This is about from 18th century to around 19th century. This period was momentous historically and variously. I like every chapter in this book because through it, I can see so many changes with the time. I read a kind of this book as if I am watching movies. It is really exciting.
In a 29 chapter, I picked Élisabeth-Louise Vigée-Lebrun, Self-Portrait, 1790 (pg.761). When I saw her painting, it fascinated me and derived exclamation naturally. In the painting, there is beautiful woman who was painted by her-self. Vigee-Lebrun was a prominent French woman painter. Actually, at that time, male dominated the art world, but I can say on a dare she beat them as concerns portraiture. Also, she was famous and wealthy, so she became Queen Marie Antoinette’s…show more content… This painting attracted my attention. It is a distinctive and beautiful painting. When I saw this painting in this book, I cannot believe that human made it. He used the legends of Ossian, a Nordic myth contrived by writer James Macpherson and the tragic story of the American Indian woman, Atala, based on the novel by his friend, Romantic writer Chateaubriand. The two, from different tribes, fell in love and run away together through the wilderness, but Atala, sworn virginity to God, finally committed suicide rather than break her vow. Girodet painted this sad story. I can feel the American Indian man’s sadness through his face. The general atmosphere is little bit dark, but Atala is beautiful and shiny although she is dead. I can find unique points on this painting, and which is related Christianity. On a front the cave entrance, first I can see some writings, but I cannot recognized it, so I searched it and then knew it. It is the part of bible that is Job 8:12 and cross on the background and it fitted the situation on the artwork. Actually, I can understand this painting hardly. Maybe the painter hid something to indicate. It looks mysterious and reverent. This painting is really soft and smooth to see. I think Girodet’s painting style was unusual. Especially, her skin seems like silk. And its composition is balanced well. I wondered him how to depict the painting, and I really
