Poussin's 'Golden Calf' | Talks for All | National Gallery

This is part of our 'Talks for All' series. Dr. Francesca Whitlum-Cooper, the Myojin-Nadar Associate Curator of Paintings 1600-1800, discusses Poussin's 'The Adoration of the Golden Calf', painted 1633-4.
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[@kevinchambers1101]

I have to say, that the curators are as much of a treasure as the paintings they are discussing. Their knowledge is remarkable about the art in the NG.

[@yunheekwon3565]

Francesca, your presentation is amazing, informative and inspiring. THANK you so much!

[@nationalgallery]

Thank you for watching

[@LouisHansell]

Francesca, you regularly do an excellent job on these lectures. Thanks for your work.

[@jon780249]

An exceptionally good introduction to the picture.

[@otsoalasko5236]

In addition to her great intro, Poussin beautifully highlighted the differences of the religions in the landscape. Just look at how on the Moses’ side, there is more vegetation, more leaves on the tree and a clearer sky whereas the landscape on the other, pagan side, is considerably rougher. But for the moment, Moses’ side is literally and figuratively in the dark.

[@mathieuavice7154]

Indeed! I am studying The shepherds of Arcadia ( second version) from Poussin, and it shows a desertic and dry area where the tomb stands but above the tomb, the sky and the landscape gets greener with trees and bushes. Poussin was very passionate about structure and one of the most thoughtful painters of classical art.

[@davidstevens7018]

I've turned to this channel during lockdown and thoroughly enjoyed the presentation; the speakers certainly know their Art ; thank you so much

[@Delectatio]

Thank you so much!

[@jackiegoyette8406]

Thank you for this. What an amazing painting.

[@StampNStitch]

I love these talks!! I wish more museums would do this. Not only does it entertain us now, all this lovely knowledge is kept for prosperity.

[@vlisdero]

Thank you so much for uploading this. It is a privilege to be watching this from the comfort of my home in Buenos Aires. Please upload more of these 😊

[@furdiebant]

vallisdero I hope you make it to the National Gallery one day, you would be very welcomed :)

[@bendiatho]

I love these talks. All of the presenters are really wonderful. This is a marvelous way for me (or anyone) to experience the art in England when I cannot be there in person. I thank the National Gallery for presenting these talks for the public.

[@GLF-Video]

Timeless wisdom.

[@josuetw]

Her voice and accent are so good

[@michaelkopala3738]

Thank you for another wonderful lecture.

[@mercelloveras7453]

Thank you again for this so much interesting talk!

[@BIZEB]

If you don't mention geometry when you talk about Poussin, you'll be missing out on a whole lot. The bull's straight front leg is precisely at the golden section on the left, while he outstretched hand of the dancer is crossed by the golden section on the right, with the end of the monument where the bull stands being precisely in the middle of the picture.The trees are geometrically placed as well as nearly every important element in the composition. The rectangle itself is significant, as it's seemingly a root 2. It's very weird that someone would mention the cubists, cezanne, and not talk about *why* they were so fascinated about him.

[@maomaoj]

Very informative and inspiring lecture. Most grateful! Thank you very much, NG!

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

An excellent presentation, Dr Francesca: erodite and friendly. Thanks!!! John Angel (Director, Angel Academy of Art, Florence)

[@richardgallow2029]

Excellent uploaded talk, giving one a chance to assimilate what is being said. I have seen the painting a number of times, but was not aware of the detail of how he portrayed movement and emotions and so much more. Encore!

[@opticalmixing23]

He was the best painter ever lived

[@sjkyte630]

GREAT VIDEO. disagree on some things but this is essential viewing.

[@marcelaelizalde]

Great explanation.

[@carolabruzzo4935]

Wonderful!

[@sintes88]

She is really good at her job!

[@cindy8994]

A great talk and Thank You. I was wondering about the separation of religion and idolatry on the left side of the picture, the ominous dark clouds in the centre and the questioning people on the right. Of course we can always construct stories in a painting, that is one of their wonders. However I was struck to think that maybe this was a subtle dig to combine idolatry and the Commandments as one and the same.

[@LouisHansell]

Another excellent presentation.

[@downyourtube]

Louis please come see what I found in Poussin's Paintings. Please come see.

[@yvonnefarrell1029]

Exodus 32, where "the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play". Indeed this could represent anything that we put before God. What an amazing depiction and we give thanks for the information about it and the artist who painted it!

[@davidmayhew8083]

Thrilling talk! But I do think Moses was a party pooper.

[@bubbamoseks9522]

oh my, what a channel

[@ziadhakim5490]

Weir done. So interesting and enjoyable.

[@5forcesofchange]

Very enjoyable and informative. Do you have any thoughts on the seemingly important figure of Aaron within the painting?

[@arrystophanes7909]

That frame needs to calm down a bit though

[@lenawarelius4195]

👏👏👏🌹🌺🌻🌼

[@electrum310]

Does Aron whorship the golden calf as well ?

[@vladajanic]

Poussain is not a Baroque painter. He was just born in the baroque period. I would say his a neorenaissance painter.

[@furdiebant]

Poussin. Genius. Only Titian painted draped cloth better.

[@downyourtube]

As anyone besides me found the story he hid in his paintings?

[@user-kw2sp3gq4d]

i do not know whos right but my dictionary says that a calf is a bull.. and we have to consider that Poussin did not write in the english language, therefore you have to consider who did the translation of the title.

[@davidc5191]

She doesn't mention the trees whose limbs mirror the arms of the revelers.

[@andymorrall]

Good speaker, but the visuals seem a bit under-saturated.

[@opticalmixing23]

She speaks like Kelly mcgillis

[@joecarr2224]

Too bad it’s not cleaned. It’d be as bright and spectacular as The National’s celebrated “Bacchus and Ariadne”, by Titian.

[@mitchcornacchia968]

WHAT A MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!!!! MAGA-NIFICENT

[@electrum310]

The colors and quality of the robes depicted by Poussin may not be realistic. Israelites were slaves when they left Egypt.

[@yveslaflute9228]

"enjoyment" Poussin as an arstist had painting this? He had disgust! Poussin's whole work is based around his reject of the false religion, replacing the one of goodness, while he could not speak his mind, he could pain(t) it, for most just cant understand iconography. The discrepancy between the title calf and the painted bull is also a strong message.

[@opticalmixing23]

Wasn't this canvas destroyed by an impaired man

[@h31763]

4:18 -It wasn’t a new religion.

[@MrDelvoye]

"most influential XVII artist" !!! is she serious

[@furdiebant]

MrDelvoye entirely correct

[@dmmw125]

"One of the most influential artists you could argue." Much more reasonable when you don't take a quote out of context for a cheap point.

[@francescobenati8203]

Considering as he's the single most important prime mover of so called classicism, which was I think THE most common artistic style in the XVIII century and also in the first part of the XIX

[@MakeTheStand]

Not a very insightful reflection....