Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Gombrich, E. H. (Ernst Hans), 1909-2001
2. Marle, Judy
3. Landseer Film & Television Productions
4. Program for Art on Film (New York, N.Y.)

Description

1. 1 film reel (20 min.) : sd., col.; 16 mm.

Summary

1. Discusses the natural phenomenon of light and its representation in a wide range of Western European art. Filmed in 1988 in Sir Ernst's London home, where he shows us numerous objects and works of art to illustrate his points about how artists have depicted light. In Part Two, on reflection, Sir Ernst distinguishes between the objective character of illumination and the subjective character of reflection (the way light is thrown back from a surface). He points out examples of reflections and highlights in the works of various European painters, including Pieter der Hooch, Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin, and Jan van Eyck, and shows how smooth surfaces, such as mirrors, bounce light while rough surfaces absorb light. Sir Ernst demonstrates the strikingly different effects of reflection on concave and convex surfaces. Seventeenth-century Dutch still lifes reveal the artists' virtuosity in depicting texture, which is achieved by the degree of reflection on an object. In the eighteenth century, Watteau was a master of creating light effects on drapery. Other artists, such as Claude Lorrain, excelled at representing the sparkle of sunlight on water. Sir Ernst concludes with a reminder that the film medium resembles a transparency since the quality of the image depends on the intensity of light behind it. Therefore, it is important to study the original painting in order to experience the complete visual splendor as created by the artist. Many of the paintings shown were filmed from the originals in the National Gallery, London.

Alternative title

1. Reflection in art and nature

Subject

1. Aesthetics
2. Painting, European
3. Light in art

Call number

1. M16 5595 G

Credits (note)

1. Production companies, Landseer Film & Television Productions Ltd. for the Program for Art on Film, a joint venture of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The J. Paul Getty Trust ; director, producer, Judy Marle ; cinematographer, Nick Gifford ; editor, Gregory Harris.

Title

1. Gombrich Themes. Pt. 2, Reflection in art and nature [motion picture].

Imprint

1. United States : Metropolitan Arts for the Program for Art on Film, a joint venture of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the J. Paul Getty Trust, 1988.

Credits

1. Production companies, Landseer Film & Television Productions Ltd. for the Program for Art on Film, a joint venture of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The J. Paul Getty Trust ; director, producer, Judy Marle ; cinematographer, Nick Gifford ; editor, Gregory Harris.

Added author

1. Gombrich, E. H. (Ernst Hans), 1909-2001.
2. Marle, Judy.
3. Landseer Film & Television Productions.
4. Program for Art on Film (New York, N.Y.)

Research call number

1. M16 5595 G