Jenny Saville is a female painter who was born in Cambridge, England in 1970. Her works are usually of large scale interpretations of naked overweight women and disturbed human form. The paintings of these women are often very no holds barred and depict the gritty realism of the human body and its beauty and imperfections. These studies are dark reflections and a deep contrast to the mass publics’ presentation and perception of the human sculpture.
Saville learned and observer a lot of the human anatomy in New York, 1994, where she sat and watched plastic surgeon Dr.Barry Martin Weintraub in his working process. During the times she was watching, she was granted the chance to photograph and document the cosmetic surgery and liposuctions that Weintraub performed. The interventional techniques that Weintraub performed would also go on to influence her understanding of excessive human fat and the extremes of body shapes.
Saville’s paintings ‘Strategy (South face/front face/ north face)’ appeared on the third Manic Street Preachers album and her piece entitiled ‘Stare’ was the art vinyl for the ninth Manic Street Preachers album. Of these two pieces that were used for album covers, my personal favourite is ‘Strategy’. The way everything down to the title monsterises this woman, and shows her not as a showcase for feminine beauty but as a structure (the title often used for achitectual and orthographic plans) is an thought but never spoke idea. A taboo subject that Saville has approached without fear of disgust, and it is that controversial decision to truthfully portray her models that has propeeled her to the forefront of figurative painting. There is a sense of loyalty to oil painting as a medium for Saville and as technology constantly advances she has resisted the temptation of switching media.
Her arguably most famous piece ‘Stare’ (Feature on the cover of Manic Street Preachers album cover ‘Journal for Plague Lovers’) is once again done in oil paints. And although it was praised by many and even reciever 2nd prize for best Art Vinyl, I am not a fan of the image. I can recognise the skill and workmanship put into painting it but as a whole, I’m not keen. The colours are very bland and pastelly, although it could be argued all her works are of this nature, the exaggerated skin tones are not expressed as vibrantly as they are in some of her other works. With the obvious exception of the bloodied bruising on the subjects face.
In conclusion, my opinion on Jenny Saville is varied. The imagery and the messages she portrays in her work are unmatched, but my personal taste does not include her works. Tonal contrast is a favourable point and her use of different colours and shades to highlight and define shapes can be quite beautiful in its own unique way.
Lucian Freud is a German born painter, born on December 8th 1922 in Berlin, however he became a Naturalised British citizen in 1939. Grandson of Sigmund Freud, The pair were regarded as similar in that Sigmund was nicknamed master of the mind, while Lucian was known as master of the body.
One of Freud’s most iconic images was his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which divided both the press and art critics. In the portrait she wears a severe expression and her features are heavily rendered, in the style Freud has become famous for over the years. Some of the critics seemed surprised that Lucian Freud had the audacity to paint his monarch in his usual intense, penetrating style and even went on to call it a travesty. But in my opinion, it is a more realistic approach to painting than exaggerating beauty and erasing any blemishes. Freud takes her features and showcases her rugged, tired self not as hindrances but as part of who she is. The particular attention to her crown shows him highlighting her personality, as that is her character and pretty much all she is recognised for. The colours are dull, pastel and exaggerated in the shadows of her face, which is not a style I find aesthetically pleasing but the not-so-delicate tonal work is mysteriously luring.
Freud’s self portrait is my favourite of his pieces. The muscles and wrinkles in his face make a monstrously realistic map of shadows and contrast. His dull, expressionless face and naked torso are shown and there is an air of vibrancy in this image unlike his other paintings. Light hitting his face from the side casts a dark aura across his chest and lower face, and he shows no fear in exaggerating the amount of shadow cast.
In conclusion, Lucian Freud’s artwork is a representation of the true human form, and it is clear he has influenced the likes of Jenny Saville in their work. Unafraid of controversy, he shows his ability to paint and also take influence from his grandfather’s, Sigmund Freud, Psychological work.
Lucian Freud is a German born painter, born on December 8th 1922 in Berlin, however he became a Naturalised British citizen in 1939. Grandson of Sigmund Freud, The pair were regarded as similar in that Sigmund was nicknamed master of the mind, while Lucian was known as master of the body.
