RSA Scottish Art
Florence
 | Artist: William George Gillies |
| Title: Florence | |
| Year: 1924 | |
| Medium: watercolour on paper | |
| Dimensions: | |
| Suggested topic: | |
| Source: RSA | |
| View full screen image of this work | |
| Open print version of this work | |
| © the RSA | |
| Description: William George Gillies was strongly attached to Scotland and almost all his landscape paintings depict views of his native country. However he also studied in Paris and Italy and this watercolour sketch of Florence (Italy) shows a view of the river Arno from close to where he stayed.This sketch displays a mixture of influences which Gillies experimented with. The simplified and stylish shapes of the buildings reflect an interest in Cubism, about which Gillies learned in the studio of André Lhote. He is more focussed on the simple geometry and angular planes of the buildings rather than the architectural details. In fact the overall effect is almost a decorative patchwork of images. Compositionally the painting is almost split down the length of the page by a strong vertical leading down from the tall tower just in from the left-hand side. In fact the square space which remains from the tower to the right-hand side, works in it's own right as a painting. The perspective becomes more Cubist in style with views of the buildings from different angles working from the tower towards the left-hand side. The figures help to provide a sense of scale, but like the buildings, Gillies is not interested in their physical detail but uses them as a compositional device to lead the eye around the painting. Gillies has adopted a Fauvist colour scheme using vibrant colours which show up dramatically against a stormy looking sky. This is achieved through the use of complementary hues of blues and oranges. Moody atmospheric skies are a frequent feature in Gillies's Scottish landscapes. If you did not know the title of this painting, would you be able to make a guess as to its possible location? What are the clues? | |
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