Why Watteau's "Pilgrimage to the Island of Kieferu" is called a turning point in art

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

On August 28, 1717, a young French painter Antoine Watteau entered the Royal Academy of Painting, who presented a canvas that later became a masterpiece and the beginning of a new style of “gallant festivities” - “Pilgrimage to the island of Kieferu”. What is the plot of the picture and why is it considered a turning point?

About the artist

Antoine Watteau was born in Valenciennes in 1684 to the family of a roofer. It is known that upon his arrival in Paris, Watteau was hired as an assistant to create rough copies of religious paintings. Around 1705, Watteau joined the studio of Claude Gillot, who specialized in comedy scenes del arte, and who, in turn, introduced him to Claude Audran III, a designer of ornaments. Working under the guidance of these two influential masters allowed Watteau to create his own unique mature style, which over time took over the influence of theatrical theme and design. Without an academic education, Watteau managed to take part in the competition for the Rome Prize of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. This was in 1709. The young talent took second place, but, to his great disappointment, he was never sent to study in Italy (the internal regulations of the academy intervened).

Little is known about Watteau's biography. But some information about the peculiarities of his character has come down to our days. For example, it is known that Watteau was a nervous person. The character was rather reserved, secluded and had only a few loyal friends. The frequent change of residence and the studio in which he worked is due to both restless temperament and the negligence of bachelor habits (Watteau, by the way, has never been married). In 1717, Watteau was admitted to the Academy of Painting. His groundbreaking introductory work, A Pilgrimage to the Island of Kiferu, did not fit into any of the established categories in the academic hierarchy. But this did not prevent Watteau from being accepted into the academy. For the first time in the history of painting, Watteau entered the Royal Academy with the unprecedented title of "artist of gallant holidays", and his painting was officially qualified as fête galante.

Island myth

The main character of the picture is an inanimate, but at the same time no less important island of Kieferu. In a tale from ancient Greek mythology, it is said that Poseidon, the God of the Sea, once fell in love with a nymph named Kerkyra, the daughter of the river god Asopos. Then he decided to find a secluded place where he could hide his love. Poseidon chose the most incomparable and beautiful landscape, a special home for his beloved. He gave that unique island the name of his beloved - Kerkyra (the Greek name for Corfu).

Corfu is the second largest island in the Ionian Islands. The mountain ranges rise to a height of 1,663 feet. Its unrivaled beauty is the result of a multicultural "mosaic" that includes ancient Greek and Venetian features in both art and architecture. It is no coincidence that the greatest civilizations that have ever existed on Earth, as well as the great French and British empires, have wanted to annex Corfu for centuries. In ancient times, it was believed that Kythera, one of the Greek islands, seriously claimed to be the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Thus, the island was considered sacred to Aphrodite and a symbol of love.

Plot

Watteau's painting depicts couples in love on the mythical island of Kiefer at different stages of their metaphorical "journey" of love. Young gentlemen, dressed in velvet and silk, wander aimlessly or look after their beloved women. They are not familiar with labor, hunger, or worries. The fairy godmother gave them everything they needed: satin shoes, music books, shepherd's thyrsus. Women are also children of the enchanted paradise fields. They look at their fans with blue eyes. They are dressed in matte silk: pink, purple, yellow.

In the foreground are three pairs of lovers. The first couple is sitting, carried away by a flirtatious conversation. Next to them is the second pair, who have just got up, and the third pair is heading for the ship. The girl looks back with nostalgia at the place where she spent so many happy hours. In the distance, several figures climb aboard a magnificent ship with cherubs hovering overhead. Now the lovers go down to the shore, laughing as they head towards the ship. Several other happy people are depicted at the foot of the hill. The picture is a glorification of love, the main attributes of the author's message are cupids. Cupids climb the mast, shoot their arrows into the hearts of beauties, twine a chain of roses around those who are slow. They fly around couples and "tie" their hearts. The statue of Aphrodite also stands out very brightly and remarkably in the composition of the picture. The glowing colors indicate the influence of Venetian painting on Watteau.

Thus, the magnificent painting by Antoine Watteau became not only a turning point in his own career, but also became fundamental in the creation of a new direction in painting - "gallant festivities".