23 November 2010

the fortune teller

.

mad for this-a palette for dreaming a room, No-an entire house of magical color.



Georges de La Tour

14 comments:

  1. Loved this painting from the first moment I saw it. The red of his britches, I think, don't you? Shadowy, powdery, flat, candle-lit red room, laden with silver, blanc de chine, and the thickest of scroopy taffeta.

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  2. I think for me it's those pink sleeves with the flat tan suede bodice, then there is the patching of textiles on the fortune teller, what about those gorgeous sparkling sleeves, the turbans, Just everything.

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  3. That is so gorgeous! Yes, the pink!

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  4. How gorgeous is that? I loved this painting the first time I saw it years ago, and I thank you for reminding me of it. I love the pick pocketing, too. Delicious!

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  5. It's all about color, tension and movement. Look at: http://thefrencheye.blogspot.com/2010/11/french-eye-view_24.html for a more limited, modern color rhyme that made me connect your two posts today. And yes, Gaye, "those pink sleeves with the flat tan suede bodice" are the cherry on the cake.

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  6. Wasn't this YOUR house in Raleigh? I'm seeing the turkish apricot walls, pieces of black with patterns of gold, luscious gold fabric, hints of red....no?

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  7. home, Why Yes. No wonder I like this so much! If only I'd have thought to include it here. but here is a link http://littleaugury.blogspot.com/2010/01/canovas-reprise.html Still one of my all time fav. fabrics.

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  8. I love this painting. I saw it once at the Kimbell in Ft.Worth and those colors are unforgettable.
    Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving.
    Catherine

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  9. The german title ' Das gute Schicksal ' doesn't mean ' the fortuneteller', it means ' the good fate' . The Fortuneteller is 'der Wahrsager' . So that changes the meaning of the painting entirely. Happy thanksgiving!

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  10. Ulla, thank you, I can not find that source for the translation, obviously incorrect. The fortune teller is the title as at the Met so I will go with- de Wahrsager!
    happiest of Thanksgivings to you too. pgt

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  11. He was French so in my wanderings to check on this I found this source which explains the attempt at a German translation "The rediscovery of Georges de la Tour and his works was greatly due to the German art historian Hermann Voss, Director of the Kaiser Friedrich Museum in Berlin, beginning in 1915."
    http://www.students.sbc.edu/vandergriff04/georgesdelatour.html

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  12. so very you. the pink sleeves: none better. adore every bit of it, esp. the connection to house in raleigh.

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  13. .... confusing stuff... what is going on with that title. looking at the painting, it seems like it should have an entirely different title altogether.
    "the distraction" any good? :)

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  14. I can't remember where I first saw this painting, but goodness, what an impact it had on me. Still does....and yes, I would like to paint the entire world this palette! That pink is incredible.

    H.H.

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