Over the course of history, certain individuals stand out, forever influencing art, music, and literature. Leonardo da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance man, left an indelible mark on human creativity with his ingenious inventions and timeless masterpieces like the Mona Lisa. Pachelbel, the Baroque composer, gave us one of the world’s most beautiful melodies, Canon in D. Meanwhile, Walt Whitman’s verses celebrate the human spirit.
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ART APPRECIATION
SEPTEMBER 2023
Walt Whitman, Leonardo da Vinci and Pachelbel – these three visionaries, from different times and disciplines, exemplify the enduring power of human imagination and the everlasting resonance of their contributions in our world today. I hope you enjoy our September art appreciation selections!
POET
Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman, born in 1819, is often hailed as one of America’s greatest poets. His magnum opus, “Leaves of Grass,” challenged conventional poetic forms with its free verse and bold celebration of the human experience. Whitman’s verses, marked by their embrace of democracy, individualism, and the diversity of American life, continue to resonate as a profound expression of the nation’s spirit.
Despite his important influence among American poets, Whitman is not without controversy. Still, my personal belief is that his poems have merit and are worth studying.
Whitman: Poems
This book of Whitman poems contains forty-two of his poems, including “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,” “Song of Myself,” “I Hear America Singing,” “Halcyon Days,” and an index of first lines.
10 of the Best Walt Whitman Poems Everyone Should Read
Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” was banned and cost him his federal job
ARTIST
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci, born in 1452, was a true Renaissance genius, excelling not only as a painter but also as an inventor, scientist, and anatomist. His most famous works, including the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, continue to captivate art enthusiasts around the world. Da Vinci’s notebooks, filled with sketches and ideas, provide a window into his curious mind.
Leonardo
Filling notebook after notebook with sketches, inventions, and theories, Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) not only stands as one of the most exceptional draftsmen of art history, but also as a mastermind and innovator who anticipated some of the greatest discoveries of human progress, sometimes centuries before their material realization.
From the smallest arteries in the human heart to the far-flung constellations of the universe, Leonardo saw nature and science as being unequivocally connected. His points of inquiry and invention spanned philosophy, anatomy, geology, and mathematics, from the laws of optics, gravitation, heat, and light to the building of a flying machine.
In his painting, Leonardo steered art out of the Middle Ages with works such as The Last Supper and the world-famous La Gioconda or Mona Lisa depicting not only physical appearances, but a compelling psychological intrigue and depth which continues to draw crowds of mesmerized visitors to masterpieces in Paris, Milan, Washington, London, and Rome.
This book brings together some of Leonardo’s most outstanding work to introduce a figure of infinite curiosity, feverish imagination, and sublime artistic ability, often described as having “not enough worlds for to conquer, and not enough lives for to live” (Alan Woods).
How Leonardo da Vinci’s Notebooks Transcend Time
8 Things You May Not Know About Leonardo da Vinci
COMPOSER
Johann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel, born in 1653, was a German Baroque composer renowned for his contributions to classical music. His Canon in D, composed around 1680, remains one of the most beloved and recognizable pieces in the classical repertoire.
While best-known for Canon in D, Pachelbel was a remarkably prolific composer of church and chamber music.
Albinoni: Adagio * Pachelbel: Canon
Johann Pachelbel: Beyond the Canon
How ‘Canon in D Major’ Became the Wedding Song
Famous Composers – Johann Pachelbel
Spotify Playlist:
CLASSIC FILM
All That Heaven Allows
“All That Heaven Allows” is a classic 1955 melodrama directed by Douglas Sirk. The film explores themes of social class and conformity in post-war America through the poignant love story between a wealthy widow, played by Jane Wyman, and her younger gardener, portrayed by Rock Hudson.
I watched this with my son a year or two ago and we both loved it. The cinematography alone is reason enough to enjoy this film, especially in the fall. Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson have excellent on-screen chemistry. The set design and beautiful 1950s fashion were a plus for me as I adore the style of that period.
It also made me think that we need to bring back those glamorous scarves women wore to protect their hairdos!
Producer Ross Hunter reunited “Magnificent Obsession” stars Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman and director Douglas Sirk for this lush romance in which small-town widow Cary Scott (Wyman) is drawn to handsome gardener Ron Kirby (Hudson), a man 15 years her junior, and faces scandal and scorn from her friends and family. With Agnes Moorehead, Gloria Talbot, Conrad Nagel.
All That Heaven Allows: A Visual Analysis
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If you have any favorites to recommend for future Art Appreciation posts feel free to share in the comments!
LINKS TO PREVIOUS ART APPRECIATION POSTS…
JANUARY:
LWD Classic Film of the Month ~ Breakfast at Tiffany’s
LWD Artist of the Month ~ Manet
LWD Composer of the Month ~ Vivaldi
FEBRUARY:
LWD Classic Film of the Month ~ A Raisin in the Sun
LWD Poet of the Month ~ Langston Hughes
LWD Artist of the Month ~ Degas
LWD Composer of the Month ~ Chopin
MARCH:
LWD Art Appreciation ~ March 2023
APRIL:
LWD Art Appreciation ~ April 2023
MAY:
LWD Art Appreciation ~ May 2023
JUNE:
LWD Art Appreciation ~ June 2023
JULY:
LWD Art Appreciation ~ July 2023
AUGUST:
LWD Art Appreciation ~ August 2023
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