The Pompeians regarded the olive branch as a symbol of peace and prosperity, because of course the olive was one of their primary crops.
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| en.wikipedia.org | sandiegofreepress.org |
The founders of the United States, who adopted much symbolism from ancient Greece and Rome, incorporated the olive branch into the Great Seal of the United States of America, shown above as it appeared in 1782, and as it appears today.
I decided that the Pompeian Room should include an olive branch for my own good luck, and that I would hang it from a substantial blue satin ribbon.
I bought blue satin for reference and enlisted my friend Sandy to sew the cloth as it appears above. (I've looked at any number of murals with delicate ribbons and decided I wanted something with a little more gravitas.)
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| click to enlarge |
As luck would have it, Sandy also has an olive tree in her yard, and that provided great reference, at least for the leaves.
The center panel "window" is now complete, and I'm satisfied that there is some sense of depth.
Next week I'll add some elements to the foreground, and that should help accentuate that sense of depth. What would you put in the foreground?
Join me next week!
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Hello Mark,
ReplyDeleteWell, one can never have enough good luck, so the addition of an Olive branch seems like a good measure! And, how fine it looks suspended on its satin ribbon. Another talking point for sure!
Hello, Jane and Lance,
DeleteI wanted to make the olive branch central to the mural's design, and as you suggest, one can't have too much of a good thing (as far as I know!). There will certainly be plenty of talking points by the time this project is finished.
Hello Mark, Congratulations on your fresh and unusual interpretation of the olive branch. Placing the delicate and relatively sparse olive branch below the robust and gilded garland reminds of us of the importance of the peace symbolized by the olive, and how much one set of ideals depends on another.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, olives are common in Taiwan as a snack, but traditionally the fruits are always cured very sweet (i.e., candied), regardless of color or degree of ripeness, and quite often plum flavoring is added.
--Jim
Hello, Jim,
DeleteI had considered incorporating an olive tree or a view with olive orchards, but the simplicity of this approach seemed like a much more elegant solution.
It's so interesting that the Chinese should take the distinct taste of the olive and turn it into something sweet. I found, conversely, that when I was in Japan all the pastry looked exceptionally sweet, but was in reality unsweetened to the point of blandness. The presentation, though, was always incredibly beautiful, and continued to entice me.
oh wonderful and love the symbolism!
ReplyDeleteHi, Stefan,
DeleteI'm having great fun including symbolism wherever I can!
Dear Mark, Who would have thought that a simple olive branch, hanging from a blue ribbon, would make such an important design statement!.
ReplyDeleteFor the foreground? I will send you a photograph of the base of a 200 year old floor to ceiling mirror from Argentina. And it is GOLD.
Dear Gina,
ReplyDeleteYou've piqued my curiosity and my anticipation! The photograph sounds exciting — I'm looking forward to seeing it!!
Love the olive branch with its attendant symbolism, Mark. Such a wonderful addition. I hope you plan on repeating the olive branch symbolism later, perhaps in some fabric? Or carved into a piece of furniture you happily stumble upon at some flea market or antique show?
ReplyDeleteHi, Yvette,
DeleteOne of these days, I'd like to try my hand at painting furniture, but before that happens, I'm going to be doing a trompe l'oeil job on each of my interior doors. That should keep me busy for a while. . .
Will you be showing us the doors? I love that sort of thing. I always remember a magazine layout I saw a few years ago of an artist who lives in Washington D.C. and all the trompe l'oeil work he'd done on his doors and kitchen cabinets and such. Spectacular.
DeleteI will absolutely show the doors, but don't hold your breath — there's a long to-do list! If you ever come across that magazine (you clip inspiring articles, don't you?), I'd love to see it. Your mention makes me think of one of my favorite trompe l;oeil artists, Graham Rust.
DeleteOh Mark, the room is coming along so nicely! I also love olive branches and your close up shot with the highlights and shadows is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteHi, Theresa,
DeleteYou might be amused to know, but also understand, that the best reference I got for the olives was off of olive oil packaging!
I believe you! They take their olive oil very seriously and budgets are high for their graphics. :)
DeleteDear Mark - the Romans associated blue with the sky gods Jupiter, Juno and Mercury so it seems entirely appropriate to have it hanging up there - the blue silk and the olive branch look incredible.
ReplyDeleteI know that you have already decided the final element, but my suggestion to fill the remaining space is a stepped plinth, the plinth being decorated with a greek key relief stringcourse. My thinking is that it would invite the viewer to look over to the scene beyond.
Dear Rosemary,
DeleteThank you for being the first to make a suggestion! You are correct that I have already selected an element, but I like your elegant vision very much and may have the opportunity to employ it in another part of the mural (because the mural might just migrate around a corner and continue into my living room).
Mark, I particularly like the delicate olive branch contrasted with the thick ribbon and garland. Now I must pop over and see what has happened since my last visit! How have I let time get away from me so? Barbara
ReplyDeleteHello, Barbara,
DeleteThanks for enjoying the thicker ribbon. Silk is one of those items for which I would particularly want good reference. It's not something to be faked!