Retrospective: A Panorama of Art
by Libby Bailey
Part 1: Oil Paintings, Pastels, Ceramic Tile
The 1970s-1980s
The Shelling of Sant' Augustine's Apse
Oil on canvas, 48x60 inches
Irene Champion, Columbus GA
When I went to work at Wesleyan College, I was invited to have an exhibit at Mercer University. The above photograph of me with The Shelling of Sant' Augustine's Apse was on the announcement. The painting was my first professional sale. In 2024 Irene Champion turned 100 years old. She still displays the painting in her house. My interest in early theologians began in college. Here the saint is inspired by a muse, while putti fly upward. Chinese horsemen, personifying strength and determination, ride through floating shells which symbolize life. The vaulted architecture provides structure and defines the space.
Pius is Bullish on Augustine
Oil on canvas, 72x48 inches
Private Collection
Pius is Bullish on Augustine depicts a bronze statue of Pope Pius XII with the Renaissance figures of the early theologian St. Augustine, Augustinian friars and a priest in the lower church of San Francesco in Assisi. Two little hairy devils argue in front of Pius. The volumetric figures are placed within the frescoed, cross-vaulted architecture.
The Itinerate Preacher
Illustration for an article in The Georgia Review,
edited by Earl Bargainnier
Oil on paper, 18x12 inches
The 19th century American evangelist, on the left with his arms raised, conjures up a vision of God, Jesus, and the Last Judgement with the picturesque rhetoric of his sermon.
The Contessa's Bavarian Scandals
Oil on canvas, 60x78 inches
Private collection
The Contessa's Bavarian Scandals features a Rococo carriage of Ludwig II of Bavaria with a little girl, statue of Venus, and putti.
Mellow Marble Madness
Oil on canvas, 36x36 inches
Private Collection
Mellow Marble Madness depicts a bejeweled statue of the Child Jesus and a bronze sculpture of St. Augustine within a colorful marbled Roman church. In the margins are scenes from the Life of Christ and saints.
The Vision of St. Peter Martyr
Oil on paper, 48x36 inches
Private Collection
St. Peter Martyr was a 13th century Dominican saint who was killed by a cleaver in his skull. The Virgin Mary ascends while a sculpture of The Dream of Joseph floats in a frescoed and marbled Baroque Roman church. Below is a reliquary with a kneeling pope.
The Lost Aria of a Misbegotten Saint
Oil on canvas, 72x48 inches
George Bailey and Alex Tucker, Maryville TN
The Lost Aria of a Misbegotten Saint represents an opera diva with saints in the frescoed Palazzo Pubblico of Siena.
"And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little"
Oil on Canvas, 42x72 inches
Collection of the Artist
And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little is a play by Paul Zendel, produced at Wesleyan. The main character was played by theatre major Page Clements while the second figure was modelled by my friend Catharine Liles, an artist and graduate of Wesleyan.
An Augustinian Odyssey
With Joel Plum as an Augustinian Friar Pastel on Paper, 72x48 in.
An Augustinian Odyssey depicts a floating St. Augustine directing other saints, including Joan of Arc. Joel Plum was Wesleyan's beloved ceramicist who dressed as a friar on Halloween. Joel was a great friend and mentor to me. The church is in Cortona, Italy, and the corpse is the uncorrupted body of Santa Margherita of Cortona. My participation in the Cortona program had a profound influence on my development as an artist and my decision to pursue a career as an art historian.
St. Augustine Reading
Fresco on Wood, 48x96 inches
St. Augustine Reading is a fresco that I created as part of my coursework for my Ph. D. The sheep, deer and alligator stand for natural virtues. The main character was modelled by historian Joseph Berrigan, who had introduced me, as an undergraduate, to the theology and writings of St. Augustine of Hippo.
Borthwick Castle
Oil on canvas, 72x48 inches
Collection of the Artist
Brthwias
Borthwick Castle captures the Bailey family's trip to Scotland. My father George tips his cap to my mother Helen, who is seated on a stone block taking in the refreshing atmosphere. My brother George and I, both quite young, stand on the arched bridge with a Scotsman. The plants, including heather and a thistle, are typical of Scotland.
Santa Cecelia
Porcelain tile on wood, 72x54 inches
Louise Barfield,
Little Carnegie of the South, Macon GA
Santa Cecelia is my only clay artwork and was created with the guidance of ceramicist Joel Plum. The patron saint of music plays a portable organ, while an angel works the bellows. The 6 feet by 3 feet porcelain tile work reflects the style of Flemish Renaissance altarpieces.
