Harry Potter and the Magic of Art

Discussion of the editorial Harry Potter and the Magic of Art (www.mugglenet.com/editorials/editorials/edit-robbie14.shtml) by Robbie Fischer.

Ah - a fine job opening a door to another world of enlightenment! Fantastic!

It's good to see this kid of mix going on in the editorials

Really great ediitorial. Its amazing what Harry Potter can open your eyes to.

I liked the Prince one and the Voldemort one best. Some of these coincidences are weird.

That was great, thanks for sharing!

I just LOVED this! You did a fabulous job! Please do some more!!!

Hello all,
Thought I'd mention in connection with this a picture I have seen by Joseph Wright of Derby. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the photo but it involved a jar, a bird, some children and a man with a grey beard. Hmm...
If anyone else could have a look and make sure I wasn't dreaming...

Thank you for using modern tools and Harry Potter to broaden everyone's horizons. Education comes in all forms.

I found some very interesting stuff by Joseph Wright of Derby. Go to Art Resource (www.artres.com), click on "advanced search," and type the artist's name in the Artist field, then click "Search." If it asks you to choose a name from a pull-down list, do so and click Search again. There were something like 21 pictures by JW of D, including the bird experiment one, and a sorcerer looking for the stone of wisdom, etc. Pretty cool. Thanks!

I enjoyed this editorial, but I look at art differently. I'm actually an art student, just about to get my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. For me art came before Harry Potter, but I can't help but think about the moving paintings in the HP world. And the statues Dumbledore brought to life. For me it's more interesting to look at a piece of art and think what if it could move, what if it could talk? What would it do and say?

I'm an art student and Harry Potter fan simultaneously. It's cool to see those two worlds colliding. That was brilliant, Robbie. Thank you for sharing.

We should keep this thread going. People can post images of artwork, and say talk about how it could relate to the HP books. JKR does borrow a lot from mythology and history. That's a strong link to the art world.

Cool pictures! I like them! Good editorial. :clap: I like seeing diversity.

While you're visiting Art Resource, do a search for "alchemy." There are some really cool pictures that come up under that subject.

Edit: now that I know what I'm doing, I'll even give you some links to save you the trouble:
One (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=1&SubE=2UNTWAG7A40) - Two (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=2&SubE=2UNTWAGE0TJ) - Three (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=3&SubE=2UNTWA6AZCE) - Four (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=7&SubE=2UNTWACQW0Z) - Five (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=9&SubE=2UNTWA2SWAQ) - Six (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=10&SubE=2UNTWA8NOSK) - Seven (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=15&SubE=2UNTWAGLR0IM) - Eight (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=16&SubE=2UNTWAGCGT3F) (a photo of a reconstructed alchemist's laboratory) - Nine (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=19&SubE=2UNTWAW5QSZX) - Ten (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=22&SubE=2UNTWAW8E0QU) - Eleven (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=24&SubE=2UNTWAW0AS6F) - Twelve (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=26&SubE=2UNTWAOYY33L) - Thirteen (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=38&SubE=2UNTWA0T4L1N) - Fourteen (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=47&FP=3548749&E=22SIJMPVM0HV&SID=JMGEJNTEU4JF1&Pic=47&SubE=29B7A2WZ6DO) - Plus some magical things by Joseph Wright of Derby makes Fifteen (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=21&FP=3553208&E=22SIJMPVAHYZ&SID=JMGEJNTEU62LI&Pic=1&SubE=2UNTWAT1S2H) - Sixteen (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=21&FP=3553208&E=22SIJMPVAHYZ&SID=JMGEJNTEU62LI&Pic=5&SubE=2UNTWAW7PSJO) - and Seventeen (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=21&FP=3553208&E=22SIJMPVAHYZ&SID=JMGEJNTEU62LI&Pic=12&SubE=2UNTWAWOIOIO) for a Galleon's worth!

now thats an editorial;
The persistence of memory is one of my favourites, nice to see somebody else appreciates it

How about Odilon Redon's "Green Death (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=93&FP=2941679&E=22SIJMPMROFZ&SID=JMGEJNTERV09Q&Pic=48&SubE=2UNTWA7NCU2G)"? (1905). It looks like Nagini with Voldemort's body for a head.

P.S. Great choice for Snape and his mother.

P.P.S. And here is a classic 15th century tapestry (detail) with a unicorn (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=109&FP=2952241&E=22SIJMPM1FQJ&SID=JMGEJNTER2TJP&Pic=9&SubE=2UNTWAO9FPVB). For more examples (and full view) see this page (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchT.aspx?V=CSearchT&SID=JMGEJNTER2TJP&E=S_22SIJMPM1FQJ).

