Earths Last Picture by Kipling, illustrated by Ian Elliot

This is one that is not going to disappear as soon as they turn off the lights. I first posted this a very long time ago as one of my early entries to the Poetry Wednesday group. This one has always stuck in my mind. I like the way it uses the metaphor of the artist and his pictures.

THE POEM I HAVE CHOSEN FOR TODAY IS

EARTHS LAST PICTURE, BY KIPLING

AND THE PAINTINGS I HAVE CHOSEN TO GO WITH THIS POEM ARE BY

IAN ELLIOT

This is taken from the following web site;

http://www.online-literature.com/kipling/

KIPLING

When Earth's Last Picture Is Painted

1892

L'Envoi To "The Seven Seas"

When Earth's last picture is painted and the tubes are twisted and dried,

When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic has died,

We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it -- lie down for an aeon or two,

Till the Master of All Good Workmen shall put us to work anew.

And those that were good shall be happy; they shall sit in a golden chair;

They shall splash at a ten-league canvas with brushes of comets' hair.

They shall find real saints to draw from -- Magdalene, Peter, and Paul;

They shall work for an age at a sitting and never be tired at all!

And only The Master shall praise us, and only The Master shall blame;

And no one shall work for money, and no one shall work for fame,

But each for the joy of the working, and each, in his separate star,

Shall draw the Thing as he sees It for the God of Things as They are!

ABOUT KIPLING

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was born, 30 December, 1865 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. Some of Kipling’s earliest memories were of his and sister Alice’s trips to the bustling fruit market with their ayah or nanny, or her telling them Indian nursery rhymes and stories before their nap in the tropical afternoon heat. His father had an art studio which provided many happy outlets for his early creativity. The family were in the habit of taking evening walks along the Bombay Esplanade beside the Arabian Sea, the dhows bobbing on the glittering waters

Kipling enjoyed early success with his poems but soon became better known as a short story writer with his now famous portrayals of the people, history, and culture of his times. In his essay “Rudyard Kipling” George Orwell called him “the prophet of British Imperialism in its expansionist phase.” Kipling was a product of his place in history and as such often focused on the British Empire and her brave soldiers; today that aspect of his work and its inherent imperialism and ‘taming the natives’ flavour has limited his popularity. Today he is better known for The Jungle Book which has inspired  many other literary works plus its  adaptations for film and  television.

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This is taken from the following web site;

http://www.scottishartpaintings.co.uk/showArtist.asp?aId=50

The Artists web page can be found here;

http://www.ianelliot.com/

IAN ELLIOT

Ian Elliot was born in Glasgow in1946. He attended Glasgow School of Art in 1964 but even prior to this he  had won several medals for modern art Scottish paintings.

When he left the Glasgow School of Art he initially took up a career teaching modern art and eventually became Head of Modern Art at a large Glasgow school. He then decided to focus full time on painting contemporary art and became a working artist.

In 2003 he was a finalist of International Artist magazine for his Landscape painting.

His paintings are often inspired by his visits to the Scottish farmlands, Tuscany and Mallorca. He is quoted as saying

“Traveling extensively throughout the Scottish farmlands, an endless fascination for the Tuscan countryside and regular visits to me pied a terre on the Island of Mallorca have provided me with an endless land and seascape material creating a fusion of shimmering colours, distinctive buildings of the land, and abstract expressionistic vistas.”

And guess where I shall be going next month……..

He has two upcoming solo shows. The first is in association with Scotlandart.com Gallery, Burnfield Road in Giffnock, Glasgow. It runs from the 16 Sept - 16 Nov 2008. The second is at the House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. This runs from 23 Sept - 3 Nov 2008. More information on these will be posted soon. You can also contact me for further details.