Novelist John Banville immerses himself in the Prado’s Old Masters, captivated by the piercing gazes that transcend the canvas.
For acclaimed Irish novelist John Banville, a visit to Spain’s Prado Museum is a profound artistic experience, one that transcends the boundaries between the canvas and the viewer.
As part of a prestigious month-long literary fellowship, Banville has been granted exclusive access to the museum’s labyrinthine galleries, where he finds himself captivated by the piercing gazes of the Old Masters.
Particularly mesmerized by Diego Velázquez’s masterpiece “Las Meninas,” Banville describes the painting as an “enigma” and a “challenge,” one that seems to have a life of its own.
The artist’s own watchful presence, gazing back at the viewer from the canvas, elicits a sense of unease in Banville, who prefers to visit during the museum’s regular hours rather than explore the galleries alone.
Banville’s affinity for the visual arts can be traced back to his youth, when he himself attempted to wield the paintbrush, only to discover that his true talent lay in the power of the written word.
Now, as a seasoned novelist, he sees the sentence as his brush, using his mastery of language to capture the essence of the works that captivate him.
Whether it’s the sinister allure of Goya’s “Black Paintings” or the “bread dough” figures of Rubens’ “The Garden of Love,” Banville finds himself drawn into the worlds created by these Old Masters, their works serving as a respite from the modern era.
His deep appreciation for Prado’s collection, coupled with his prohibition on photography, speaks to his desire to truly engage with the art, to let it seep into his consciousness and inspire his own creative process.
As Banville embarks on his literary exploration of Prado’s treasures, he finds himself reflecting on the enduring power of art to transcend time and space, to captivate the viewer with its timeless gaze.
In the face of the perceived threat of artificial intelligence, Banville remains steadfast in his belief that the essence of true art cannot be replicated, that the “rare thing” of artistic creation will continue to thrive, as long as there are those who are willing to be mesmerized by its allure.