Hello. My grand-niece, Jordyn, was recently in the opera Pagliacci. In the opera she played the young Nedda. It was my pleasure to paint her as young-Nedda and as herself. The project took around 3 1/2 months. I had never seen the opera Pagliacci, so this was a chance for me to study the opera, paint people, and also study my grand-niece. If you would like to see the progress-journal-with-pictures of how these paintings came into being, please click here. I recently exhibited these paintings in the Johnson & Johnson New Jersey Artists Series, at their Headquarters Building in New Brunswick. All artwork on this page is oil paint on stretched canvas. To me these paintings are a symbolic impression of Pagliacci.
If you would like to email me, my address is: joan@joanwinter.com . Please click on any image to enlarge. ( All paintings are original and one of a kind )
Jordyn Driving to Opera Rehearsal; 12x16"; Oil on stretched Canvas
This image is Young-Child Nedda performing on the streets before she met and was taken away by Canio.
Young Child Nedda; 16x12"; oil on stretched canvas
I am Flying; 24x18"; Oil on stretched Canvas
When Nedda meets Canio she is literally swept off her feet. He takes her away from her life on the street to live with him, and she becomes Colombina to Canio's part of Pagliaccio in Canio's travelling troupe of actors.
Here is the ending when Canio goes to hold Nedda's throat so that he can stab her to death. At this point the opera, for me, takes a Shakespearean tone. Nedda, as the part she plays, Colombina, has been having an affair. Canio, as the part he plays, Pagliaccio, finds out. Nedda/Colombina laughs at Canio/Pagliaccio. This happens as they are presenting the play for a village. The villagers do not know if it is a play, or really happening. Then they realize, it is real. "All the world is a stage". In this painting, Nedda know she is going to die. She holds onto her image of herself as a child for strength. But that child is no help, that child has long ago given up hope. So Nedda gives into her role and fate and submits to death by Canio.
Day of Reckoning; 11x14"; oil on stretched canvas
All artwork is created by me, Joan Winter. I enjoy being an artist. Most of my paintings are Modern or postmodern, although some are pre-Modern, Impressionist and Expressionist. All are original with a contemporay flair. Thank you for visiting my website and come back often.
