Friday, June 10, 2016

Finished Venerable Matt Talbot Painting (2016) by Terry Nelson

On 19 May 2016 Terry Nelson posted his latest portrait of Venerable Matt Talbot at http://abbey-roads.blogspot.com/2016/05/my-latest-matt-talbot-painting.html.
In describing this painting he stated, “I finished the Talbot painting - almost...”



On 7 June 2016, the 91st anniversary of the death of Venerable Matt Talbot, Terry posted the “finished work..” at http://abbey-roads.blogspot.com/2016/06/anniversary-of-death-of-venerable-matt.html The adjustments he made are posted below:




“This is the finished painting.  I made a few adjustments from the first published image.  The composition remains spare and uncluttered - a few religious mementos and scraps of paper, upon which it is said Matt would make spiritual notes - a small statue of Our Lady of Lourdes and holy cards of Therese and Catherine of Siena comprise the 'still life' of minutia on the mantel. Above these, a very small image of OL of Perpetual Help hanging by a string. Matt stands in front of the tall, narrow tenement mantel, upon which these poor possessions are displayed. Interrupted in his devotion, clutching a crucifix, he looks out at the viewer.  In this my third painting of Matt, I imagined him in the last year of his life. Those closest to him described him as an 'undersized, wiry man,' though strong and able-bodied, he worked as a laborer all his adult life. He died at the age of 69.”

Note: It is worthwhile to check both of Terry’s links for viewer reactions to the almost finished and finished painting.