Laughter, Crying, Terror, and Tranquility … all stipple engravings made by George Stubbs' son: George Townly Stubbs (after his father) …
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| Laughter |
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| Charles Le Brun's The Expressions (1619 - 1690) |
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| Echorche by Leonardo |
As you might have gathered … I've become slightly obsessed with the work of George Stubbs …
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| Crying |
Stubbs was 'full on' as far as experimentation was concerned … which I'm sure you've gathered from this post and the earlier one.
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| Terror / Fright |
He also collaborated with Josiah Wedgwood in producing ceramic plaques … it took over three years for a satisfactory 'canvas' to be prepared … with which Stubbs and Wedgwood continued to refine.
During this time – Stubbs also experimented with methods of painting enamels on copper. Again a few years passed as he worked with new pigments appropriate for enamelling in the 1700s.
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| One of the books I learnt from |
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| Anglo-Saxon hilt showing garnet inlay in the Cloisonne style |
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| Mosan 12thC armiet - showing the cast recesses for the enamel (in the Champleve style) |
The main forms of enamelling are Champlevé, Cloisonné, Bassetaille, and painted (vitreous) enamels … these latter were the type Stubbs was exhibiting. I've linked Wikipedia's pages for each type …
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| Vitreous Enamelling on my ring |
Well that's it … I just wish I was artistic and technically capable … still curiosity clicks in … as you can see …
The ring was made for me about 20 years ago … it's beautiful and was a wonderful prize to win – I got to chose what I wanted made … lucky me.
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| Tranquility ... let's all be tranquil |
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
33 comments:
I haven't come across the term 'Écorché', so thank you for that
Your ring is beautiful. I did a little enameling once - it was fun.
I recognise most of George Stubbs' paintings, especially his beautifully crafted horses and dogs. But I have never heard of his son Townley nor his son's art.
Do you think he was simply trying to separate himself from Dad, removing the model's skin to reveal the muscular structures below?
Hari Om
Ecorche done well is illuminating... But taking too much artistic licence brings it into the realm of the macabre, I feel... Could the Stubbs' work in this style be seen as borderline morbid? Art class point of discussion 🤗 YAM xx
those faces are quite terrifying! Much happier to look at the lovely enamels, especially your ring which is gorgeous.
Again, this reminds me of the 'Bodies' exhibition in Las Vegas, where human remains are posed in various stances. Écorché is a term I hadn't heard before. Interesting! That's a beautiful enamel ring you have, Hilary.
@ Janice - nor I had come across that term ... 'Ecorche' ... and it's been interesting to learn about. Thank you I was impressed with my ring and am delighted with it ... oh how clever of you - a talented lady ... I am so unartistic, sadly!
@ Hels - I hadn't come across Townley (Stubbs' son) before ... but a lot of their art has been lost in the mists of time. I think Townley took up engraving as an art, when he was growing up ... he lived and worked with his father when Stubbs snr was practising art early in his career in York - where Stubbs was learning human anatomy from the local surgeon/doctor of the town: so no he (Townley) was using the attributes he'd been given and could use at that time in their lives. Stubbs senior made the wax models of facial expressions ...
@ Yam - you're so right Echorche done well is very illuminating - this was 300 years ago ... life was very different then: so I don't think it would be considered morbid (in the way we would consider). And ok - art class discussion!!
@ Anabel - sorry about the faces ... I just think they're incredible - I may not like them or the idea per se ... but I do admire the work. Yes - I'd be happier to look at the beautiful enamels, in admiration of the incredible workmanship - over the years, and wear my ring often!
@ Debbie - I remember your 'Bodies' exhibition and I guess similar presentations were on show. I hadn't heard of Ecorche, nor the enamelling terms - actually, I tell a lie, Cloisonne I'd heard of ... but the ring I was and am delighted with ...
Cheers to the five of you - thanks for your interesting comments ... Hilary
Your mind is a rich and crowded place. Thank you for so often leading me straight to rabbit holes to get lost in.
My father experimented with enamel - and adored the work of Da Vinci including the Écorché work. I hadn't heard the term before though.
Those figures must have been very helpful for painters. The faces look creepy to me, but I find things "without skin" to be a bit disturbing. I'm sure those who do art don't see what I see.
Also reminded be of the body displays. Creepily fascinating!
