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| An 1824 portrait of architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel in Naples, Italy, by artist Franz-Ludwig Catel. The painting is in the collection of the Nationalgalerie in Berlin, Germany. |
"I love the French window which marries a house to the firmament instead of dividing them like the stuffy sash."
So observed Nancy Mitford (1904—1973) in her 1961 essay "Portrait of a French Country House."
12 comments:
Oh yes I agree and the painting is most wonderful!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
I love it !
I also love your Oscar Wilde quote .. wonderful :)
It seems in this lovely picture that there is no protection to fall apparently several stories once you step outside.Please explain.
Gabor Paul Mezei
Toronto
I am in complete agreement.
we can never seem to get enough of Nancy. On my third reading of Pompadour & am reading Evelyn Waugh & Mitford letters too. I did enjoy the horror of love-. pgt
I think Nancy Mitford and Franz-Ludwig Catel are correct!
Catel's painting of Schinkel looked very familiar so I went back to the 2011 catalogue of the Rooms With a View exhibition, put on by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY. Thank you ... it still looks terrific.
Ah, me too, Miss Mitford. And better still, your use
of the term French WINDOWS instead of French DOORS.
Dear Gabor, According to several sources, the painting depicts Schinkel in a room he occupied for a month, in 1824, at Villa Reale in Naples; in the distance is the isle of Capri. I have checked period paintings of Villa Reale and determined that Schinkel's room was on the second floor. Period images show that the second floor of Villa Reale had metal railing; I do not know why Catel removed it for this particular scene.
I couldn't agree more dahhling.. beautiful image.
Always a treat to read your posts and the comments.
Hi there! Loved this post!
My opinion is that he left it out because it obscured the view he was showing!
It was there so children, cats and dogs wouldn't go flying out to their deaths; however; this is a PAINTING!
I can understand! No danger! It just looked better without the railing......
to him! (I always prefer the reality if well-done; I would think it was!)
He was the artist...he got to pick!
Love this post!!!
XDXDXD
the painting is most wonderful!
best regards!
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