IrishOboe

I know it is too early to be thinking of next lent, but I saw a painting in the Orsay Museum that really spoke to me.  The painting is by Jean-Léon Gérôme and is titled Jérusalem.  I think since my blog is for personal use only I am allowed to reproduce the painting, but to be safe I won’t. [My sis check up on it so now I've postd it.  I'll take it down if someone knows I should] They have the whole collection online so please follow this link to their website to see it at a decent size.  Of course the full effect can only be experienced in person, but I still think you might get something out of it.  Here is some information on it, also from the museum’s website.  Before I tell you my thoughts I will give you the chance to look at the painting and tell me what you see.  BTW, a poster of said work would be a welcomed belated birthday present . . . ;)  It was fun for me to fall in love with a painting that isn’t famous (well, I’d never heard of it).  I suppose one day I will shed the need to always shrink from the popular, but currently it still gives me pleasure, much as I enjoyed seeing the major works.  Of course the pleasure is increased since the work received much criticism at the time.  Oh how sophisticated I am!  (Don’t be fooled.  What I failed to mention is that I’d never heard of Gerome before.  In fact, that goes for most of the artists in the Louvre and the Orsay. . .)