Hello and welcome! I have selected this beautiful image for June’s article, which is aptly called Flaming June. It was painted in 1895 by Lord Frederick Leighton in a classical style and received high acclaim at its unveiling at the Royal Academy in London. Leighton was closely associated with the Pre-Raphaelites in the late Victorian era, which is also one of my most favourite art periods.
ART – Flaming June – This image portrays a young woman, in Greek or Roman attire; she has fallen asleep in the late afternoon on a hot summer’s day, so warm that it makes you feel incredibly relaxed and sleepy. The feeling of lazy summer warmth is bolstered by the deep orange colour of her soft flowing gown, the blush in her cheeks, her reddish-brown hair, her curled posture (she reminds me of a cat, especially when they fall happily asleep and squash themselves into an unapparent tight space). Her flimsy gown could be made of silk and she sits on marble, which suggests opulent surroundings while the last few rays of golden sunlight reflect vividly on the distant waves in the background, like a sea of shimmering gold.
The picture is framed in gold, reinforcing all of these elements. It is a beautiful image that has been reproduced many times. The painting draws you in… the more I stare at it, the more I feel incredibly peaceful and transported to a long, hot, sunny day in some beautiful Mediterranean place overlooking the sea. I wonder what feelings this painting inspires in you? You may wish to submit your positive comments below.
If you would like to read more about warm, summery places, please sign up to my newsletter. The June edition highlights in more detail the delights of TRAVEL and the Greek island of Corfu; LITERATURE with Gerald Durrell’s novel, My Family and Other Animals and The Corfu Trilogy. You might be interested in TV DRAMA with The Durrells, and the thrilling Greek contemporary drama series, Maestro in Blue, currently showing on Netflix. And lastly, MUSIC with Mamma Mia! – the film and stage musical – featuring those unforgettable, classic ABBA songs.
I hope you enjoy these arts and culture ideas that you can explore further yourself. Here’s wishing you more sunshine to warm up your long summer days.
Vanda
