Nicole Page-Smith
Tiepolo's spirit reflects time
One wonders in the passing of age, the reflection. The feeling of the body as the body pulls down to the earth and separates. Our spirit although, attached until death has the physical body separate. We are only a physical lump of matter because of gravity. Venus in the phase of the moon. An angel has spoken to you at birth about your death but we do not hear him. The same angel speaks to you at your death. The spirit in passing is our angel and takes you unto thee. The spiritual association in Tiepolo's painting is phenomenal. However, we do not feel anything to do with death when contemplating the light of Tiepolo's spirit. The Rococo style did have nature as the main idea but, far from natural paintings of the landscape, painted outside, mostly the fresco paintings were painted in a studio. You feel with Tiepolo's painting despite the decorative style and contemplation of the sky, all the devices of the Renaissance lead you through the picture plane. I wonder why an aerial view meant vacant seats in front of the National Gallery painting, "An Allegory with Venus and Time" (1754-1758)? Time may be the sticking point. A spiritual vocation is the job of an artist and despite the day job Tiepolo held at the Accademia in Venice, you do not feel the paintings were painted at night. Fresco painting does dry quite quickly and unlike oil painting dries in one day so, perhaps this method of painting allowed for daily visits to the painting for several hours. You almost feel when looking at Tiepolo's painting, you are entering his spirit. Tiepolo's spirit reflects time.
