Napoleon Picnic

#94017     48” X 36”      oc

• Giorgione: “Rural Concert” (1510)
• Gauguin: “Two Women on the Beach” (1891)
• David: “Napoleon in His Study”
• Bonnard: “Yellow and Red Still Life” (1931)

In this synthetic painting by T. F. Chen, Napoleon is there with his right hand on his belly but without his tricorne. In front of him there displayed a basket of fruits, a teapot, a box of something sweety etc. A Tahitian maid in pink sits nearby on a red carpet with a white pet dog. On the grass behind them three musicians from Italian High Renaissance seem to communicate before playing. Through some trees and a forest appears on the horizon the silhouette of New York Manhattan with the Twin Tower. It’s a description of an imagery beyond time and space, a happy scenario before 911 incident.

Leaving the philosophical or ideological interpretations to everyone and just judging from the esthetic view, we may find it’s interesting to discern the mixing elements of the painting and the harmonious interactions of color and form of its different motives.

The red and yellow on Bonnard’s still life resound the red carpet and the pink maid which are joined by the dark red on the Guitarist’s clothing and cap as well as the nude’s skin and the table with a bouquet near Napoleon. All these are synthesized by the brown earth climbing up to the sky. On the other hand the deep green of the forest with the shadowy green of the grass are accentuated by the blue-black in the Emperor’s uniform and the black brances of the tree. The above described contrast as well as the complementation of the red and the green in rich variation and subtle gradation are enhanced by silky white of the Emperor’s uniform echoing in dispersed whites all over the canvas, especially the white dog. Thus each element contributes to the orchestration of harmony and order of this composition.

Taking off the duty, Emperor Napoleon might like to enjoy a picnic outside. Where is the Empress?

– T. F. Chen