Montparnasse staircase (re-worked)
Oil on Daler Board 20" x 16"
When I entered my apartment building in Paris earlier this year I was struck by the beauty of the staircase and how it reminded me of the one Hopper painted of the place he stayed in rue de Lille in 1906. It is one of my favourite paintings of his. I am cross with myself now that I did not do any on the spot sketching or studies of this staircase whilst I was in Paris so now I am paying the price and having to work from my photos and my memories of it. Painting it just took me back to each day of my holiday when I practically ran down those stairs to begin my art filled adventures. (I didn't run back up them by the way - more a kind of hauling motion). Beautiful Paris. They seem to preserve their buildings not because it is fashionable to do so but because they have an innate sense of the value of history and good design.
(Since first posting I have darkened the top right hand corner wall to give more solidity to that part of the staircase)
posted by Sheila Vaughan at 11:29 AM
22 Comments:
Beautiful Painting! I like the abstract shapes and the specific mood you captured.
Stefan, thank you - your recent industrial on-site paintings are fabulous and moving.
Beautiful, Sheila, and what a challenge!
Thanks Linda - actually yes, it was a challenge,especially the top bit where you have stairs, shadows, rods, all kinds of stuff getting in the way of each other. I had to re-draw it umpteen times.
Wow! Don't you just love this? I do and think memory painting like this delivers a better feel of the place. Escher's got nothing on you. I can hear you clattering down these stairs, headed out for another Parisian adventure.
Hauling yourself up them later--ha ha!
Yes, this is very Hopper like but you have infused your own feeling into the subject - I would not have known you only had photos and memory to work from so don't sweat not having done onsite sketches...it obviously worked our beautifully anyway! Sense of mystery (which a lot of your work seems to have) and an elegant, somewhat sad, nostalgic feel.
Hi Sam, well it was as much photo as memory but I don't think I could have done it if I hadn't had some kind of emotional reaction to it... what am I talking about - emotional reaction to a staircase. I think we painters are all very weird. Ha, ha, thanks for the Escher pat on the back. You can tie yourself in knots looking at his staircases can't you.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments Karen. I'm glad you see a personal response in it.
Love this painting Sheila! It has such a feeling of anticipation ! Wow!
gorgeous painting of this staircase Sheila. Dont you just love when painting something and it takes you there?
I love it, it is striking and strong! (Thanks for posting it on my birthday - it's kind of like a little visual treat :) !)
this is wonderful! , the angle, the light on the banister at the turn, the worn stairs... beautifully done Sheila
Loriann, it's a what's around the corner painting. Thanks for that comment.
Sally, yes, I think it's easier to paint a place we have an empathy with. And I can't help having an empathy with Paris.
Marietta - thank you and a very happy birthday for yesterday! Hope you got to do some nice things, relax, chill out etc.
Rahina, the little bit of light filtering through helped me along especially at the turn of the banister as you say. Thanks for your comments.
How wonderful. You must quit being
cross with yourself. While you were there you had things to do -- sitting down in this staircase wasn't one of them. I love this, and the post that goes with it. The same is true in Florence and I don't understand why we tear every beautiful building down here to build a condo or a MacDonalds, but we do. An evocative painting and post.
XOBarbara
Hi Barbara, yes it's true - in both France and Italy - in fact most of mainland Europe they preserve their old buildings. In the UK it's mixed. I think over the last 10 years or so they have become more cautious about knocking them down. What makes me very cross is that the buildings they put in their place will not last 15 years without needing repair and yet some they knock down are 150 years or more and still standing strong.
Beautiful. Not reading the origin of the painting my mind imagined all sorts of different people climbing those stairs or standing looking to see who was coming up or watching someone leaving and all the emotions that go with those scenes.
Marcia, welcome and thank you for your interesting observations. It was great to visit your blog and read of the history behind the President's desk gifted by Queen Victoria in thanks for the return of an English ship lost at sea. I never knew that story. Hope there are more staircase paintings coming up shortly!
yes great mood...and details
the movement of the railing is delightful
Hi Rob, glad you have not totally forgotten your mother Wales - a great come back with the fabulous autumn colours. But it's the Korean grand prix painting I love!
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