Dimensions: support: 457 x 597 mm frame: 621 x 761 x 87 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: Here we have Henry Anderton’s "Mountain Landscape with Dancing Shepherd." It's undated, but he lived in the 17th century. It feels like a stage set, a theatrical backdrop. What social factors might have influenced this staging? Curator: Well, consider the aristocratic patronage of the arts during Anderton's time. Landscapes weren't just about nature; they were often about power, ownership, and idealised visions promoted by the ruling class. Who is presented in the foreground and how are they being displayed? Editor: So, the dancing shepherd isn't just a pastoral figure but perhaps a symbol of idealized, controlled rural life, made for the consumption of the elite? Curator: Precisely! And the placement of the distant town and bridge signifies progress, and the artist's patron's influence. It all served a purpose beyond mere aesthetics. Editor: That adds a whole layer to what I initially saw as just a pretty landscape. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. The politics of imagery are always at play, even in landscapes.
Comments
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/anderton-mountain-landscape-with-dancing-shepherd-t03543
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
This is one of the earliest known oil paintings of a landscape by a British artist. We know the artist had recently returned from a few years studying in Rome, where he may have been influenced by classical art. Henry Anderton was trained as an artist by Robert Streater, who was later Serjeant Painter to King Charles II. As well as landscapes, Anderton painted still-lifes and portraits. He became one of the most successful portrait painters of his time, though few of his works are known today. Gallery label, July 2024
CollectMore like this
