Jonathan De Lucas

Humanities 1100
Mrs. Anderson
September 30, 2015

Art Museum Critique Visit

1. The museum I visited was the University Of Utah Museum Of Fine
Arts.
2. I chose a painting in the permanent collection exhibit called Breton
Fisher Boy painted by Lee Greene Richards. This was a painting from
the American arts, the first painting you will see going up the stairs.
Lee was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 27, 1878. He was inspired
by the many painters of the old days, as well by his dad but because
of the pioneer life could not continue. This painting is fascinating
and also makes you want to ask may questions to the artist. The
painting is of a kid (probably under the age of sixteen) posing for
the painting. He is holding a cigarette and has a huge sweater on,
probably could be his dads. It makes you think what he is going
through at the time, and why he decided to smoke at such a young
age. It is a very well done painting from the detail to the shadowing
he has put in there, it does its purpose.
3. I chose the painting Steel Works, Cardiff at Night painted by Lionel
Walden. This painting is in the temporary exhibit coming all the way
from the National Museum of Wales. This painting capture my
attention out of all the rest of the ones found in this exhibit. The
darkness with the light coming from the back is splendid. The
painting looks like what goes on in Cardiff with all the big companies
working on their products. You can see part of the train coming
towards you, but all the focus is on the factories in the background.
The light attracts the viewer and really keeps you focused all
around. Its like if you were really there, seeing all these things
happening at once.
4. The museum administrators want us to learn the different type of
art in the world. How different cultures express themselves
differently from how we express ourselves. Every artists has their
way of seeing something, if some paintings are about the same
topic there will be major differences on how they interpret what was
going on at that moment. For example there were many paintings
on the death of Jesus Christ and how each painter painted Christ
and his surroundings differently than others. They also want us to
get a new understanding on events we didnt even know happened.

Jonathan De Lucas
Humanities 1100
Mrs. Anderson
September 30, 2015

So that the art could tell us a story of what happened and that way
we find our meaning to it.
5. The information thats provided is next to the painting it gives you
the information of the painter, the date it was made, type of
painting, how it was purchased and a brief description of it as well.
Where you can look for further information is the telephone number
provided, headphones to listen about the art and their website.
6. The first painting I chose was Momento Mori (Remember Death)
painted by Vincent Laurensz van der Vinne. Painted in 1656,
Laurensz refers to the bible scripture found in Ecclesiastes Vanity of
Vanities. The painting has world possessions one would own while
living throughout his or her life. The painting attracted me by all the
materials it has in it, also all the details put into each and every one
of them. The artist is trying to give us a meaning with every single
item found in the painting. How the hour glass means passage of
time, or how the globe would be worldly knowledge is astonishing in
a way.
The second painting I liked was The Shepherd's Dream painted by
Henry Clarence. Painted in 1865, this painting gives you the title
without you even knowing it. It is so clear of what is happening on
every aspect. The painting shows a shepherd sleeping in the
meadow, on a rock with his hands covering his face. Out in the
distance, high up in the mountains there are some angels
descending looking like they are delivering a message to the
shepherd. This is the dream the shepherd is having of what seems
like hes being protected in a way. The painter uses a great amount
of space and the use of lines to separate the shepherd and the
angels, to show its two different worlds.
The third painting I enjoyed was An Allegory of Amsterdam, after
1690 painted by Domenicus van Wijnen. Painted in 1690, this piece
attracts you with everything that is going on inside of it. There is an
immense battle going on in this city from the highest in the sky to
the lowest on the ground. It seems like the people are fighting as
well as the angels up in the sky. The light and shadowing are used
amazingly in this piece, it brings a little sense of doom and horror
when you look at it. It really brings you into the story and makes you
wonder what is going on.

Jonathan De Lucas
Humanities 1100
Mrs. Anderson
September 30, 2015

The fourth and last painting I loved which is probably my favorite is

called Dernieres prieres des martyrs Chretiens (The Christian
Martyrs Last Prayer). Painted in 1863 by Jean-Leon Gerome, this is a
painting of Christian Martyrs last prayer before he was killed. The
first three centuries after the death of Christ, Christians were
persecuted by the Roman Empire for their Christian beliefs. The
Romans wanted the Christians to worship their gods and deny Christ
by all means. Anyone who refused to worship was tortured and sent
to be killed automatically. Some types of torture were (as seen in
this painting) being put in the middle of the Coliseum to be
devoured by big ferocious beasts. Christian Martyrs was one of
these people who refused to give up his faith, so he was put in there
along with other Christians to wait for their terrible doom. I love this
painting because being a Christian I feel its very important of who
we are. To not give up on what we believe in no matter what the
cost. Gerome does a great job of showing the fear, but also the trust
these Christians have in their God and know everything will turn out
all right. Everything from the people, the building, the lions, the sky,
etc. is shown perfectly and keeps your eye on the whole painting.
7. The artwork in the museum related to the material we saw in class
by the way the artists express themselves. I was able to see the line
usage in the painting, where the artist wants to direct your eye to.
The color and light they used was a key factor in showing you the
mood and time that the art is expressing. The spacing to show the
distance between the objects and show how far or close they really
are was a thing I had to view at as well. I had to realize things every
person sees and find those hidden clues that you really need to
focus on. These were some of the ideas we focused in class about.
On how to view art whether its a sculpture, painting, drawing, etc.
The different types of perspective the artists wants you and others
they need you to see when viewing their art. To have a different
meaning on what you view and find out what other people interpret
when viewing the painting.
8. I really enjoyed this project and the experience it left me with. It
helped me view and try to find a meaning to the art I saw in the
exhibits. Before I used to go to museums and just skim through like
reading a book, but I found out by doing this you miss some

Jonathan De Lucas
Humanities 1100
Mrs. Anderson
September 30, 2015

important parts that would make you stop and think about it a little.
I would totally attend another event like this because the art is so
amazing it would take me hours to really get to view each piece
carefully and find out their meaning.