Vulnerability in art part 2 - lack of ....

On my exploration of the Graves with my mind on vulnerability (see my previous posting), I was suddenly struck by this picture, where I'd have expected vulnerability in the subject, but it seemed to me totally lacking.

















"Blessing the Sea" by Legros - 1872. You'd have thought they'd have been feeling pretty vulnerable - in the face of the might of the ocean - but then I guess this painting is about a display of peacefulness and invulnerability - possibly hiding or banishing the fear.

I guess it is about the intention of the maker of the work of art. Perhaps the idea that art can be about exposing your vulnerability is quite modern. This portrait of a prosperous woman of the 1700s (I think) certainly seems about showing of her prosperity and possession in the world - not about any inner feelings she might have.

This picture is of the Lady of Shallot (Maw Egley, 1858). Vulnerability is surely a big part of the story, but I didn't get any sense of it - just of putting the surface elements of the narrative in place, visually.

Looking at this picture by de Morales (1500s), I thought - surely Christ must have been feeling vulnerable at this moment of all moments ? But the picture seems to be about the portrayal of Christ acting out his role in his drama, rather than about his inner feelings.

And another picture - which you'd really have thought might be about vulnerability - but where I didn't feel it at all. ("manner of de Ribera - ~ 1635)

Though not all the older pictures fitted this - in this one of an "Apostle", by de Ribera (1635), the old man's vulnerability really came across.

I thought that other interesting (though fairly obvious) elements to explore in relation to vulnerability might be the gender of the artist, as well as the period of the picture, the intended audience, and perceived purpose of the work.