National Gallery

Today I spent the day looking around the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. I have to say that I definitely spent the majority of my time at the National Gallery, and found a good few images which I could potentially use for my photograph. I have 6 images which I want to look a little closer at over the next few days before making my final choice. Each image has been picked for a variety of different reasons, so I want to explore these before making a final decision. 

Michelangelo Merisi Da Caravaggio, The Supper at Emmaus, 1601

• The piece is incredibly well known, so a copy would be easily identifiable to its original.
• The colour is strong 
• The facial expressions are strong, and the shapes created by the hand gestures are really interesting, and would be a great challenge to recreate. 
• Interesting shadows that would be be difficult to replicate, but if successful would be great. 
• Need to come up with some kind of modern context in which the hand gestures fit.

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Madame Moitessier, 1856

• Interesting neckline to play with. Could easily substitute modern costume for the various parts of the dress.
• Mirror image in the background, could show a contemporary flower in her hair. 
• Would need to replace item in her hand, and items behind, could be hair straighteners? Or other, need to brainstorm. 
• Interesting colour and pattern to work with. 

Anthony Van Dyck, Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart, 1638

• To give a comedic and personal touch I could substitute the characters for Roller Derby girls. The positioning would translate well. 
• Costume interpretation would be quite fun, maybe using a denim jacket slung over the shoulder, and leather fingerless gloves. Would also dress in full Roller Derby gear - skates would substitute for the boots, elbow pads would be the equivalent of the left characters fabric slung round his elbow, knee pads would cut the leg at the point where the breeches would end, helmets would replace the long hair.
• Keeping the colour and positioning strong could make this very successful.

Jean Beraud, After the Misdeed, 1885-90

• Beautiful colouring, though the problem with colour would be the set. 
• Could translate very well to a modernised costume and context. 

Joseph Wright 'of Derby', An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump, 1768

• Problem coming up with a alternative context for the main characters stance and actions. The only thing I can think of would be students playing a drinking game, and he would be pouring into the middle. 
• Expression is fantastic, and if done correctly would look amazing.
• I think it's unlikely I will go for this one. It could be great but there are too many details and factors that would have to be bang on perfect. 

Bernardo Strozzi, A Personification of Fame, 1635-6

• Good colour palate
• Context could translate well to modern day, a new personification of fame. Possibly a WAG-like character, keeping the red corset, and the yellow and blue and draped fabric over her.