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A
stunning collection of paintings by Falmouth based painter
Benjamin Warner of 'La Serenissima' - the Serene Republic
of Venice, in Italy has been brought together for an exhibition
which will wow visitors to Beside The Wave Gallery in
Falmouth in March this year.
The
last show Benjamin had at Beside The Wave focused on
his local river landscape around Penryn. But the jump
to painting a foreign city in an unfamiliar landscape
seems to have been an easy move for him. His style of
painting lends itself superbly to the reflected light
that bounces off the numerous canals in Venice.
With
his distinctive muted palette of colours, Benjamin communicates
the reality of what he sees in his painting. Even though
he is tackling a well-known and often painted subject,
his images of Venice conjure up the magical atmosphere,
which makes the place so special and unique.
Approaching
Santa Maria Della Salute and San Giorgio Maggiore
280mm x 295mm, mixed media on board
The influence of artists such as Turner
and Whistler whose depictions of this Italian city made
them famous is evident in this series of paintings by
Benjamin. However, they are still very identifiable
as his work, as he employs a clever combination of texture
underneath the paint surface, which is revealed by being
rubbed back or scraped through giving his work a sense
of light coming from within the painting.
Bridge
of Sighs
290mm x 295mm, mixed media on board
Early
Evening towards San Giorgio Maggiore
210mm x 210mm, mixed media on board
Benjamin
reveals his strengths as an architectural illustrator
in this series of paintings. He catches well-known landmarks
such as the Bridge of Sighs as the sun is just setting
which adds to the romance of his paintings. Benjamin
deliberately avoided the bright glaring light of the
middle of the day when he was there in the heat of high
summer. By painting it at the end of the day he seems
to capture the mood and the lighting that shows this
wonderful mysterious city off to its best.
As
the sun sets from early evening to last light, Benjamin
shows how the change in light affects the palette of
colours he uses. The shift of emphasis is captured in
his paintings from the light on the water to the growing
darkness of the buildings surrounding the canals. This
exhibition is a treat not to be missed.
Cath
Wallace
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