So sad, and so beautiful 🥲 Requiescat by Briton Rivière

In one of the most stunning examples of grief, ever displayed on a canvas, Britain Riviera commands attention in an ingenious way. However, it's not done in any way that you'd think one might do it, and in fact, in just a moment, I will show you that there is far more at play here than meets the eye. Because even though the elements of this artwork are executed to near perfection, like the dense steel plating on this night's armor rendered masterfully from his toe to his head, to play on the soft flesh of his cool, deathly skin. And even though the textile that hovers over the top of his deathbed is portrayed so exquisitely that you can feel its textures and folds. And even though this dog a bloodhound is as anatomically realistic and believable as the real thing, your emotional relationship to this artwork has almost nothing to do with any of it. Excuse me? I know, but trust me. And if you're saying to yourself Matthew, get on with it mate, we're already a minute in, then I'd ask you to stay with me for just a moment longer. Because what I'm about to teach you is one of the greatest lessons in art you've ever had. And that is that your entire emotional relationship to this artwork has less to do with what you're seeing, and almost everything to do with how you're seeing it. By simply setting the night in the upper third of the picture, and by allowing the dog to occupy the majority of the paintings vertical field, Britain Riviera gives us the permission we need to see the scene from his point of view. We are brought down to his level, and now his grief takes on an entirely new meaning. Yes, he's a dog, but now he's unbelievably human too, and that's not all, because there is yet another idea at play. If contrast is the most powerful tool available to highlight any specific features of a visual work of art, like a near-black background to bring forward shining armour, or hard steel to counter soft skin, or cold flesh, to juxtapose warm fur than psychologically. The greatest contrasting element to his grief is his loyalty. His devotion becomes the basis for his plight, and therefore becomes the basis for hours, and together we suffer quietly.