This oil on canvas painting is in the Ecole de Francaise style, circa 1900. (Click photo to view detail). It was on display at the twice-annual Antiquities Brocante last week at Place de Bastille. Seeing it, I was immediately struck by how much the painting resembled the mystical style of the poet William Blake. So for Poetry Thursday, here's Blake's poem The Voice Of The Ancient:
Youth of delight! come hither
And see the opening morn,
Image of Truth new-born.
Doubt is fled and clouds of reason,
Dark disputes and artful teasing.
Folly is an endless maze;
Tangled roots perplex her ways;
How many have fallen there!
They stumble all night over bones of the dead;
And feel--they know not what but care;
And wish to lead others, when they should be led.
what a beautiful painting and poem. Thanks. Speaking of illumination - that painting glows.
(Typepad would not allow comments to the above post about Thankgiving... but wanted to say that cake looks wonderful! So glad your turkey dinner was filled with love and light. Our neighbors worked all through the day as well - beginning at 8 in the morning - pounding on walls with hammers. hrumph.)
Posted by: AscenderRisesAbove | 25 November 2006 at 17:18
The poem certainly does complement the painting. Thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: Mike | 24 November 2006 at 20:32
Tara, I have just read your Changing Fortunes post and I just want to say Thank You for sharing your story. Many times we (I)look at others and want their life but we forget the hardships that were endured to get there. I hope you don't mind, but I am going to print off the post so that I can read it every time I look at someone else and feel the green eyed monster surface within me.
Posted by: Hundred and one | 24 November 2006 at 10:40
Love the painting, Tara. I have read some of William Blake's works ... but truly did not know much about his history. Thank you for the link & the illumination. Quite fascinating.
Much love & peace, d
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 24 November 2006 at 07:57