Light and entertaining! My life is very serious lately. I needed this!

Very ingenious... thanks for posting. I loved it!

Libby

That was a really good idea, to find artwork that relates to Harry Potter. Its such a great way to bring people into a subject they might not otherwise be interested in. I know the editorials here have sent me in all sorts of directions, looking up stuff I never would have thought about otherwise. Thanks for linking each piece - what a lot of hard work! I especially liked the classical sculptures myself - the griffin was amazing!
~Gina :)

More magical creatures: a kappa (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=1&FP=3543074&E=22SIJMPVJWPF&SID=JMGEJNTEU76SQ&Pic=1&SubE=2UNTWAWG9U3N) - a minotaur (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=52&FP=3543102&E=22SIJMPVJRKJ&SID=JMGEJNTEU73E2&Pic=4&SubE=2UNTWAUQPB4) - a werewolf (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=6&FP=3543194&E=22SIJMPVJGVE&SID=JMGEJNTEU7SZ1&Pic=1&SubE=2UNTWAW86YO7) - some winged horses (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=95&FP=3543558&E=22SIJMPVJD7F&SID=JMGEJNTEU7Z3K&Pic=6&SubE=2UNTWAYZPWZ) - a phoenix (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=60&FP=3546443&E=22SIJMPVMWQF&SID=JMGEJNTEU47X4&Pic=59&SubE=29B7A2JKXG6) - a chimera (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=24&FP=3546576&E=22SIJMPVMMZZ&SID=JMGEJNTEU4U4U&Pic=5&SubE=2UNTWAGHIK30) - an elf (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=6&FP=3546600&E=22SIJMPVMAET&SID=JMGEJNTEU4P84&Pic=6&SubE=2UNTWAOYBAUJ).

Would anyone be willing to go through the 400-odd Art Resource pictures related to the search term "dragon"? It would be interesting to know how many different breeds are represented....

PS I'm bookmarking this thread. I agree, it would be cool to continue this...

PPS Here is a unicorn (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=109&FP=3560290&E=22SIJMPVAVAV&SID=JMGEJNTEU6FW2&Pic=9&SubE=2UNTWAO9FPVB). And another (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=109&FP=3560290&E=22SIJMPVAVAV&SID=JMGEJNTEU6FW2&Pic=51&SubE=2UNTWAK02Q3T). Here's one (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=109&FP=3560290&E=22SIJMPVAVAV&SID=JMGEJNTEU6FW2&Pic=82&SubE=29B7A2WSH81) leaving Noah's ark.

Here is a picture of Rufus Scrimgeour (http://www.maitres-des-arts-graphiques.com/-Expo2/-EXB26.html)and one of Fenrir and some other Werewolfs (http://www.Maitres-des-arts-graphiques.com/-Expo2/-EXB27.html).

More enchantments:
An enchanted bedroom (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=13&FP=4041655&E=22SIJMPHS97C&SID=JMGEJNTENONON&Pic=1&SubE=2UNTWAGFHZY).
A turkish relief of a harpy (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=18&FP=4042157&E=22SIJMPHZT3N&SID=JMGEJNTENOE8S&Pic=16&SubE=2UNTWAKYJ0MF).
And for more examples of people hit by the "literalis curse," check out the paintings of Giuseppe Arcimboldo (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchT.aspx?V=CSearchT&SID=JMGEJNTENRNRN&E=S_22SIJMPHZNE6) (16th century).

Great editorial!! I love art and hopefully have instilled the appreciation of art in my children. We visit the Art Institute here in Chicago frequently.

While reading the chapter House of Gaunt in HBP, the painting Bedroom at Arles, by Van Gogh came to mind. I imagine that Marvolo Gaunt's bedroom would be off kilter and frantic looking like Van Gogh's.

Thanks to all the people who posted on this thread. My kids and I had fun looking at all of the art work!

Voila - The Bedroom at Arles (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=4&FP=4052829&E=22SIJMPHX7FJ&SID=JMGEJNTENXRAL&Pic=2&SubE=2UNTWAX9JF5). Thanks!

PS - Here is a possible picture of Ginny Weasley (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=58&FP=4053758&E=22SIJMPHX6RE&SID=JMGEJNTENXSBE&Pic=54&SubE=2UNTWAOYU6QM).

