Template talk:POTD/2014-10-12

Comments
It is great to see that one of Church's paintings will be a POTD! I haven't seen how to edit the content of the blurb below the painting, but a few comments/questions:

1. Where does the quote "renewed optimism in natural and historic events" come from? I think this should be cited. Is it possibly a reference to the Civil War having just ended?

2. Instead of the this content:

"A central figure in the Hudson River School, Church was inspired by romanticism and luminism in his depictions of natural phenomena. He twice went to South America, and painted several landscapes of Ecuador."

Can I suggest something more like:

"A central figure in the Hudson River School, Church was inspired by romanticism and luminism in his detailed depictions of natural phenomena. Known for his large panoramic landscapes, Church often depicting dramatic natural phenomena. Church traveled widely, including to South America, as this painting suggests, but also to the Arctic and around the Mediterranean and Middle East."

Anyway, saying a bit more about the great American painter would be appreciated. Thank you and sincerely, DoctorTerrella (talk)
 * Armbrust The Homunculus 14:44, 21 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Hi DoctorTerrella.
 * "Renewed optimism ..." is a quote from the article on Aurora Borealis, where it is cited to Kinsey's History in Natural Sequence: The Civil War Polyptych of Frederic Edwin Church.. The article on Church doesn't go into that much detail on this painting, sadly.
 * The arctic / Mediterranean are not in Church's article, nor do I see them in any of the articles linked here. I have included Europe and the Middle East, however. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 00:11, 24 September 2014 (UTC)


 * First point: Since Church left few personal notes, some historical discussion about him is difficult. As far as I know, the interpretation of Aurora Borealis in terms of the American Civil War relies on circumstantial interpretation. For example, Aurora Borealis has a slight resemblance to Our Banner in the Sky, which is clearly overtly patriotic, but, again, this is probably not supported by actual written records from Church.


 * Second point: You are right, "Mediterranean" was not discussed in the article. I have now put it in the lead paragraph. The interior of the article itself doesn't discuss this, although it is a fact that Church painted a wonderful picture of the Acropolis in Athens, Baalbek in Lebanon, Petra in Jordan, Jerusalem, Um tomb in Corinth, and probably others of which I am unaware. I think this is fairly described as "Mediterranean and Middle East". Main, point is this: I love Church's work, and I think it is reasonable to promote the diversity of his accomplishment. — Preceding unsigned comment added by DoctorTerrella (talk • contribs) 16:19, 24 September 2014 (UTC)
 * If we can cite that in the article, that would be grand (i.e. have a source which makes the connection). The Kinsey book may serve as a good source for that.
 * I've added "Mediterranean" to the blurb. I can't go into too much detail, because the painting has to remain prominent. There are at least two more Church FPs in the queue (Heart of the Andes and Aurora), BTW. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 16:26, 24 September 2014 (UTC)


 * An important reference for the life and work of Frederic Edwin Church is Franklin Kelley, Stephen Jay Gould, James Anthony Ryan, Debora Rindge (1989), Frederic Edwin Church, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London, pp. 1–211. This book accompanied a "block buster" exhibit of Church's work at the Smithsonian in about 1989. The book documents what I've been saying, that Church traveled widely, to the Arctic, to Central and South America, to the Mediterranean. There are lots of pretty pictures and the most complete discussion of his personal life I've seen in a book for this very private artist. I added the book to the reference list in Frederic Edwin Church. — Preceding unsigned comment added by DoctorTerrella (talk • contribs) 13:50, 28 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Alright. It would have to be cited in the article proper, however, and not in the POTD blurb; there are no references on the main page. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 14:20, 28 September 2014 (UTC)


 * @Crisco 1492: It is cited in the article Frederic Edwin Church. Is this what you mean by the "article proper"? Just checking and just trying to help. — Preceding unsigned comment added by DoctorTerrella (talk • contribs) 19:21, 29 September 2014 (UTC)