Van Dyck

Different shadows the picture depicts aids in bringing out the innocent an evil in the painting. The painting tears me in two as I feel a sense of joy yet a jolt of pain.

The painting titled Venetia Stanley, Lady Digby, as Prudence by Van Dyck depicts a well-lit woman wearing a shiny red drapery. Above her are three small baby angels who are working together to hold up a leafed-halo. The babies are each draped in a delicate, shiny, blue cloth. In the woman’s left hand she holds a white dove. These images create a since of happiness, calmness, serenity, youth, elegance and power.

But then in the shadows of the painting I noticed a snake in her right hand that seems to be slithering down her red drape. There is a small baby with its eyes closed laying on the rough ground. Behind the baby is an older man draped in a muddy-colored cloth, curled up to fit in the corner. As a contrast to the almost pale white woman, this mans face is almost undistinguishable. These three images are haunting.

The two separate feelings that arise for me should be seen in two different paintings. Instead they are smacked right up next to each other and are blended in to created one unified painting.

In a book titled “Van Dyck: Paintings and Drawings” written by James Lawson writes, “The psychological contrast between Van Dyck’s sitters creates a drama that is tense” (Lawson pg. 100). I believe this painting too was created to stirrup some emotions by contrasting two different ideas.

This picture is intriguing because it challenges one emotion over the next. I want to like the painting for the beautiful images he created. However, it’s hard to enjoy those parts when right next to them are images of evil. Overall I find this picture fascinating because he causes me to question it to test my emotions.