The Saint-Bénézet Bridge in Avignon / - The monumentality of decay -

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Alfred Bentley
The Saint-Bénézet Bridge in Avignon / - The monumentality of decay -

Name: The Saint-Bénézet Bridge in Avignon / - The monumentality of decay -
Brand: Alfred Bentley
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

Price:$334.85

About the Item

Alfred Bentley (1879-1923), Pont Saint-Bénézet in Avignon, etching, 22 x 31 cm (image), 38.5 x 46.5 cm (frame), signed in pencil at lower right "Alfred Bentley", framed in mount under glass. - very well preserved and beautifully framed - The monumentality of decay - About the artwork The shepherd boy Bénézet heard a heavenly voice telling him to build a bridge over the Rhone. After being ridiculed for his project, he lifted a huge stone with superhuman strength and laid it as the foundation stone, whereupon the bridge was built. Built in the 12th century, the structure consisted of 22 arches and, with a span of 915 meters, was the longest bridge in Europe. It has been in ruins since 1660 and, along with the Palais des Papes, is the landmark of Avignon. Alfred Bentley stages the ruined bridge in the tradition of Giovanni Battista Piranesi. He depicts the arches in a view from below, monumentalizing the structure. The darkening of the arches also contributes to this effect. It creates a black and white contrast with the sky, making the bridge appear even more massive. The use of the pictorial staff also follows Piranesi. The figures are small, almost inconspicuous, making the architecture stand out even more. In contrast to the dark arches, the chapel toward which the figure on the bridge is moving is brightly lit by sunlight, giving the structure a drama of its own. Masterfully and going beyond Piranesi, the water reflections are depicted in the technique of etching. The schemes of the monumental bridge are recognizable and yet dissolve in the movement of the water. About the artist Alfred Bentley was active in London and exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1908-1923. From 1913 he was a member of the Royal Society of Painters-Etchers and Engravers. "[Bentley] engraved with a special feeling for light-dark contrasts and simple tonal gradations." - Kristiane Frank Selected Bibliography Saur. Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon, Band 9, München - Leipzig, 1994, S. 167. GERMAN VERSION Alfred Bentley (1879-1923), Pont Saint-Bénézet in Avignon, Radierung, 22 x 31 cm (Darstellung), 38,5 x 46,5 cm (Rahmen), rechts unten in Blei mit „Alfred Bentley“ signiert, im Passepartout unter Glas gerahmt. - sehr gut erhalten und ansprechend gerahmt - Die Monumentalität des Verfalls - zum Kunstwerk Der Schäferjunge Bénézet vernahm eine himmlische Stimme, er solle eine Brücke über die Rhone errichten. Nachdem er für sein Vorhaben verlacht worden war, hob er mit übermenschlichen Kräften einen immensen Stein und legte ihn als Grundstein, woraufhin die Brücke erbaut worden ist. Das im 12. Jahrhundert errichtete Bauwerk umfasste 22 Bögen und war mit 915 Metern Spannweite die längste Brücke Europas. Seit 1660 ist sie eine Ruine und neben dem Papstpalast das Wahrzeichnen von Avignon. Alfred Bentley inszeniert die ruinöse Brücke in der Tradition Giovanni Battista Piranesis. Er stellt die Bögen in starker Untersicht dar, wodurch das Bauwerk monumentalisiert wird. Zu dieser Wirkung trägt auch die Verdunklung der Bogenunterzüge bei. Es entsteht ein Schwarz-Weiß-Kontrast mit dem Himmel, wodurch die Brücke noch massiver erscheint. Auch der Einsatz des Bildpersonals folgt Piranesi. Die Figuren sind klein, beinahe unscheinbar und lassen die Architektur noch mehr hervortreten. Im Gegensatz zu den dunklen Bögen ist die Kapelle, auf die sich die Figur auf der Brücke zubewegt, hell vom Sonnenlicht beschienen, was dem Bauwerk eine ganz eigene Dramatik verleiht. Meisterhaft und über Piranesi hinausgehend sind die Wasserreflexionen in der Technik der Radierung dargestellt. Die Schemen der monumentalen Brücke sind erkennbar und lösen sich doch in der Bewegung des Wassers auf. zum Künstler Alfred Bentley war in London tätig und stellte von 1908-1923 in der Royal Academy aus. Ab 1913 war er Mitglied der Royal Society of Painters-Etchers and Engravers. „[Bentley] stach mit besonderem Gefühl für Hell-Dunkel-Kontraste und einfachen Tonabstufungen.“ - Kristiane Frank Auswahlbibliographie Saur. Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon, Band 9, München - Leipzig, 1994, S. 167.

Creator:
Alfred Bentley
Dimensions:
Height: 15.36 in (39 cm)Width: 18.51 in (47 cm)Depth: 0.4 in (1 cm)
Medium:
Etching
Period:
Early 20th Century
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Berlin, DE
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2438212428442

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