The central image of my forthcoming exhibition is to be a géant painting of Tobias and the Angel (153 x 122 cm) work on which is just beginning. Today I’ve been exploring potential compositions for the subject, using stock maquettes from the studio and a quick cut-out pencil sketch of Jack. The moment I want to capture is the boy’s elation as he catches the fish. In nearly every painted representation of Tobias the convention has been to show the angel as winged, even though it’s clear from the story that the boy has no idea his human-looking travelling-companion Azarias, is in fact the archangel (lovely word, that) Raphael. I intend to stick to that tried and tested tradition in the matter of the wings. However more unusually I plan to show Tobias airborne as Raphael swings him safely from the water, and even the little dog soars as he exuberantly leaps in the excitement of the moment. Here are some of my arrangements of the maquettes, one of which I’ll choose to build into a study prior to starting on the painting.
On reflection I think this last image is going to be the one I choose to base the composition on. Jack loves to eat fish so he’s the perfect model for the painting.
I found the tiny knitted fish lying on a bench at an exhibition I opened last month. It had a paper label pinned to it with a message printed by hand:
PLEASE ADOPT ME. I WANT TO COME HOME.
Maybe you will do several? Must say that I also like the first one for two reasons: first, the boy is flying almost, and in such a relaxed and effortless way, as if his arms (curling slightly upward) long to be wings. Also, the angel seems to be running on the air in his hurry to catch him, and that is an interesting and lovely idea (reminds me of Christ walking the waves in the storm, which I tend to think is an image of joy in union with the natural world and natural powers.)
Well you know that once a subject gets my attention I’ll keep running with it. Tobias and the Angel has been awaiting me for quite some time, and so I feel ready for it. (It’s like it’s been marinading a while!)
Very beautiful, happy you’re sticking to the winged convention, happier still that you have chosen wings that remind one of butterflies. You see that in 18th cent. decorative work, but I do not think I have seen many spotted wings aside from some early Renaissance images. Very handsome.
Tobias is a favorite theme of mine, your vision will be a happy addition.
I am also reminded of the Ganymede tale with your composition, faithful dog below. Very touching the way Tobias is embraced.
Eager to see your progress.
Take care,
LG
Leonard, it’s those Romanesque angels with their spotted and striped wings that are always my first point of reference. The dark eyes and the mono-brows too have filtered into my work from Romanesque sources. I like my angels beautiful and fierce!
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Pleased and thrilled to see that one of my fish has found such an exciting new home and career. How fitting for a crocheted Ichthus to become a part of a religious work of art .
Shalom,
Roger
(ThatRoger!)
Shalom, Roger. ‘Tiny Fish’ says to say Hi! He very much enjoys being in his new home, but feels more content now he’s been reassured that he-who-made-him knows where he is. He gets on well with Jack. (Jack only eats fishy fish, seeming to have no designs on crocheted ones!) When Tiny Fish’s work in the studio is done, he hangs out with Mer-Ted who is a distant cousin to him, being knitted as opposed to crocheted!
So a fish caught a man…
Hey, don’t go getting ideas with this! Just because I put the little fellow in my pocket doesn’t mean I was ‘caught’! (-;
fish!
<3 the story
Miszek, that fish needed a good home!
I love those ‘bear hats’ of yours, and the various photos of them being modelled on your blog site are adorable!
(Artlog visitors, see Miszek’s blog for September 22nd 2011.)
So wonderful Clive. I so look forward to watching this develop. There is a great sense of flight, and of the otherworldly – I think the difference in scale and colour only serve to underline that.
I adore Raphael’s outstretched wings – and he has always been one of my very favourite archangels (much more mysterious than belligerent Michael or Fedex delivery boy Gabriel). He is, as I’m sure you know, the angel of healing -often depicted with an alabaster physick jar in his hand. His name means God Heals.
Paul, the disparity of size was an accident of the maquettes. (I don’t always make to the same scale.) Interestingly in historic representations of the story Tobias is often depicted at a reduced scale to the angel, probably to denote his youth though he frequently looks mature in other respects. I hadn’t thought to explore that convention until I saw and liked the disjunction in the maquettes.
HA HA!!!! I like that description of Gabe as the Fedex delivery boy! Now there’s a notion for a painting of the Annunciation!
So when are you going to get working on a maquette yourself young man? I see on the Zoe and the Tango Dancers post there have been encouraging calls for you to do so! We could have an on-line exhibition of artist’s maquettes! (A particularly exclusive ‘Artlog’ club! Members only!)
haha. Well I’ve been busy to-day with a couple of drab commissions and the line work for a new screenprint, but Yes, I accept the challenge. And in the back of my mind to-day I have been pondering, Who or what? I love the idea of a ‘Salon d’Artlog’ theatre, where we all contribute. Thinking caps on…
Well, in the words borrowed from Field of Dreams, ‘Build it and they shall come!’ (-;
i love this
)
the second one and the last one are my favorites. it’s astonishing how many different relationships the same maquettes can express… i can’t wait to see what happens!
i think i like those most because tobias’ own agency is more prevalent?
I think I like the last one best because of the sense of Tobias swinging over a void. There’s more of a feeling for ‘flight’ in it.
the very first one, as well, has a great sense of flight to it…
True, true. Ho hum. Which to choose…