Et in Arcadia ego,also known as Les bergers d'Arcadie, is a famous painting by Nicolas Poussin. The painting depicting idealized shepherds from classical antiquity, clustering around an austere tomb.
This celebrated painting Et in Arcadia ego has obscure meaning, being an enigmatic work in the history of art. Acadia is said to be an ancient sequestered "promised land". It shows a quiet wilderness, where the genial sunlight glinting on the tomb before the few trees. The background is the bright and clear blue sky. Four shepherds wearing a crown with a crozier in hands are gathering around a gravestone studying the inscriptions. A shepherd with cheek beard is kneeling reading monument inscriptions and turns to the right saying something to a female shepherd. The inscription on the stone reads: "Even in Arcadia I am in."
According to the art historian's explanation, here, “I”refers to the "death". Therefore, the inscriptions seem to say: "In the beautiful paradise, death is inevitable." Obviously, this is like "scenery is good, but life is short”. From the face of the shepherd on top of tomb with his head down we can see that his nostalgia contrasts strikingly with the female shepherd standing on the left side.
The female shepherd dressed in yellow clothes and blue skirt, the color is the most eye-catching one in the whole painting. The female character is mysterious, It is said that she is a symbol of happy life. She is containing jaw bowed, silently listening to the inscriptions, but gives us a soothing sense. Concerns and compassion, melancholy and grief are a philosophy problem of life. Here the female shepherd the male shepherd becomes an emotional contrast. It seems to tell the audience: “Death is not frightening. Arcadia, after all, is the land that common people yearning for."
Nicolas Poussin's sublime painting style depends on his artistic accomplishments. The figures he painted come from the image of Greek and Roman sculpture. He believes that these images are valuable because they are in line with some sort of "model". As a result, the characters in his paintings never come from the real life, such as his famous works Apollo And Daphne, Cephalus And Aurora and Bacchanal Before A Statue Of Pan.
How to paint flowers in the oil paintings?
Both the plants in the pot and flowers inserted in the vase are the still lives theme that artists love. They can be alone made into the painting, or can also be used as a part of a group of still lives, such as adding some fruit, a bowl or a glass bottle pattern.About drawing paper, canvas and painting board
There are many materials that can be used for painting. Drawing paper, canvas and painting board are commonly used. But the beginners should note that no matter which material you choose, please remember to process the painting bottom into no oil absorption or less.Russian painter Serov's painting style
Serov was an outstanding Russian portrait painter in the alternate period of the nineteenth century and twentieth Century. And he was an important representative of Russian realism painting at the beginning of this century.