Comments on: The Accolade By Edmund Blair Leighton http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton A Site About Everything and Nothing Tue, 22 May 2012 00:37:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 Comment on The Accolade By Edmund Blair Leighton by: CarRay http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-23468 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:07:15 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-23468 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. 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.

]]> Comment on The Accolade By Edmund Blair Leighton by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-22953 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:15:29 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-22953 Katie, that's absolutely wonderful - what a marvellous thing Regards, Rod Katie,
that’s absolutely wonderful - what a marvellous thing
Regards,
Rod

]]> Comment on The Accolade By Edmund Blair Leighton by: Katie http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-22948 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:01:36 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-22948 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... 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…

]]> Comment on The Accolade By Edmund Blair Leighton by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-22723 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:49:50 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-22723 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 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

]]> Comment on The Accolade By Edmund Blair Leighton by: Alan http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-22714 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 02:04:58 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-22714 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. 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.

]]> Comment on The Accolade By Edmund Blair Leighton by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-21507 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:35:53 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-21507 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 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

]]> Comment on The Accolade By Edmund Blair Leighton by: Tiffany http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-21502 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:01:15 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-21502 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. 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.

]]> Comment on The Accolade By Edmund Blair Leighton by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-10109 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:29:37 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-10109 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 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

]]> Comment on The Accolade By Edmund Blair Leighton by: SRF http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-10106 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:07:32 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-10106 Absolutely love this painting!! Do you know where it is kept or is on display? Thanks SRF Absolutely love this painting!! Do you know where it is kept or is on display?
Thanks

SRF

]]> Comment on The Accolade By Edmund Blair Leighton by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-8886 Thu, 28 May 2009 07:39:05 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/the-accolade-by-edmund-blair-leighton#comment-8886 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 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

]]>