Collections of the National Gallery of Canada: The Death of General Wolfe, Eve, the Serpent and Death, Rideau Street Chapel, Voice of Fire, the Age of Bronze, Jack Pine, Forest, Hay Harvest at Érag

Books LLC

Unknown

2010

28 páginas

56m

ISBN-4: Erag

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 28. Not illustrated. Chapters: The Death of General Wolfe, Eve, the Serpent and Death, Rideau Street Chapel, Voice of Fire, the Age of Bronze, Jack Pine, Forest, Hay Harvest at Éragny. Excerpt: The Death of General Wolfe is a well-known 1771 painting by Anglo-American artist Benjamin West depicting the final moments of British General James Wolfe during the 1759 Battle of Quebec of the Seven Years' War. It is an oil on canvas of the Neoclassical period. West made an additional and nearly identical painting of the same scene for King George III in 1771. West depicts General Wolfe as a Christ-like figure. This painting has a triangular composition, made by the top of the flag (as the apex) and the positions of the men. It resembles Raphael's statue of La Pietà, where Christ is held in the embrace of the Virgin Mary. The depiction of the Native American warrior in the painting kneeling with his chin on his fist, looking at General Wolfe has been analyzed in various ways. In art, the touching of one's face with one's hand is a sign of deep thought and intelligence (thus Rodin's The Thinker). Some consider it an idealization inspired by the noble savage concept (Fryd, 75). On the ground in front of Wolfe is his musket, his cartridge box, and bayonet. Wolfe went into battle armed as his men were, although his musket was of higher quality. His dress is also of note. He is wearing a fairly simple red coat, a red waistcoat, red breeches, and a white shirt. Such dress was rather simple, especially for a commanding officer. The inclusion of Simon Fraser, Lieutenant Colonel of the 78th Fraser Highlanders (behind the Rogers Ranger, who is wearing green) is interesting, as General Wolfe had always spoken highly of Fraser's regiment, yet Fraser was not at the battle, as he was recovering from wounds received earlier. In the painting, Fraser wea...