The ring is beautiful! Love the colors you chose. :)
Well, Hilary, even for you this is a supremely interesting post, and I pretty much learned from start to finish. I did not know Stubbs and the term Écorché was new to me too. I think I have been hiding under the wrong rock - I need to squeeze in with you under yours! Hugs and kisses - David
@ Sue - yes ... it's been rather clogged with interesting subjects recently - which, I have to admit, I love ... the learning is brilliant. Oh - how interesting your father experimented with enamel ... I was delighted with my ring - the jeweller was so pleased I asked for something different. I used to have da Vinci posters around my house back in the day ... he was an amazing polymath. I also hadn't heard of Ecorche before ... but felt I had to do a post on both these sorts of work ...
@ Liz - it was so early days ... 300 years ago ... I agree the visages look 'odd' - but one can understands their wish to learn ... as you say we can ignore ...
@ Rita - thank you ... I've never seen the Body Exhibition ... but I've seen some of the exhibits on tv. Thanks ... the colours were what I wanted - the jeweller only could make a few different colours - so 'we' were limited - but he really made my day.
@ David - well ... I can tell you I've been learning too - Stubbs' work, as well as his son's, has been very interesting to research - as there were very few written records of their work. Thank goodness for Ozias Humphry's conversation and note-taking of that meeting with Stubbs towards the end of his life. Then I'd given the talk to the History group about Stubbs ... but wanted to know more.
My rock has rather too many subjects under its belt at the moment ... I must write up a great many posts ... but I'd love to be able to chat about subjects with you ...
Thanks so much for your comments - I really appreciate from you all ... cheers for now - Hilary
Human facial expression is a fascinating area of study. I believe that actors try to avoid them and leave the audience to fill in the appropriate emotion. I once searched through some YouTube videos to see if I could find interesting expressions on which to base some photo manipulations of famous people. What I discovered was that people pull all kinds of extraordinary faces when speaking - how we read anything meaningful into the expressions is a mystery.
Such talent, but rather creepy without the skin. Wait, Hillary, you didn't tell us how you happened to win such a prize. That should be a future blog post!
@ John - I can imagine that area of study would be fascinating ... if one has an eye for it. I guess if one made a study of people, making notes etc, something of a trait could be gleaned from the notes taken - and definitely by an artist ... of theatre, acting, painting etc etc ... one of Agatha Christie's book was sort of based on that ... The Man in the Brown Suit - and I posted about it in Aspects of British Coasts in 2014 ... ZZZ final A-Z notes ...
Gosh that's some studying you did for your photo manipulations - I imagine some of them might have been a bit grotesque - and I can only tell what people think when I can see all their face and how they approach me ...
@ Karen - you're right ... but I really needed to post them - for me, if no one else! Extraordinary process Stubbs snr went to find out how the body worked, and thus was able to paint so brilliantly well.
The prize was just a draw I think ... and I got this jeweller chap's offering ... I was just lucky - it was a business meeting (long long ago).
Thanks to you both for your comments - cheers Hilary
I love Stubbs' work, especially his horses. I'm currently reading about daVinci.
I told you didn't I, our starving artist daughter had a portrait hanging in the National Portrait Gallery in London for a brief period of time?
Hi Sandra = yes I do remember your daughter having a portrait hung at the National Gallery - it was back in my earlyish days of blogging and might even have been when my mother was still alive and I was somewhat out of the loop of life. Your daughter must have an amazing talent ... I sincerely hope she's not starving any more?! Da Vinci's life story is extraordinary ... my mother I and went to see a scientific museum featuring many of his designs when we were in Milan at about the turn of the century. I had many of his posters - which were up in an area of my house. Stubbs' horses are just beautiful ... cheers Hilary
Those engravings are fascinating if a bit haunting. I knew about Stubbs's animal paintings but this is a whole aspect of his work that's new to me. The enamelling is beautiful and what a lovely ring, I too wish I was handy and able to create such marvels.
I've always thought I'd rather be able to draw than to write! But I do love writing. Fascinating renditions of human emotions on a page!
This reminds me of the amazing artists who reproduce characters from skeletons. I read a lot of those in my research of prehistory man because so often, that's all that remains. Thank you for this reference.
@ Nick - I know ... but considering they were made 300 years ago totally bemuse me. I didn't know about this side of Stubbs' and his son's artistic work ... once I'd learnt about it - I knew I had to post about it. I learnt a great deal ... my ring is a delight isn't it.
@ Elizabeth - I have to say I'd love to be able to draw ... as well as write - but I just accept this is where I'm at. Thanks - those engravings do show us what we look like in our muscular nakedness.