One of Freud’s most iconic images was his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which divided both the press and art critics. In the portrait she wears a severe expression and her features are heavily rendered, in the style Freud has become famous for over the years. Some of the critics seemed surprised that Lucian Freud had the audacity to paint his monarch in his usual intense, penetrating style and even went on to call it a travesty. But in my opinion, it is a more realistic approach to painting than exaggerating beauty and erasing any blemishes. Freud takes her features and showcases her rugged, tired self not as hindrances but as part of who she is. The particular attention to her crown shows him highlighting her personality, as that is her character and pretty much all she is recognised for. The colours are dull, pastel and exaggerated in the shadows of her face, which is not a style I find aesthetically pleasing but the not-so-delicate tonal work is mysteriously luring.
Freud’s self portrait is my favourite of his pieces. The muscles and wrinkles in his face make a monstrously realistic map of shadows and contrast. His dull, expressionless face and naked torso are shown and there is an air of vibrancy in this image unlike his other paintings. Light hitting his face from the side casts a dark aura across his chest and lower face, and he shows no fear in exaggerating the amount of shadow cast.
In conclusion, Lucian Freud’s artwork is a representation of the true human form, and it is clear he has influenced the likes of Jenny Saville in their work. Unafraid of controversy, he shows his ability to paint and also take influence from his grandfather’s, Sigmund Freud, Psychological work.
Lucian Freud is a German born painter, born on December 8th 1922 in Berlin, however he became a Naturalised British citizen in 1939. Grandson of Sigmund Freud, The pair were regarded as similar in that Sigmund was nicknamed master of the mind, while Lucian was known as master of the body.
One of Freud’s most iconic images was his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which divided both the press and art critics. In the portrait she wears a severe expression and her features are heavily rendered, in the style Freud has become famous for over the years. Some of the critics seemed surprised that Lucian Freud had the audacity to paint his monarch in his usual intense, penetrating style and even went on to call it a travesty. But in my opinion, it is a more realistic approach to painting than exaggerating beauty and erasing any blemishes. Freud takes her features and showcases her rugged, tired self not as hindrances but as part of who she is. The particular attention to her crown shows him highlighting her personality, as that is her character and pretty much all she is recognised for. The colours are dull, pastel and exaggerated in the shadows of her face, which is not a style I find aesthetically pleasing but the not-so-delicate tonal work is mysteriously luring.
Freud’s self portrait is my favourite of his pieces. The muscles and wrinkles in his face make a monstrously realistic map of shadows and contrast. His dull, expressionless face and naked torso are shown and there is an air of vibrancy in this image unlike his other paintings. Light hitting his face from the side casts a dark aura across his chest and lower face, and he shows no fear in exaggerating the amount of shadow cast.
In conclusion, Lucian Freud’s artwork is a representation of the true human form, and it is clear he has influenced the likes of Jenny Saville in their work. Unafraid of controversy, he shows his ability to paint and also take influence from his grandfather’s, Sigmund Freud, Psychological work.
Lucian Freud is a German born painter, born on December 8th 1922 in Berlin, however he became a Naturalised British citizen in 1939. Grandson of Sigmund Freud, The pair were regarded as similar in that Sigmund was nicknamed master of the mind, while Lucian was known as master of the body.
One of Freud’s most iconic images was his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which divided both the press and art critics. In the portrait she wears a severe expression and her features are heavily rendered, in the style Freud has become famous for over the years. Some of the critics seemed surprised that Lucian Freud had the audacity to paint his monarch in his usual intense, penetrating style and even went on to call it a travesty. But in my opinion, it is a more realistic approach to painting than exaggerating beauty and erasing any blemishes. Freud takes her features and showcases her rugged, tired self not as hindrances but as part of who she is. The particular attention to her crown shows him highlighting her personality, as that is her character and pretty much all she is recognised for. The colours are dull, pastel and exaggerated in the shadows of her face, which is not a style I find aesthetically pleasing but the not-so-delicate tonal work is mysteriously luring.
Freud’s self portrait is my favourite of his pieces. The muscles and wrinkles in his face make a monstrously realistic map of shadows and contrast. His dull, expressionless face and naked torso are shown and there is an air of vibrancy in this image unlike his other paintings. Light hitting his face from the side casts a dark aura across his chest and lower face, and he shows no fear in exaggerating the amount of shadow cast.
In conclusion, Lucian Freud’s artwork is a representation of the true human form, and it is clear he has influenced the likes of Jenny Saville in their work. Unafraid of controversy, he shows his ability to paint and also take influence from his grandfather’s, Sigmund Freud, Psychological work.
