COVE

Display Explanation:
To display my images, I would want them to be set up in a hallway or room that is set up in a way that allows visitors to view either one painting at a time or all of them at once. The walls would be a muted or almost pastel terracotta or beige, which shouldn't take away from the integrity of the paintings. Lady Godiva would be in the middle, as it is the only painting by John Collier. Although it is still related to the rest of the installation, the differing artist makes it stand out. A Girl Feeding Peacocks would be to the right of Lady Godiva, and hopefully to the right of the "entrance" of this room. This painting has similar colors and is only slightly bigger than Lady Godiva, so that would be the next painting I would want the audience to see. This painting is by Frederick Leighton. Off to the left, I would display Leighton's other work, Idyll, as the final image for the audience. It is the widest painting in this collection. I would expect every painting to have its wall, but this one would need it the most due to the visual difference in width. However, all these paintings are about the same size, so there isn't a specific painting that would draw the audience in and keep the attention away from the others. They have similar colors and figures. The lighting would be a soft, slightly yellow, natural-looking lighting. These paintings would not benefit from artificial, bright, white LEDs. The lighting should be inviting without being too harsh, as audiences will not want to visit paintings they can't see. The paintings would hang on the wall at an average height for an adult viewer and would be presented in their original sizes. I would also display a small plaque about the artist and the painting beside each piece, which could explain a bit about the artist, his life, his subject, how the painting was created, the time period, or potential motivators that led to the creation of the piece. I would like the room to have benches in it as well so that visitors could stop and have a seat while they admire the art and read the information. These benches would be very minimalistic while still comfortable, so that they are not taking away from the art or making the room feel too small. Having something to read not only provides an opportunity to educate but also keeps the audience engaged longer. Keeping the audience engaged allows them to actually think about the pieces and how they can relate to their own experiences instead of seeing the art, thinking it's pretty, and moving on. The ceilings wouldn't be too high or too low, as low ceilings feel cramped and high ceilings don't feel welcoming enough for the atmosphere created in art displays I've been to. Eight or nine-foot ceilings would benefit this display the best.

Installation Note:
All three of these images feature women in a relaxed or vulnerable position. Lady Godiva (1898) by John Collier, features a nude woman on a horse. While her head is down and she is not looking around, she is not tense either. She does not show fear. Her relaxed nature suggests confidence in herself and her safety in this moment. She is comfortable in her body, on her horse, and with herself as a person. The painting is very realistic and looks like a photograph, so the brush strokes are not seen. This allows the subject and the colors to tell the story. The background is soft and not as easy to see. The colors are very muted. The red is present but isn't saturated. It draws the eye without "screaming" at the viewer or signaling danger, which is something we commonly associate with the color. There is no danger here: simply a woman who is not bothered by her body or having other people see it. She is not threatened by anyone or anything and is simply existing in this calm painting.

A Girl Feeding Peacocks (1863) by Frederick Leighton features a woman feeding multiple birds. While she is clothed in this image, she is still comfortable with her independence in this image. The color white, peacocks, and what are most likely doves are all symbols associated with peace and purity. It's also important to note that the one white peacock, which she is feeding, is the only female peacock shown in this image. It is an almost intimate connection between two women in this situation. The woman is unbothered by the amount of birds that surround her. Much like before, there is no threat to this woman or her birds. This environment is also calming despite the implied movement of the birds. The birds don't seem to be scattered or moving erratically. She is experiencing joy and making her own choice. Nobody is pressuring this woman into something she does not want. She is comfortable in herself and is confident in her choice to feed the birds.

Idyll (1880), also by Leighton, features two women relaxing while a man plays an instrument nearby. Although a man is present. they are not relying on him for anything other than entertainment. They are not threatened by his presence or behavior. They are so comfortable that they look like they are close to falling asleep. They are admiring the calming, beautiful landscape below them. The soft colors allow the audience to feel like they, too, are watching the sunset. The women's faces are visible to the viewer, while the man's face is not. This does not mean that the man isn't important to the story of the painting, but he is not the main focus. There isn't any sort of control being shown here, but that means nobody is being controlled either. The women seem to be in a situation where they can choose if they want to listen to him or not. They are far enough away from him that they would not be easily grabbed or restrained by him. They are comfortable in their surroundings, much like the women in the other paintings.

MLA:

Collier, John. Lady Godiva. 1898. Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Pre-Raphaelite_paintings#/media/Fi.... Accessed 24 Feb 2025.

Size: 142.2 cm (56.0 in) × 183 cm (72 in) 

Leighton, Frederic. A Girl Feeding Peacocks. 1863.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Leighton#/media/File:Leighton,_Frederick_-_A_Girl_Feeding_Peacocks.jpg Accessed 24 Feb 2025. 

Size: height: 188 cm (74 in); width: 160 cm (62.9 in) 

Leighton, Frederic. Idyll. 1880. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Leighton#/media/File:Leighton,_Frederic_-_Idyll_-_c._1880-81.jpg. Accessed 24 Feb 2025. 

Size: height: 104.1 cm (40.9 in); width: 212.1 cm (83.5 in)