Community Spotlight: Ars gratia artis - The Edwardsville Intelligencer

Robert Maguire Contributing Columnist

Published 12:43 pm CDT, Tuesday, October 6, 2020

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Anyone who has had the fortunate experience to travel to Paris, France, and visited the Louvre Museum of Art, an exclamation of having viewed “The Mona Lisa” is most often followed by a remark of astonishment at how small the painting is. As a consequence of this work by Leonardo Da Vinci being recognized throughout the globe as one of the most accomplished paintings of the Western Hemisphere, most are amazed to find the size being small at 21 by 30 ¼ inches.

To explain this sense of bewilderment, one has to understand that this symbol of great art of the High Renaissance, in the minds of most, has to be large, larger than life. Therefore, the surprise of seeing this in person, being smaller than life size, is an understandable and realistic reaction. Within this small rectangle, Da Vinci painted in a manner that speaks volumes to many, so much so, that the painting is given its own room inside this, the largest collection of art in the world. With this illustration in mind, a suggestion that not all impactful and powerful expressions have to be employed in large formats.

Close to home, within the collection of the St. Louis Art Museum, one can gain the experience of big surprises in small packages. This museum has many fine examples of small works with exemplary levels of technical and compositional execution, to the end of significant, inviting, and meaningful expressions. Four are being singled out for the purpose of example. One, a bronze sculpture by Edgar Degas titled “Galloping Horse,” which is only 12 ¼ inches in height, is a testament to the versatile brilliance of this artist. Renowned for his ballet paintings, Degas demonstrates his skill as a sculptor and his profound knowledge of a horse’s anatomy and motions. Within sold bronze, he generates movements of power and grace of a horse in stride.

From this museum’s large collection of Chinese Art, two glazed porcelain figurines in “Taoist Figures,” which stand to 9 ½ inches, are quite exceptional. These works from the Ming Dynasty, have remarkable details, accurate anatomical portrayals and descriptive facial expressions that belie their sizes.

The Dutch Master painter, Rembrandt van Rijn, is also heralded as a master printmaker. In his etching “The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds,” Rembrandt fills the 8 ½ x 10 ¼ inch print with such beautifully detailed and dramatic figures, animals and landscape elements, that one is compelled to scrutinize the print to gain a full measure of the visual experience.

Meaningful, significant, profound, and comprehensive visual statements come in many forms, and as illustrated in many sizes. While the messages of large format two dimensional and three-dimensional artworks do command attention, the smaller works need not, and should not be overlooked. These “hush tones” to follow up on the sound/volume analogy, are also speaking intellectually, profoundly and expressively. These will be like true whispers that draw you into an intimate and meaningful dialogue.

Artists who want to participate in a juried Small Work Art Show/Competition, hosted by the Wood River Museum and Visitor’s Center, or those just wanting to view this show, call 618-477-3935 for dates and details.