The Infinite Art Tournament, Round 1: Algardi v. Allston
Alessandro Algardi
1595-1654
Italian
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Washington Allston
1779-1843
American
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Vote for the artist of your choice! Votes go in the comments. Commentary and links to additional work are welcome. Polls open for one month past posting.
A little tougher decision than last time, but I'll go with Algardi. I love that hand in the first sculpture. I like Allston's second one a lot as well, but not wild about the figures, especially the little guy near the boat.
Yay! More infinite art, and more artists I don't recognize!
I'm definitely going with Algardi. First, I like the looks of Gaspare Mola, as a guy. Maybe I'm just a sucker for that cavalier(?) style of facial hair. And he looks like a real person, not an idealization of a person. Well, maybe a bit idealized, but the slightly rough texture of the stone in his cloak says to me he's not just slick. Statue #2 doesn't do anything for me, though.
With Allston, I want the caption on #1 to say, "Look! I have painted The Sublime!" The foreground on the left has me truly baffled. #2, I'm dismissive for reasons that are too illogical to go into. (I always feel guilty when I have this kind of scornful, knee-jerk reaction against a piece of art, but... I don't know exactly how to get past it! That's partially why I get excited by projects like this one--maybe I'll learn something that will help me.)
(Having gone back and read other people's comments now, it looks like I've got more in common with other people than I expected!)
I'm going to go with Algardi. I too think the first sculpture is much better--the second just looks like a generic bearded classical dude. The Allston landscapes are too contrived for my (keen 21st-century) taste, though I admire the light in the second.
This exciting contest between two artists I've never heard of bodes well for the infinitude of the enterprise...
I'll go algardi as well. And Sue, i really like that description "generic bearded classical dude" and wonder if any modern person's ever been called that. "Tony Sporello. You don't know Tony? Well it's probably because he's sort of a dime a dozen. Just your average everyday generic bearded classical dude."
Nichim, I think there's more to be said about that. But in any event, although generally sculpture is going to be a tough sell for me, I'm on the Algardi train on this one. Like PB, I don't like Alston's figures. They seem like they would be in the kind of art my grandparents liked.
Voting in the Infinite Art Tournament? Awesome. And, please be aware that purely anonymous votes are not counted. You don't need to log in or use your real name, but you must identify yourself in some fashion for your vote to count.
A little tougher decision than last time, but I'll go with Algardi. I love that hand in the first sculpture. I like Allston's second one a lot as well, but not wild about the figures, especially the little guy near the boat.
ReplyDeleteAlgardi.
ReplyDeleteBoth artists are probably romanticizing their subjects, but Allston is just a bit ...too...fantasy-land-ish.
Algardi. I like the first sculpture better.
ReplyDeleteIt's tough to judge a sculptor against a painter, but I say Alston... I like his use of light, and that sunset scene is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYay! More infinite art, and more artists I don't recognize!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely going with Algardi. First, I like the looks of Gaspare Mola, as a guy. Maybe I'm just a sucker for that cavalier(?) style of facial hair. And he looks like a real person, not an idealization of a person. Well, maybe a bit idealized, but the slightly rough texture of the stone in his cloak says to me he's not just slick. Statue #2 doesn't do anything for me, though.
With Allston, I want the caption on #1 to say, "Look! I have painted The Sublime!" The foreground on the left has me truly baffled. #2, I'm dismissive for reasons that are too illogical to go into. (I always feel guilty when I have this kind of scornful, knee-jerk reaction against a piece of art, but... I don't know exactly how to get past it! That's partially why I get excited by projects like this one--maybe I'll learn something that will help me.)
(Having gone back and read other people's comments now, it looks like I've got more in common with other people than I expected!)
I'm going to go with Algardi. I too think the first sculpture is much better--the second just looks like a generic bearded classical dude. The Allston landscapes are too contrived for my (keen 21st-century) taste, though I admire the light in the second.
ReplyDeleteThis exciting contest between two artists I've never heard of bodes well for the infinitude of the enterprise...
Alagrdi!
ReplyDeleteI'll go algardi as well. And Sue, i really like that description "generic bearded classical dude" and wonder if any modern person's ever been called that. "Tony
ReplyDeleteSporello. You don't know Tony? Well it's probably because he's sort of a dime a dozen. Just your average everyday generic bearded classical dude."
I'll join the Algardi camp.
ReplyDeleteAlgardi.
ReplyDeleteAlston. Busts are boring.
ReplyDeleteNichim, I think there's more to be said about that. But in any event, although generally sculpture is going to be a tough sell for me, I'm on the Algardi train on this one. Like PB, I don't like Alston's figures. They seem like they would be in the kind of art my grandparents liked.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm right with (the other) Michael on this one - Generally, sculpture doesn't do a lot for me, but Alston's figures turn me off.
ReplyDeleteAlgardi - really not keen on the landscapes, though I'm guessing they were very in vogue when they were made.
ReplyDelete