Lines of Vision
Edited by Janet McLean
[Thames and Hudson]
Playing Beethoven to crops helps them to grow and thrive; ergo, does exposing a bunch of poets, novelists and short story writers to great paintings have a similar effect? Lines of Vision, a commemorative collection of writing by contemporary Irish authors each inspired by a painting in the National Gallery of Ireland, would suggest that it does. Even writers whom one had – with youthful arrogance – previously dismissed, suddenly surprise upon being presented with an inspirational picture (or, in the particularly original case of Carlo Gebler, the NGI guide/brochure). Confronted by gems and high ceilings these authors beget further beauties when surrounded by beauty. Moya Cannon’s poem The Singing Horseman is a case in point; a benign lullaby inspired by Jack B. Yeats’ painting of the same name. Dermot Bolger’s imagination is also stirred by Jack B. Yeats’ work, and the resulting poem Grief is evocative, even blistering, in its brevity.
The fiction writers take diverse approaches. Kevin Barry writes of fairground memories, prompted by Ernest Proctor’s The Devil’s Disc; both story and painting are marvelous. The introduction claims John Banville’s piece on The Taking of The Christ “sheds light”. All too often, this could mean wedding Caravaggio’s light with the analytical and trite. Yet not here: the work is illuminating. The undoubted highlight of the collection is Colm Tóibín’s piece on John Butler Yeats. Reading this piece, one lowers the tome feeling moved/reproved/improved. This is a book to buy, enjoy, and keep forever.
Words: Sam Coll
