The Accolade By Edmund Blair Leighton
The Accolade Painting By Edmund Blair Leighton
Well this is somewhat different to what I was going to write about but every now and then you just see something that resonates.
Whilst reading a book this afternoon I can across a colour plate of this picture and for some reason it has held my imagination.
The picture was painted in 1901 by the English painter Edmund Leighton and is, I think, Pre-Raphaelite in style.
Please excuse the Pre-Raphaelite, I should leave it out really as it will only do one of two things
1: Make me look dumb if I’m wrong
2: Make me look pretentious if I’m right
It is clearly Arthurian in nature - The Grail Queen bestowing a Knighthood, or The Accolade, on one of her chivalrous Knights.
The skill of the artist is clearly evident, even to someone of my artistic ignorance, but it’s the ‘feel’ that holds me.
I suppose it looks a bit ‘romantic’ in nature, a bit idealized - King Arthur, Queens, brave Knights etc and I accept all that - I suppose some experts may even sneer at it . . .
But I like it - and it’s my site !
The subject matter is one I have quite an interest in so initial attraction is clear in that regard but it seems to go beyond those things.
Whilst I enjoy the period historically, and subsequently all things Knights Templar, I also believe very strongly in Strength and Honour so possibly it’s double edged for me.
What ever the ins and outs of it are; it is a stunning picture, unlike some - nice to look at if nothing else - but for me it means something more.
I hope you like it too - pleased do take just a few moments to look at it and let it soak in
Whilst looking at it think of values such as honour and integrity, people who mean what they say, never lie and are always there in times of crisis.
All of these things are important to me and this painting seems somehow to capture those, now sadly rare, traits in oil and canvas.
Pompously Yours
Rod
The Accolade
Little Brother said,
May 27, 2009 @ 11:05 pm
Rod,
Must say I quite like this, the light is very good (I’ll avoid getting too theatrical or using the word ‘zeitgeist’!)
Despite the warm feel to it there is an undercurrent which suggests the sheer horror of battle in those days and the bravery and ferocity of the men who fought.
A nice post.
LB
WoE said,
May 28, 2009 @ 12:06 am
Rod,
We may have to cross-reference you under pretentious because you are quite right this is a pre-Raphaelite painting.
A wonderful painting Rod and a truly fabulous movement in the art world…. pre-Raphaelite paintings appeal to a wide audience and tie in with the Arts & Crafts period. Over the years we have been fortunate to see some examples in galleries and would dearly love to own one…. some of the paintings are large so the Coven walls might not be the best place to display them, which is just as well considering the kings randsom it would take.
WoE
Rod said,
May 28, 2009 @ 8:34 am
LB
pleased you like the painting - for me it says more the more you look at it.
Whether that’s my imagination and me attributing more to the picture than Leighton intended I don’t know.
Cheers
Rod
Rod said,
May 28, 2009 @ 8:39 am
WoE,
thanks for the confirmation that it’s pre-Raphaelite - what a relief - and a close run thing I nearly plumped for cubist
I have to say the visiting the major galleries in London was a great surprise to me.
Nothing prepares you for the impact of these pictures.
The vividity of colour in the religious paintings despite being 100s of years old.
The sheer scale of a Gainsborough that until now always fitted onto a biscuit tin lid
But for me the French Impressionists simply bowled me over - stagggering !
Anyway, I’m getting carried away . . .
Best
Rod
SRF said,
October 11, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
Absolutely love this painting!! Do you know where it is kept or is on display?
Thanks
SRF
Rod said,
October 11, 2009 @ 8:29 pm
Hi SRF,
thanks for the comment and welocome to the site.
I think the painting is in private hands I’m afraid
All the best
Rod
Tiffany said,
September 12, 2011 @ 6:01 pm
I understand your captivation with this painting, I remember seeing it as a child in a catalogue and its always stuck with me. A full size posted of it sits above my fireplace, and I get lost in it every day. Taking a class in survey of women through art history, (you are correct, Edmund Blair Leighton is a cornerstone of that brotherhood, (and sisterhood) good eye!) Here’s what stumps me with this painting that most people graze over. The accolade ceremony was preformed by a monarch, to my knowledge. At the time that Leighton is trying to capture this painting, women were not ‘monarchs,’ and I’m looking for answers. : ) Why did he chose to depict the ‘grail maiden’ instead of a male? I understand it goes more with his oeuvre, if you notice he does a series like this, all pretty arthurian, romantic. But very curious. I feel like this has more depth than most scholars acknowledge.
Rod said,
September 12, 2011 @ 6:35 pm
Tiffany,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site.
I think to get to the bottom of it we’d need to know more about the background of the paintings.
Were they commissioned for example or did he paint them speculatively hoping they’d sell ?
If the former then perhaps they simply depict what somebody else wanted - if the latter then possibly he thought there was a good market for such ‘romantic’ imagery.
In historical reality it was a bloody period of violence but this Arthurian version of fable brings some ‘glamour’ to things. Perhaps the lady is necessary in the picture to signify, love and chivalry etc.
We like to think of knights being chivalrous to beautiful maidens when in fact any chivalry really meant killing a fellow knight on the field of battle quickly and cleanly - without making him suffer.
I wonder whether her presence is any deeper than the picture needed it, after all if she was replaced with a king would the picture be so famous and appealing ?
Kind regards
Rod
Alan said,
November 27, 2011 @ 2:04 am
Does anybody know the origin of the coat of arms on his back? I’ve seen it before, but can’t seem to find any information on it.
Rod said,
November 27, 2011 @ 8:49 am
Alan,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site - I’m afraid I don’t but perhaps somebody else out there does . . .
Best
Rod
Katie said,
December 5, 2011 @ 4:01 pm
The lady in this painting is my great-great maternal grandmother! She was a favourite model of Leighton’s, and we have several sketches of this and other paintings at home…
Rod said,
December 5, 2011 @ 7:15 pm
Katie,
that’s absolutely wonderful - what a marvellous thing
Regards,
Rod
CarRay said,
December 22, 2011 @ 1:07 am
I know nothing about painting but I first saw this painting in a local shop window in Bishop Auckland some ten years ago and immediately fell in love with it. I took my wife to see the painting and she bought it for me as a Christmas present. It now proudly hangs in the hall way of our house flanked by two replica Conan sords. I often thought of the painting as being based on arthurian legend. Until today I didn’t even know the name of the painting or the artist. I know that makes me sound a bit of a moron but can assure that I’m not, however Edmund Leighton some how has capture a sense of time just as in a photo and for me it will always be my favourite painting.