ACADEMY PICTURE

Posted by Admin on 3 March 2009, 12:00 am

With patience and protractor’s aid
the artist draws his plan, then, knees
to floor, involved with levels, lines
of sight, foreshortened forms, projects
it to another plane – combines
his mathematics with a draughtsman’s
art.
Now, on waiting canvas taped,
his outline drawing is transferred,
perspectively precise, ideal
to take his colours, well applied
with glazing techniques Old
Venetian Masters used to add
a depth, a unique richness to
their work.
Complete and varnished now, it hangs,
the unequivocal expressed,
Chinese porcelain, blue on white,
upon a wooden plinth – a three
dimensional illusion, yet
a masterpiece most worthy to
be classed among the exhibition’s
best.