in the late 1970′s. The Women’s Right’s Movement was beginning to
take form in the United States, and we begin to see more of these
“deadly women” in art. The Apparition (1876) was a piece that
really opened up doors for Moreau during this particular time. As far as
the elements go in this painting, he used materiality to place details
in the columns, in her outfit, and around John the Baptist’s head. It is
a very unique dynamic.
Gustave Moreau Samson and Delilah (1882) watercolor
As I said above, Moreau used materiality
to create detailed depictions within his artwork. In this particular
piece, Moreau makes a Biblical reference to Samson and Delilah in the
book of Judges, chapter 16. Delilah was not a prostitute but a deceiver.
Samson was in love with Delilah and told her he loved her, however,
when she asked him where his strength lies, he told her the first time
that his strength would fail if he was bound by seven fresh bowstrings
that have not been dried. She bound up using the bowstrings, but he
broke free. She asked him again, and the second time he said his
strength will fail if he is bound with new ropes that have not been
used, and she bound him up, but he broke free. The third time she asked
him, and he said that his strength would fail if he was bound up with
seven locks of his head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin.
Once again he broke free, and she felt as though he was lying since he
had told her he loved her and where his strength lied.
He ended up telling her where his strength truly lied, which was in his hair, and she had him lay down, which is what is shown in this painting. Moreau’s paintings are incredible and are very insightful both in an academic (Biblical) sense, and they are also very beautifully detailed. I really like the differences in these two pieces, but more than anything I like the referencing he uses which adds value to the art, in my opinion.
He ended up telling her where his strength truly lied, which was in his hair, and she had him lay down, which is what is shown in this painting. Moreau’s paintings are incredible and are very insightful both in an academic (Biblical) sense, and they are also very beautifully detailed. I really like the differences in these two pieces, but more than anything I like the referencing he uses which adds value to the art, in my opinion.
Samson and Delilah
18 When Delilah saw that he
had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the
Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.”
Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money
in their hands. 19 She made him
sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven
locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left
him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are
upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out
as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the
Lord had left him. 21 And the Philistines seized him
and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with
bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
Judges 16:18-22
Source: http://bg4.me/YblgyA
I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog
about these beautiful works of art done by Gustave Moreau! More coming
soon as we enter in to more of the Post-Impressionist artists’ works I
have in my gallery! Please feel free to leave comments and add anything
you found interesting!
-Gallery 9310, The Owner
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