Francis Bacon was born inDublin , Ireland London at the age of sixteen, and then furthermore lived in Paris and Berlin London England was held in 1953 at Durlacher Brothers, New York
The first piece that I was drawn to is called 'Portrait of Pope Innocent X'. The image was originally painted by the Spanish artist Diego Velazquez, who painted the original version of the Pope in 1650. It is not of any culture, but Bacon said he wanted an excuse to use those colours. It belongs to no tradition, but in my own opinion, Bacon adopted his own tradition by making all his paintings violent and gruesomely misshapen. The painting looks like acrylic paint on a canvas, but at the same time the paints are rugged and harsh like oil pastel or charcoal. It's an abstract piece, and it gives the impression that the artist was lashing at the canvas with his paintbrushes. The painting just looks really violent. There is the figure of the Pope sitting bolt upright with his face in an angry blur screaming in horror, And his figure is sat on what used to be a throne, but the base has blurred and disappeared into what looks like light. I presume it could possibly be an anti-religion piece as the light is swallowing up the pope. And his lack of legs, with just the white cloth in place gives the automatic assumption of a ghostly figure. That with his demonic face further asserts the image of something far from human. I like the way the painting looks like it has aged with the colours running down the canvas and this has a positive effect on the immortal image, with the classic catholic colours to assure you that this indeed resembles the Pope.
Francis Bacon was born in
The first piece that I was drawn to is called 'Portrait of Pope Innocent X'. The image was originally painted by the Spanish artist Diego Velazquez, who painted the original version of the Pope in 1650. It is not of any culture, but Bacon said he wanted an excuse to use those colours. It belongs to no tradition, but in my own opinion, Bacon adopted his own tradition by making all his paintings violent and gruesomely misshapen. The painting looks like acrylic paint on a canvas, but at the same time the paints are rugged and harsh like oil pastel or charcoal. It's an abstract piece, and it gives the impression that the artist was lashing at the canvas with his paintbrushes. The painting just looks really violent. There is the figure of the Pope sitting bolt upright with his face in an angry blur screaming in horror, And his figure is sat on what used to be a throne, but the base has blurred and disappeared into what looks like light. I presume it could possibly be an anti-religion piece as the light is swallowing up the pope. And his lack of legs, with just the white cloth in place gives the automatic assumption of a ghostly figure. That with his demonic face further asserts the image of something far from human. I like the way the painting looks like it has aged with the colours running down the canvas and this has a positive effect on the immortal image, with the classic catholic colours to assure you that this indeed resembles the Pope.
The mangled features and almost inhuman colours in this portrait are made in the same way as his portrait of the Pope. The way the muscles and bones in his face are stressed to show the movement and colours look almost as if his skin has been removed from his face and the snatomy of his head is shining through. The dark crimson and blues once again reflect the tones within muscle structure but could also show bruising. Bruises perhaps relieving something of his self in that he has scars hidden but he can only express them through his artwork. The menacing style of art is a constant in his portfolio and it is very recognisable upon viewing, that it is his work.
In conclusion, Francis Bacon is a figurative painter who captures the raw essence of the human form. In all it’s grit.
And it is clear that his authoritive stamp on the world of art has influenced a lot of other painters, and many more to come.
Their three arguably most important pieces (Saville’s ‘stare’, Bacon’s ‘Portrait of Pope innocent X’ and Freud’s ‘Queen Elizabeth II portrait) are all very similar in my opinion. They all show a degree of authority in not bowing down to the modern perception of beauty and showing the world how our bodies were meant to be seen… in their true form. My favorite of the three artists would have to be Lucian Freud, simply for his self portrait. The use of colour and contrast in that image is just breathtaking from my perspective. Not showing himself as a model of masculinity and perfection but as a simple human being with just as many imperfections as all of us.
Their three arguably most important pieces (Saville’s ‘stare’, Bacon’s ‘Portrait of Pope innocent X’ and Freud’s ‘Queen Elizabeth II portrait) are all very similar in my opinion. They all show a degree of authority in not bowing down to the modern perception of beauty and showing the world how our bodies were meant to be seen… in their true form. My favorite of the three artists would have to be Lucian Freud, simply for his self portrait. The use of colour and contrast in that image is just breathtaking from my perspective. Not showing himself as a model of masculinity and perfection but as a simple human being with just as many imperfections as all of us.
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