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 | Ship of Fools by Kornilova, Nataliya Valeryevna of Palekh #445021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Russian Sunbirds |
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An artist's brush can be considered an extension of the artist's imaginative intellect. They've listened to and they've read the stories. The painted presentation is a colorful symbol of the artist's ability to transfer a thought into something that can be seen visually and appreciated by an audience. Literature isn't always the easiest of avenues of which to navigate. When a portion of any rhyme, drama, plot or play has been painted; realization can follow as immediate footsteps. Eventually, there is hope that the two walk hand in hand. The painting and the idea. Two fascinating reflections of each other. Composed here by established Palekh artist Nataliya Kornilova.
The artist depicts multiple moments from the intriguing, medieval German poem "Ship of Fools" by Sebastian Brant. The artwork has been painted upon a chest with three upper compartments and one lower drawer within the mid-section of the base. A German humanist and poet, Sebastian Brant (1457-1521) was initially a lawyer. He also wrote a number of poems in Latin and German in which he set forth his religious and political ideals. In 1948 he published his poem "The Ship of Fools," which won him great popularity. The remainder of his life was relatively uneventful, except that he served in prominent civil positions in his hometown of Strasburg. "Ship of Fools," or "Das Narrenschiff" in German, is a long sermonic, allegorical poem, in which the follies and vices of the time are satirized. All the fools are loaded into a ship bound for Narragonia, the land of fools. But this plot is by no means carried out systematically, and Brant introduces many character descriptions, which do not advance the main idea. This lack of unity enables the poet to discuss all kinds of social, political, and religious conditions. There are a total of one hundred and twelve chapters in which one hundred and ten kinds of fools pass muster. "Das Narrenschiff" enjoyed tremendous popularity in Germany, and was quickly translated into several foreign languages. Under the influence of Brant's "Ship of Fools," many others in Germany found the image of the fool in text and image a useful vehicle for social satire. In 1500, Hieronymus Bosch completed his oil on wood painting by the same name. Currently displayed in the Musee du Louvre in Paris, Bosch imagined that the whole of mankind is voyaging through the seas of time on a ship--a small ship, that is representative of humanity. Sadly, every one of the representatives is a fool. This is how we live, said Bosch--we eat, drink, flirt, cheat, play silly games, and pursue unattainable objectives. Meanwhile our ship drifts aimlessly and we never reach the harbor. The sinister and monstrous things that he brought forth are the hidden creatures of our inward self-love: he externalizes the ugliness within, and so his misshapen demons have an effect beyond curiosity. We feel a hateful kinship with them. The Ship of Fools is not about other people--it is about us. Natalya Kornilova has incorporated excerpts from Brant's "Ship of Fools" into this beautiful, yet somewhat anxious lacquer miniature. The quotes, as translated from Russian and from left to right, are as follows: We would all be twice the wiser If there was wisdom in a drop of wine Which we drink beyond our strength without restraint... Fools have no account in our day: Like flies, they fuss about And rush and push onto boats-- They want to be the first to arrive. I'm firm in my deduction bleak People brought the devil to dances Having made a golden image for them... Kornilova's colors build animation and a subtle grace, both at the same time. Against the black background, her compositions become very lively. She has a unique painting style, with pronounced facial features and varied skin tones. Kornilova painted the fools in the central scene in the ship with various vices that Brant satirized. Gold and silver highlighting throughout each of the paintings complete each of the compositions. Gold beading lines the edge of each lid composition. The front edge of each lid slightly bends outward. The depth of the piece allows Kornilova to richly decorate the sides of the base. She has painted broad gold foliage that expands into consistent vines of luster. Three 'fools', dressed like jesters are found on the front side in the center, just above the removable drawer. Another trio is painted upon the rear base side, while a singular portrait can be found on both the right and left sides of this large box. All the lids are hinged from the top of the scene. The lower edge of the box is carved with an outward slant so that the entire chest has a much more unique aura about it. The piece rests upon four angled feet carved from the bottom of the base. Upon completion of the piece the artist signs their name, the village name of Palekh and the year of 2002 of which the piece was finished along the bottom of the central lid composition in bright gold paint. Materials: Egg-tempera paint, paper-mache, gold paint, aluminum paint and lacquer.
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