A painting called 'Hope' wins fans as Barack Obama's inspiration

[babylonsister]

Muse: Barack Obama's former pastor Jeremiah Wright once referenced this 1885 painting as a symbol of 'the audacity to hope.' Tate, London/Art resource


A painting called 'Hope' wins fans as Barack Obama's inspiration

A London museum attracts tourists with the artwork that inspired the famous phrase, 'audacity of hope.'
By Ben Quinn

from the November 28, 2008 edition


It's a bit off the beaten tourist track, and anyone looking for it may find a street map useful.

Yet in the past two weeks, this cozy little art gallery nestled in central London has attracted a growing trickle of visitors in search – literally – of hope.

In this case it takes the form of a painting which may have helped inspire Barack Obama.

Entitled "Hope," the canvas hanging inside London's Guildhall Art Gallery as part of an exhibition by Victorian painter George Frederic Watts might appear unremarkable to some.

snip...

As an admirer of Watts, the US president-elect will have ample opportunities to admire the latter, which the Englishman gave to the American people.

Where was it eventually installed on the orders of Theodore Roosevelt?

The White House.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1128/p04s02-woeu.html

[LaurenG]

1. I find it fascinating that people world wide are inspired by Obama

even inspired enough to search out a painting created in 1885, located in a little known Gallery.

People are so tired of the BS of politicians talking down to them, they're tired of being manipulated and they're looking for some down to earth truth.

[Clio the Leo]

2. This is the one in the White House...

Is there any way we can arrange a trade. :)

[NYC_SKP]

3. Pandora's box....

...hope was all that remained inside,

In a major departure from Hesiod, the 6th-century BC Greek elegiac poet Theognis of Megara tells us:

Hope is the only good god remaining among mankind;