Lost Illusions (French: Illusions Perdues) is a painting by Charles Gleyre and his student Leon Dussart, commissioned by William Thompson Walters in 1865.
| Lost Illusions | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Charles Gleyre |
| Year | between 1865 and 1867 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 86.5 cm × 150.5 cm (34.1 in × 59.3 in) |
| Location | Louvre Museum, Paris |
History
editCharles Gleyre was known as an artist of classic methods but romantic tastes who often modified heroism into idyllic scenes. However, in execution he was not considered romantic, due to his use of pale colors, his delicate drawing style, and uncertain light.[1] At the 1843 Salon in Paris, Gleyre received praise for The Evening. In 1865 William T. Walters would commission a replica of the painting which was completed by Gleyre and Dussart and is now also known as Lost Illusions.[2]
Composition
editLost Illusions depicts a vision Gleyre experienced one evening while on the banks of the Nile. It represents a despondent scene and uses softened tones. In the scene, an aging poet watches as a mysterious "bark" drifts away with his youthful illusions. The illusions are represented by maidens playing instruments and a cupid scattering flowers.[3]
Off the Wall
editLost Illusions is featured in Off the Wall, an open-air exhibition on the streets of Baltimore, Maryland. A reproduction of the painting, the original of which is part of the Walters Art Museum collection, was displayed through January 2014 in O'Donnell Square.[4] The National Gallery in London began the concept of bringing art out of doors in 2007 and the Detroit Institute of Arts introduced the concept in the United States. The Off the Wall reproductions of the Walters' paintings are on weather-resistant vinyl and include a description of the painting and a QR code for smart phones.[5]
References
edit- ^ Van Dyke, A Text-Book of the History of Painting, Forgotten Books, 2012, p. 155, ISBN 1-4400-9150-1
- ^ Johnston, W., Nineteenth-Century Art: From Romanticism to Art Nouveau, The Walters Art Gallery, 2000, p. 76 ISBN 1-85759-226-3
- ^ Johnston, W., Nineteenth-Century Art: From Romanticism to Art Nouveau, The Walters Art Gallery, 2000, p. 76-78 ISBN 1-85759-226-3
- ^ "Walters Art Museum - Off the Wall". Archived from the original on 2012-11-19. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
- ^ Smith, T., Walters Art Museum goes of the wall, The Baltimore Sun, September 11, 2012
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