DOI chapter:
Chapter V: Our Friendship
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62482#0287
OUR FRIENDSHIP
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of an idea; to suggest, in the figure of Love, beauty, tender
passion, and the struggle of unavailing anguish ; and in the
figure of Death, solemnity, power, irresistible and unconquer-
able ; also an echo of that mystery which veils the unknown.
Intentionally has the character and style of the work been
kept as monumental as possible ; in every sense the very
reverse of realistic.
“ Found Drowned''
Under an arch of Waterloo Bridge, in London, on the
mud which has been left dry by the receding tide, lies a
suicide. The subject is identical with that of Hood’s poem,
but was not taken from it, but suggested by an incident
seen by the artist.
“ The Genius of Greek Poetry" ; painted in 1878.
The intention of the artist in painting this picture has
been to endeavour to render the significance, the local tone,
and especially the anthropomorphic character of the Genius
of Greek poetry. The prominence humanity held in the
Greek mind, the association of the effects in nature, and the
entire conditions in the world with humanity being so strong
that all effects and moods of nature weave themselves in
his imagination into semi - human existences; the winds
and currents, the hours of the days, the earth, sea, and
air, all natural phenomena he invests with human forms,
attributes, and moods. The figure seated on a rock is
intended to be an emblem of this Greek Genius, not a
Greek man. The whole atmosphere of the picture is
steeped in warm, golden light, shadowed by blue haze on
the sea and sky, but deeper and more glowing on the
i35
of an idea; to suggest, in the figure of Love, beauty, tender
passion, and the struggle of unavailing anguish ; and in the
figure of Death, solemnity, power, irresistible and unconquer-
able ; also an echo of that mystery which veils the unknown.
Intentionally has the character and style of the work been
kept as monumental as possible ; in every sense the very
reverse of realistic.
“ Found Drowned''
Under an arch of Waterloo Bridge, in London, on the
mud which has been left dry by the receding tide, lies a
suicide. The subject is identical with that of Hood’s poem,
but was not taken from it, but suggested by an incident
seen by the artist.
“ The Genius of Greek Poetry" ; painted in 1878.
The intention of the artist in painting this picture has
been to endeavour to render the significance, the local tone,
and especially the anthropomorphic character of the Genius
of Greek poetry. The prominence humanity held in the
Greek mind, the association of the effects in nature, and the
entire conditions in the world with humanity being so strong
that all effects and moods of nature weave themselves in
his imagination into semi - human existences; the winds
and currents, the hours of the days, the earth, sea, and
air, all natural phenomena he invests with human forms,
attributes, and moods. The figure seated on a rock is
intended to be an emblem of this Greek Genius, not a
Greek man. The whole atmosphere of the picture is
steeped in warm, golden light, shadowed by blue haze on
the sea and sky, but deeper and more glowing on the