cart
0
  • No products in the cart.
Cart Total:$0.00

Under the Bridge, Lungotevere

April 21, 2011 In Rome, Plein Air Paintings, Cityscapes

Under the Bridge, Lungotevere


Under the Bridge, Lungotevere
Oil on Panel
8×10″
SOLD

This turned out to be a Monet inspired painting, without my really having that intention. Of course I love Monet and I have no pretentions of being anywhere the painter that he was. This landscape though is not exactly that of Monet, it’s in a different context. This bridge, right in the hectic center of town, leads to the famous Supreme Court, or as the locals call it, the palazzaccio (meaning the ugly palace).

There is a woman living under this bridge, who is only a dot in my painting. She has built herself a little lean-to house and was cooking lunch with a fire from sticks she had collected. The irony speaks for itself. In the heart of a wealthy city surrounded by hoards of tourists and elaborate palaces, just a five minute walk from the Vatican, there are people living on the streets. And what does my pretty painting say about all of this? What does it mean to find beauty in a place like this (because it’s there)?

I don’t really have an answer to this question, but I am left asking myself what is the place of making land or cityscapes in all of this? What am I contributing to society? I think it’s an important question to ask no matter what we do. And I was pertinently reminded of this today in reading a post by a fellow artist Leslie G. Nutting posing the question are artists indispensable.?

Reality check, always timely.

Pin
Tags:
6 Comments

  • marcello saolini

    April 21, 2011 at 4:31 pm

    A very “french” tevere kelly… I like it!nice to see your new paintings.want to go painting satrday?
    cheers Marcello

  • Cindy Michaud

    April 21, 2011 at 11:01 pm

    oh my! Kelly dear, lovely…and heavy. We do ponder such things and let’s discuss it all over a glass of vino some day. meanwhile, did you take a photo of said bridge? Is it of stones?? I love the painting, and you can be Monet anyday in my book.

  • Kelly Medford

    April 22, 2011 at 6:54 am

    The brige is made of marble blocks, do those count as stones??
    I know it was a heavy post and I really debated as to weather or not I should write it, but I thought why not, it’s all part of the experience. I am very interested in hearing from other artists what they think about the place of their work in the world and how it contributes to society.
    In the meantime I will take some pictures (close ups) of stones and send them to you.
    Thanks for your thoughts!
    (and I’m looking forward to that glass of vino!)

  • Leslie Nutting

    April 26, 2011 at 2:15 pm

    Hi Kelly – Beautiful painting!
    I love that you indicated the woman under the bridge. You are documenting a fact: this is what you saw.
    I think the beauty of painting is that it leaves the interpretation to us, the viewers, to sort out. We become involved in thinking about the world around us through your painting. I think that is how artists make a difference!

  • Kelly Medford

    April 26, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    Thanks for your thoughtful comment Leslie. I do somehow in my own way hope to make a difference..!