Another December poem
While I have a home, and can do as I will,December may rage over ocean and hill,And batter my door - as he does once a year -I laugh at his storming and drink his good cheer.
Anonymous words from an old English song - found in a book on my shelves 'Autumn and Winter Days' by Rowland Purton
I looked on wiki for pictures of winter storms and up came this painting by J.M.W.Turner from 1842 and if it hadn't told me it was a paddle-steamer in a snow storm I'm not sure I would have known exactly what I was seeing. The full title is Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth, Making Signals in Shallow Water, and going by the Lead
 | |
| Artist | J. M. W. Turner |
|---|---|
Turner was supposedly actually in the storm and said
I did not paint it to be understood, but I wished to show what such a scene was like; I got the sailors to lash me to the mast to observe it; I was lashed for four hours, and I did not expect to escape, but I felt bound to record it if I did.[4]
Although some people don't believe it as he was 67 years old at the time!
Back Tomorrow
Sue
I wonder if he really did? It's certainly a very powerful painting, I think.
ReplyDeletexx
He must have done surely otherwise people at the time would have spoken out
DeleteI adore Turner. The first time I saw his work in the Tate I was mesmerised. When I saw his RA exhibition The Great Watercolours in 2000, I wept I was so entranced.
ReplyDeleteI am not anonymous! Blinking Blogger cookies again
DeleteBlogger has a mind of it's own!
DeleteThe things people do for their art!
ReplyDeleteSounds very frightening
DeleteHe really caught the movement of the sea. I almost find myself tilting as I look at it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it told me what it was!
DeleteI meant to tell you that I like your sweet angel up top of your blog!
ReplyDeleteShe's a cutie for sure - no idea where or when she came from - must have been a bundle from a charity shop
DeleteI love that picture! At first glance, I couldn't have told you what I was looking at, but with your explanation, I looked again, and there it was. The ship, the flag, the big wheel. That is very cool!
ReplyDeleteSome winter storms are blinding. I am looking forward to a good winter storm. Lots of snow and wind, whirling the snow around and creating drifts is magical. When the storm ends and the sun appears it is all sparkling sunshine on white drifting snow. Just beautiful. I also love your Christmas angel.
ReplyDeleteI can think of things I'd rather do than be lashed to a ship in a storm!! Obviously his experience was not a very pleasant one .
ReplyDeleteMy home is right on the oceanfront and the Turner painting captures the fear-inducing impact of a bad storm. Not usual in December though, here storms are winter into spring, for blizzards, nor'easters, then the always scary hurricane season spring through November. As I get older I worry my wall of windows will blow in someday.
ReplyDeleteHoly Moly!! I'm surprised he didn't die of "phew monia" !! He is a mesmerising painter isn't he.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome storm painting.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
That painting certainly whips up the image of a storm. It looks like that sometimes here in the winter, when the snow is blowing and the wind is raging.
ReplyDeleteWow, beautiful painting, amazing courage!
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x