@ Jacqui - yes I posted about one found in Stirling Castle - I'll send you the link ... the forensic scientist who mastered the understanding of the human body ... went out to Srebrenica to help with any guidance that could occur on the discovery of the massacre and its aftermath. Really difficult work ... I'm delighted you found this of use.
Thanks to the three of you ... I'm delighted with your comments - cheers Hilary
Oh my- I learned a lot here today! What a beautiful ring you had created for you. So special to get to be a part of the design process. :) Have a wonderful week!
That ring is amazing. And how lovely that you got to choose. Cheers,
I agree with Annabel that some of the faces are terrifying, but they are also captivating, I couldn't look away.
And very beautiful ring. How wonderful that you won it!
@ Jess - thanks ... so did I learn about both Stubbs' process in their art. I was lucky with the ring and I sort of guided the jeweller - but left it to him because I'd no idea of the technical aspects ...
@ Sandra - yes the ring is lovely; the jeweller was chuffed I ended up winning his offer ... he knew I'd come up with something 'unusual' ...
@ Donna - I know the sculpted (Ecorche) faces look awful - but Stubbs really learnt his trade and thus was able to translate it for future artists and us lay people 300 years on. I was so lucky when I won that jewellery prize.
Thanks so much you three - really appreciate your support. Cheers Hilary
Interesting post I only know George Stubbs as a painter of horses of which he was brilliant. Sorry for getting behind, so hot here in high 30's most days feeling like 41C. I will catch up one day!! Cheers Diane
Stubbs' work is terrifying and interesting both. I don't have any artistic ability either, but I so love marveling at other people's imaginings. Beautiful ring :)
Hope you have a fun, creative day.
You dug deep and got under the skin on this subject. Quite the deep dive and oh so interesting. From Da Vinci on, artists who studied cadavers, etc were excellent at portraying the human body - the proportions, movement study, etc. In regards to the art of enamel, your ring is gorgeous. Very nice post. Thank you.
Once again, I leave your post wiser than when I arrived and for that I thank you. I must say though, I found the facial exprssions somewhat creepie! The ring however is very special.
Love your enamelled ring, beautiful! India has a tradition of enamelled jewellery too, called meenakari. The kind of painstaking attention to detail in all the artforms you've covered here just blows the mind.
@ Diane - I know your love of horses, so George Stubbs would be well known by you. I just hadn't realised his other talents. Oh yes the heat ... we've had some here, I'm glad I'm on the south coast ... I hope your garden is flourishing ... always good to see you ...
@ Donna - thanks ... yes I wanted to put this Ecorche work up ... so so clever; the ring I was so lucky to win that prize ...
@ Sandra - I'm around ... in slow mode! Always creative brain-wise though ...
@ Joanne - yes I did look up various books and ideas on Stubbs to try and understand his artistic abilities. Then I found out about Petrus Camper, who was a public professor at Groningen University ... who highly praised Stubbs ... with a comment that Stubbs was outstanding ... yet didn't want to or hadn't pursued the viscera of animals??!!
Thanks I'm glad you enjoyed the post ... the ring is a delight ...
@ Keith - thanks so much ... I learnt rather a lot too. I knew I was stretching readers limits re the faces - yet felt I wanted to show the work Stubbs was able to do and the way he learnt ... my ring is another story, one I'm very pleased with ...
@ Nila - I like the meaning of Minakari ... placing paradise onto an object - I love the look of that style of enamelling; I know the jeweller hadn't done much enamelling - so he was interested in giving it a try ... I'm not sure if he continued on with it in his business. Perseverance and hard work pays off doesn't it ...
Thanks for all your comments - always good to see you and to get your ideas - cheers Hilary
I wish we hadn't lost so many of the records!
The expressions are fascinating, I remember seeing them ages ago but haven't looked at them in a while. I'm going to add a Stubbs art book to my wishlist!
Hi Deniz - it looks like there were very few records anyway ... thank goodness for Ozias Humphry's essay notes ... otherwise we'd have 'nothing about Stubbs' other than his art and the odd written notes from his time with Wedgwood and at the Royal Academy ...
Oh that's excellent to note you'll get a Stubbs book ... he's fascinating as an artist ... the other two books I mention in my later post are also worth looking at - perhaps you can get them out of a library?!
Cheers and thanks for visiting ... always good to hear from you - Hilary
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