Analysis Of Arth 202 Survey Of The History Of Western...

ARTH 202: Survey of the History of Western Art II Professor Schmunk Field trip to the Greenville County Museum of Art N.C. Wyeth’s Anthony Adverse originally served as the endpaper for the Hervey Allen novel of the same name, originally published in 1933. The novel is described by the Encyclopedia Britannica as being â€Å"a long, rambling work set in Europe, Africa, and the Americas during the Napoleonic era.† Throughout the story, Anthony has many adventures, including slave trading in Africa, working as a businessman and plantation owner in New Orleans, and being imprisoned and subsequently dying in Mexico. The endpaper by N.C. Wyeth depicts the slave trade portion of Anthony Adverse. The function of the piece was decorative, as it was the†¦show more content†¦A character of note is the friar standing beside the character presumed to be Anthony. There is much contrast in the facial expressions of the two characters. While Anthony looks at the slaves with disdain and unconcern, the friar seems to feel apathy for these people who are being driven out of their homes. The comp osition of the piece, unsurprisingly, places the most important figures closest to the viewer. Anthony is the clear focal point, as he is made larger than all other figures, leaving little doubt about his importance in the ensuing novel. The colors, as previously mentioned, are generally light and subdued. The poses of Anthony and the friar in the foreground are static, as they are watching the action unfold behind them. In contrast, the slave masters and slaves are seen in motion. Linear perspective is evident in the orthogonal lines made by the fence of the holding pin. This is the only instance of orthogonal in the piece, so it is unclear where the exact vanishing point is located. The gradual decreasing in size of the figures also adds to the linear perspective and depth of the painting. The piece similar to A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat in its composition, as two characters are seen in the foreground with many characters in the background . This is the extent of similarities between the two paintings, as the subject content of Anthony Adverse is much heavier than the