Weekly Whimsy

This week’s whimsy is brought to you by An Amusing Retort.

An Amusing Retort, by François Brunery

Francesco/François Brunery/Bruneri (1849-1926) was an French-Italian artist (claimed by both nations) whose best known works were “anecdotal” studies of generic figures from the  social elite (especially ecclesiasticals) in “unguarded” moments.  He was part of the 19th century movement away from the domination of the Paris Salon’s favoured monumental scenes from the classical era, designed to tempt a noble patron with an enormous gallery wing, towards smaller canvases of so-called ‘everyday’ subjects that were affordable for the rapidly expanding aspirational middle-classes. Who knew there was a whole genre called “Cardinal Paintings”?

Brunery frequently painted his subjects in the costumes of an earlier era, presumably to avoid offending any powerful person currently alive at the time, since his portrayals are often less than reverential. Or perhaps he just really loved painting all that brocade and lace.

Please share any bits and pieces you have come across recently that have surprised, delighted, intrigued or otherwise positively engaged you.

NB: the weekly whimsy thread is a stoush-free zone