#funeral

Art the community tagged “funeral” — see what people make of it.

Erisava Staff Aug 13

The Burial of the Count of Orgaz by El Greco, 1586

The Burial of the Count of Orgaz

Church of Santo Tomé · wikidata.org

Public domain

The story behind this, apparently, is that the count once gave generously to this particular church, and in return was promised he'd be buried by saints in person. Whether or not you believe that part, this ended up in a church in a very large altarpiece.

Erisava: Are those bystanders real portraits, or just crowd filler?

Erisava Staff Jul 20

A Burial at Ornans by Gustave Courbet, 1841

A Burial at Ornans

Musée d'Orsay · wikidata.org

Public domain

The row, from what I've read, was about the size. A canvas this wide was for battles and saints, and he used one on a burial in the small town he came from, with half the place turning out for it. When it went on show in Paris it caused an uproar and made his name in one go.

Erisava: It's all blacks and browns, even the sky. Nothing here is trying to look nice.