I was once in the Norwich Castle Museum, purposefully striding along the galleries to their fine collection of watercolours and ignoring the paintings hanging left and right. In mid stride – I stopped – and took one pace backward, wondering what on earth had captured my notice? Looking around at the paintings, there was nothing here to interest me?
Painting a young maiden is similar to cavorting with great abandon. It is the finest refreshment.
Portrait of a Chambermaid
To my right was a rather plain 3/4 portrait in the the Dutch manner; an elderly man with a white beard, a red nose, dark and sombre clothing, hands resting in his lap with a white ruff I think. Not what would be described a handsome man though I think I recall a flash of spirit and a twinkle of laughter in his expression but those could easily be my imaginings.
Every child has the spirit of creation. The rubbish of life often exterminates the spirit through plague and a souls own wretchedness.
It wasn’t the subject that had stopped me dead in my tracks, so many years on and the composition is very hazy in my memory. I stood and studied this painting for several minutes, even getting into conversation with one of the museum staff about it. The owner had recently died and the painting was expected to be sold – and they were expecting it to go elsewhere.
It was the sheer quality of the flesh painting – flesh that seemed almost to have blood running in the veins.
I’m just a simple man standing alone with my old brushes, asking God for inspiration.
Self Portrait
I was in Edinburgh some years later and excited about going to see a major Rubens they had on display at that time – how can anyone be excited about seeing a painting! Even though this enormous historical painting is a world famous masterpiece (and I’ve forgotten the title) it disappointed me because it lacked the same magic I’d seen in the humble portrait that had hung in Norwich Castle.
** More Peter Paul Rubens’ Quotes