Page 26 - Barry McGlashan | Natura Naturata | 2020 | E catalogue

Theatrum Mundi (cat 17)
oil on folding panel 70 70 5 5 x x x x 60 (closed) (closed) 70 70 5 5 x120 cms (open) 273⁄4 273⁄4 x x x x 233⁄4 ins ins (closed) (closed) / (273⁄4 x x x x 471⁄4 ins ins open) open) In In 1559 Pieter Bruegel painted The Battle Between Carnival and Lent one of of of my favourite paintings of of of of of his or or indeed of of of of of any artist In In it it it he he he shows us a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a village festival in in in in in in in in full swing it’s an an an an astonishing piece of of of of work work depicting the contrast between Feast and and Lent So much of of of of what we we see see in in in in Bruegel’s work work clearly comes from observation he he he must have seen and and experienced a a a lot of what he left behind for us When closed my altarpiece to Bruegel’s world shows a a a a a a a a very sedate scene in in in low light His attention is is is is drawn by the the the the view through the the the the open window a a a a a a a a a a a a a few snowflakes drift in in in in in on on on on the the the the cold air hanging there forever This is is is an an intentional reference to Bruegel’s The The Adoration of the the the Magi in in in in in in in the the the Snow which he he he he he he he would paint paint a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few years after The The Battle Between Carnival and and Lent Here he he he he he he effectively freezes one vital moment for for for us forever by painting falling snow for for for the first time magically creating movement and and stillness at at once in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a way which I don’t think has ever been bettered The The outer wings of of of altarpieces were often presented in in in in in in in this way in in in in in in in ‘grissaille’ painted tonally in in in in in in in grey to to blend with the the the the the architecture of of of of the the the the the surrounding building Then when opened for the the the the the the the congregation the the the the the the the full splendour is revealed such as Hieronymus Bosch’s globe of of of of the the the the the the the Creation of of The World which then opens into the the the the Garden of of Earthly Delights On On the the the the the easel beneath a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dust sheet sits the the the the the panel for Bruegel’s great Battle still at at at at at the the the the the preparatory drawing stage On On the the the the the the the walls around the the the the the the the studio are are works on paper character studies collected for ffor the the the the task Bruegel has set himself perhaps observed from the the the the view we are are are are afforded when those windows are are opened onto a a a a a a a snowy town square And here all life is is happening at at once frozen and framed on on the the the stage of of this theatre of of the the the world