Also, I don't know if this could be a spell gone bad, or some kind of werewolf (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=6&FP=4054712&E=22SIJMPHXLKV&SID=JMGEJNTENXYKS&Pic=5&SubE=2UNTWA7BQPU)...

Did you ever asked yourself how it looks like to be splittered while apparation? Well, have a look at this: Salvador Dali Birth of Venus (http://www.grafos-verlag.com/images/detailed/m1015.jpg)

And that not only Sirius is able to communicate via mirrors proves this magical masterpiece: Velasquez The Rokeby Venus (http://www.addict-art.com/VenusRokeby.html)

Collin Creevy and Luna? In any case, there is something magical about this painting (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=26&FP=4300800&E=22SIJMPS4ADE&SID=JMGEJNTK53EWU&Pic=13&SubE=2UNTWAAJHM6C). I loved the idea of the splittered Venus... :)

"Now it’s your turn to pour through the annals of art and discover all kinds of magic for yourself. Like the magic of light, seemingly captured in paint. Like stone figures whose muscles almost seem to be in motion. Like pieces of rock, metal, paper and fabric that are prized above gold, because they make the joy, anguish and desire of men who died centuries ago come alive for us today"

I especially like this quote. And, all the examples shown in the editorial and in the discussion thread prove that the stories of witches, wizards, dragons, elves, werewolves, etc., etc., have been with us since the beginning of time, spanning all cultures. Thank you, Sheherazade (JKR) for illuminating our humanity as one.

Thanks & well said, Lioness.
Your quote reminded me that I meant to include some examples:
Of the magic of capturing light (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=1&FP=4455056&E=22SIJMP462C4&SID=JMGEJNTKDJITK&Pic=1&SubE=2UNTWAG3ICPT) in paint...
Of the magic of capturing motion (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=10&FP=4456884&E=22SIJMP46OY7&SID=JMGEJNTKDJWSD&Pic=7&SubE=2UNTWAWZMI1) in stone...
Joy (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=133&FP=4457034&E=22SIJMP46BE7&SID=JMGEJNTKDJF7X&Pic=51&SubE=2UNTWAWVF8RL)...Anguish (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=41&FP=4459180&E=22SIJMP46KAR&SID=JMGEJNTKDJH8R&Pic=27&SubE=2UNTWAGDDBB5)...Desire (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=25&FP=4460593&E=22SIJMP46JIQ&SID=JMGEJNTKDJE29&Pic=23&SubE=2UNTWAOWSPFX)...

Oh, and here (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=133&FP=4457034&E=22SIJMP46BE7&SID=JMGEJNTKDJF7X&Pic=8&SubE=2UNTWA9GSFNC) as a bonus is a picture of Molly Weasley (nee Prewitt) as a girl, with her family. I think the man with the white hair may be Uncle Bilius.

A scene taking place at the Forbidden Forest? Or perhaps an older Ginny Weasley backyard at the Burrow? (http://www.artwallpapers.com/art_wallpapers_net/paintings/edward_robert_hughes/01/edward_robert_hughes01_800.jpg)

Here (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=1&FP=6173085&E=22SIJMTGHAT0&SID=JMGEJNTK0IAXG&Pic=1&SubE=2UNTWAWRIJAK) is a painting that eerily illustrates the magical art of prophecy. The couple in this picture look like Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln with two of their children. And you might know that Mary Lincoln was a bit of a hysteric on her best days, and completely crackers on her worst. I sent this to a friend who knows history, asking for her opinion. She pointed out that (a) the Lincolns never had a daughter, and (b) Abe didn't grow the beard until 1860 or 61, so this can't be a painting of them - it was painted in 1858.

Well, except for the daughter bit, the man looks SO like Abraham Lincoln that you almost wonder if the artist was practicing some kind of divination...

wow! it really was lovely... i can't wait for part 2 of this! :)

Don't forget unicorns (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=109&FP=6547752&E=22SIJMY8UH6PQ&SID=JMGEJNTTDA1GO&Pic=41&SubE=2UNTWAUHUIFA)!
Here's another one (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=109&FP=6547752&E=22SIJMY8UH6PQ&SID=JMGEJNTTDA1GO&Pic=57&SubE=2UNTWA0TFVMS). With... a faucet sticking out of its front? :lol:
Here's a beautiful red one (http://www.artres.com/c/htm/CSearchZ.aspx?o=&Total=109&FP=6547752&E=22SIJMY8UH6PQ&SID=JMGEJNTTDA1GO&Pic=73&SubE=2UNTWAWOJBSO).

Thanks Rob. That was fun.