Realistic paintings

Stumbled upon these wonderful paintings.

These were from the collections of Carlo Vinci. The site says that these photographs were among his prized possessions. They are from the turn of the century reproductions of the paintings of Eduard von Gruntzner who was born in 1846. I wonder if you noticed the one common factor in all the characters of these paintings.

The family of Carlo Vinci isn’t quite sure where Vinci obtained these photographs. But he was crazy about them because of its realistic nature.

I too was looking at each of these paintings and was in awe of Eduard’s eye for details.

For example the one below has this monk holding the candle light stand in his left hand, something that he will require once he goes to the cellar below, and there is something hanging from that stand, probably a scissor to cut off the extra wick? The one with the walking stick is perhaps trying to cajole him to get some extra  wine to his room.  The walking stick has a tip at the end, probably to reduce wear and tear of the wooden stick? The one behind could be hard of hearing. 

And this one here. At first glance it may look like a barber shop, but on closer look we realize it’s one of the rooms in the Abbey (the photographs, the crucifix  etc indicate that) where the barber comes for his “visit” and the monks wait for their turn to be shaved. Each one gets his own towel to be used as a bib. The monk on the right has finished being shaved and wiping his face after having a wash in the basin which is visible. I am just wondering why that jug is placed so high on a shelf where no one can reach easily? One monk is being shaved while another one is lathered and waiting so that the lather will soak in, the third one is waiting with his “bib” in place.

The one standing behind is probably showing the nick he got last time.

A little bit of cheating in a game of cards.  I like the way these three legged stools are converted to chairs by wedging in those carved wood as the backrest. They may look crude, but they are sure to be steady. If you see the chair missing for the person on the right, its probably because he is sitting on the protruding ledge of the wall.

In the Dominican cellar - The monk in the forefront, his body stance-bend slightly backwards and a little to his right (with his right hand fully extended) shows that the jar is full and heavy.

The monk on the ladder, probably checking the clarity of the wine in the goblet against the candle light.

A rare tidbit – The hunter with his “kill” probably trying to show off, or may be haggling with some eating joint to buy his wild boar. The erect stance of the hunter and the bowed position of the one behind him indicates the master servant relationship between both?  The hunting dog is really curious about the “snuff” that one of them is about to use. 

The temptation

This is the only painting in which I don’t find the painter’s signature, or am I missing it?

No wonder Vinci considered them as his prized possession.

I found them in the net at this location (click here)

Oh yes the common factor – all the characters in all these paintings are smiling.