National Gallery

Well, I'm not doing so well at keeping current in the new year!  I'll try to do better :)

This morning and afternoon was spent at the National Gallery, located at Trafalgar Square.  In the picture below, you can see Nelson's column and if you look closely, you might also make out one of the four lions that rest at the base of the column.  You can't see it, but there was a photo shoot taking place as I arrived.  The male model was posing in jeans and a ripped tee shirt, in the mist coming off of the fountain to the right of the photograph.  Poor guy.  He must have been cold, as it was not a warm day, nor, as you can tell, a sunny day.  

I quickly escaped to the National Gallery for the warmth.  

I spent most of my time in the 13th-16th century paintings.  There are often biblical themes in the art of this time period.  This was the reason for my study :)  My companions for the morning were the likes of Piero della Francesca, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Titian, and da Vinci.  

I saw a painting unfamiliar to me (well, to be honest, the Gallery is full of paintings that meet that criteria!) by Diego Valazquez.  He painted in Spain around 1628.  The painting is called Christ Contemplated by the Christian Soul.  It depicts Christ after he was beaten.  An angel stands behind him and a small child is to the left of the angel, looking at Christ. It is an overall dark painting, with the weapons used to beat Christ in the foreground.  I read however, that the child represents the Christian soul.  That was a helpful perspective.  We need to remember the suffering Christ endured for our sake.  

I did sit for a while and contemplate this painting.  The National Gallery has quite a few benches in the middle of each room, which are nicely placed to let you get a good perspective on the paintings, or perhaps attempt to sketch them if you are so inclined.  I think this painting is rare.  Most paintings focus on the walk of Christ with the cross or the actual crucifixion.  It was good to ponder.  It reminded me of the somber attitude of a Good Friday service.  

The National Gallery does not allow photographs to be taken inside, but if you would like to see the painting, you can find it here.