Poetic Visions: What Poets See When They Look at Art

Lisa Rhody, Literary Scholar

Poetry and painting have been referred to as the sister arts, but they have not always been sisters well suited to each other's company. In fact, some artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, argued for the superior merits of painting over that of poetry. However, there have also been poets and painters alike who have disagreed, insisting that the arts have much to offer one another. The poetic tradition of narrating, describing, and often "speaking for" art appears as early as Homer's Illiad and endures throughout history producing some of the 20th century's best loved works. Poets such as W. B. Yeats, W. H. Auden, Marianne Moore, Elizabeth Bishop, James Merrill, John Ashbury, and Jorie Graham participate in this tradition. Guided through examples of popular 20th century poems, this talk explores the relationship between the arts, uncovering what these sisters share when art becomes the subject of the poet's pen.

VMFA: A Novel Approach   New 

Twyla Kitts, Literary and Teacher Programs Educator, VMFA

Discover how art and literature can be interwoven to illuminate our cultural history. Delve into the world and image in the consideration of Don Quixote, Frankenstein, A Tale of Two Cities, and Huckleberry Finn and how they relate to tapestries, paintings, prints, rare books and even a pressed glass window pane.