The Great Art Debate

[Bruce Rioja]

Why's someone stuck a massive dildo to the mantle piece?

[TANGODANCER]

Why's someone stuck a massive dildo to the mantle piece?

My guess is a wall clock or cuckoo clock with chains on a backboard.

[thebish]

^^^ why is there a ghost of a huge person sitting in a huge armchair, with it's back to the fire to the right of that Tango ?

Not sure just what the right hand side says apart from a settee of sorts and some big shadows bobo. If you look at the blue and black bit far left, it's a man reading a newspaper with the shadow of his legs thrown on the wall extreme left. Going off the shadows the light is from a central source and suggests interior light rather than sunlight. The right, I just don't know, shadows I'd say?

if it were shadows, that would surely darken the brown of the mantelpiece, wouldn't it? ...not overlay with a totally different colour...

[Montreal Wanderer]

One of the most haunted places in England, I understand.



Of course Whistler may have painted a different one - at York perhaps.

[thebish]

^ that may well be, but it's not Moresby Hall that Whistler painted... it's Moreby (as Tango said)

[TANGODANCER]

^^^ why is there a ghost of a huge person sitting in a huge armchair, with it's back to the fire to the right of that Tango ?

Not sure just what the right hand side says apart from a settee of sorts and some big shadows bobo. If you look at the blue and black bit far left, it's a man reading a newspaper with the shadow of his legs thrown on the wall extreme left. Going off the shadows the light is from a central source and suggests interior light rather than sunlight. The right, I just don't know, shadows I'd say?

if it were shadows, that would surely darken the brown of the mantelpiece, wouldn't it? ...not overlay with a totally different colour...

Simple answer is I just don't know. It was painted late Victorian era (1883-4) and playing music being a part of the culture, I'm seeing something that might be a harp to the right of the fire, then what might be a settee. I can't find any info anywhere on the painting so, I suppose you see it as you see it and use your imagination? .

[thebish]

^^^ why is there a ghost of a huge person sitting in a huge armchair, with it's back to the fire to the right of that Tango ?

Not sure just what the right hand side says apart from a settee of sorts and some big shadows bobo. If you look at the blue and black bit far left, it's a man reading a newspaper with the shadow of his legs thrown on the wall extreme left. Going off the shadows the light is from a central source and suggests interior light rather than sunlight. The right, I just don't know, shadows I'd say?

if it were shadows, that would surely darken the brown of the mantelpiece, wouldn't it? ...not overlay with a totally different colour...

Simple answer is I just don't know. It was painted late Victorian era (1883-4) and playing music being a part of the culture, I'm seeing something that might be a harp to the right of the fire, then what might be a settee. I can't find any info anywhere on the painting so, I suppose you see it as you see it and use your imagination? .

ghost of a huge person it is then - as Bobo said!

[TANGODANCER]

Been pondering on this and I reckon the big shape is a piano/organ, pianoforte? with possibly a vase stood on its top. Makes sense with the harp and if there's a window where we're looking from a lot of light could cast plenty shadow.....Disclaimer...artistic licence at work..

[thebish]

is that a dog just on the left of the foreground - rubbing itself on the side of a sofa?

[TANGODANCER]

is that a dog just on the left of the foreground - rubbing itself on the side of a sofa?

I can see where you mean, in front of the chair, and it's quite possible.

[thebish]

of course - it could always be bobo rubbing himself on the sofa...

[Worthy4England]

Why's someone stuck a massive dildo to the mantle piece?

See, that's the sort of question we need to ask about art. None of this namby pamby bllks.

So when you saw a massive dildo in the painting, how did it make you feel? What emotions did it stir? What did the dildo say to you? Did you stare at it for hours, trying to work out where the dildo had been and what the back-story was? I think we need to know.

[William the White]

Why's someone stuck a massive dildo to the mantle piece?

See, that's the sort of question we need to ask about art. None of this namby pamby bllks.

So when you saw a massive dildo in the painting, how did it make you feel? What emotions did it stir? What did the dildo say to you? Did you stare at it for hours, trying to work out where the dildo had been and what the back-story was? I think we need to know.

I'm reaslly hoping bruce doesn't answer

[Worthy4England]

Why's someone stuck a massive dildo to the mantle piece?

See, that's the sort of question we need to ask about art. None of this namby pamby bllks.

So when you saw a massive dildo in the painting, how did it make you feel? What emotions did it stir? What did the dildo say to you? Did you stare at it for hours, trying to work out where the dildo had been and what the back-story was? I think we need to know.

I'm reaslly hoping bruce doesn't answer

[EverSoYouri]

I know this thread is called The Great Art Debate, but the following is not put forward for debate. These people are morons. End of.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-29446232

[Prufrock]

Dear lord!

[Montreal Wanderer]

I know this thread is called The Great Art Debate, but the following is not put forward for debate. These people are morons. End of.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-29446232

It is not even clear to me whether the complaint came from a UKIP type offended by the brilliant satire, or an Anti-UKIP type who just didn't get it.

[TANGODANCER]

I know this thread is called The Great Art Debate, but the following is not put forward for debate. These people are morons. End of.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-29446232

It is not even clear to me whether the complaint came from a UKIP type offended by the brilliant satire, or an Anti-UKIP type who just didn't get it.

Council officials rarely know much about life at street level. Anyone with half a brain would have just ignored it as petty attention seeking, probably by a serial complainer. Instead, they have a meeting and action the complaint to the joy of all....not.

[thebish]

Council officials rarely know much about life at street level.

I have known (and know) lots of local councillors - it is pretty much a totally thankless task... in my experience, they are most often those who DO know and care about life at street level in the communities they serve. It takes quite a bit to put your head above the parapet and campaign for support to be a local councillor in the area you live. I'm sorry your experience of them seems to be so overwhelmingly negative, without them - those willing to put the time into local government - our lives would be immeasurably shitter...

[boltonboris]

Had anybody else posted that, you wouldn't have responded