Art: The Death of Hotspur

[honorat]

by Honorat
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Didn't take the photograph used for reference. Not making any money.

Summary: More Art! Prince Hal mourns the death of his adversary Hotspur. From a performance of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1.



Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
8 1/2 x 11 inches, mechanical graphite pencil on printer paper.

Comments

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

The shadows. And the clothing. And the hands.

You are amazing.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. The shadows were interesting because of the two different light sources. And wrinkles. I love fabric wrinkles. I just draw the shapes of light and dark and suddenly the fabric appears. It's rather magical. And of course, Hands are my favourite. I'm glad you liked them.

[sparky-darky.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's wonderful! Hotspur and Hal are the only characters in Henry IV which I find mildly interesting. Hal's expression is wonderful-- the grief is just so plain. The detail of the clothing is amazing as well, especially given that this is from your head...

Wow.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked this. I really like the dynamic between Hal and Hotspur. Shakespeare's editing of history to make them the same age was inspired. But I do have to admit using a photo reference. My brain is not that good, alas. I attend the Oregon, USA, Shakespeare Festival every year, and they produce a large souvenir book with photographs from the performances.

This production was in relatively modern dress because the director said he wanted the audience to instantly recognize the symbols. Shakespeare's audience would have known if Hal was dressed inappropriately in Elizabethan costume, but a modern audience would not. Hal was dressed at first, he said, so that every conservative father in the audience would be saying: "Thank God that's not my son!"--long stringy red hair, white face make-up and black lipstick, the British flag made into a tail-coat, bell-bottom jeans and really high-stacked heels. (The girls thought he was pretty hot!)And all his friends were in drag. Of course by this scene he's changed his image. The performance was spectacular, and I love drawing pictures from it.