Contemplation and Resolution
Oil on Canvas, 54x54 inches
Wesleyan College, Macon GA
Historian Marcile Taylor was the model for the double portrait. On the left, she contemplates a peach, symbolizing renewal and long life. On the right she has picked up the peach as if resolved to take action.
The 1990s
The Glorification of the Keys
Oil on canvas, 72x48 inches
The Glorification of the Keys suggests a Baroque ceiling painting with allegorical figures foreshortened from below. Two angels carry the keys of St. Peter and the papal crown.
Mexican Gods on the Beach
Oil on canvas, 36x50 inches
Wesleyan College, Macon GA
In Mexican Gods on the Beach, Mayan deities mourn and commemorate a fallen god among shells and coral. The pervasive yellow tone suggests the importance of the sun in Mexican iconography. I had visited Mexico with my family, but later returned for a solo tour.
Desire in Madrid 2nd version
Oil on canvas, 84x54 inches
Wesleyan College, Macon, GA
Desire in Madrid 2nd version was painted during two different time periods. I painted the background, a room in the royal palace in Madrid, first, and then superimposed the goddess with the cornucopia, the king and queen over it much later.
Pre-Columbian Welcome Committee
Oil on canvas, 48x68 inches
Wesleyan College, Macon GA
Pre-Columbian Welcome Committee depicts Mexican gods in front of a stone temple. It was inspired by a trip during which I drove a tiny, unairconditioned car around Mexico in a hot summer.
The Battle of the Gods and Giants
Oil on Canvas, 40x60 inches
Nyssa Hattaway, Macon GA
The Battle of the Gods and Giants depicts the famous Archaic frieze at Delphi, Greece, in which the Olympian sky gods defeat the old earth gods, which signifies the elevation of the mind and spirit over matter. I toured Greece with a friend and was inspired by the scenery, mythology, architecture, sculpture, food and paintings.
Gathering at Tivoli
Oil on Masonite, 92x48 inches
Nyssa Hattaway, Macon GA
Gathering at Tivoli features historians Marcile Taylor and Joseph Berrigan, theatre director George McKinney, and ceramicist Joel Plum as a stone bust. Opera characters Tosca and Caravadossi kiss in front of a stone sculpture of the ancient goddess Artemis in the background. The setting is Tivoli, outside of Rome, the location of spectacular fountains, gardens and the villa of the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
I Am What I Am
Oil on canvas, 84x54 inches
Theatre Macon, Macon GA
Zaza, from the musical La Cage aux Folles, is dressed in a purple sequined gown and lavender wig and proclaims, "I am what I am." The painting was reproduced on the cover of the Wesleyan Arts Magazine.
Ganymede Prepares to Strike
Oil on canvas, 84x54 inches
George Bailey and Alex Tucker, Maryville TN
Zaza, in a sheer turquoise robe and blonde wig, sits before a porcelain fireplace. Ganymede, represented in the small sculpture on the mantle, was the lover of the Zeus.
The Peacock Throne
Oil on canvas, 70x54 inches
George Criswell, Stone Mountain GA
Zaza, again in purple, sits by a mosaic table set for tea. The deep purple is set off by the yellow and turquoise feathers of the peacocks and by the cadmium red, turquoise, and yellow stained glass windows.
Assisi Apparitions
Oil on canvas, 70x54 inches
Assisi Apparitions depicts God, Jesus, the Virgin Mary, St. Jerome, St. Sylvester, St. Constantine, an angel and a secular couple before an altarpiece in the lower church of San Francesco in Assisi.
Jade God over Snakes, Masks and Shells
Oil on board, 48x36 inches
Jade God over Snakes, Masks and Shells contains Mayan and Aztec symbols for life, death and power.
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Violetta's Sacrifice
Oil on canvas, 60x48 inches
Mae and David Lifsey, Atlanta GA
In this painting, Mae Lifsey in a black lace dress, stands in profile in the palace of Madrid. Her companion is the opera character Violetta. The organic, curving lines on the floor, walls, and Rococo décor create swirling movements.
The Arrival of the Ambassador
Oil on canvas, 60x48 inches
Eleanor and Pat Boyd, Alexandria VA
Spanish dignitaries arrive in Cordoba, Spain. The volumetric figures are set off by the Islamic mosaic and stone designs.
The Duchess and Infanta Beneath the Trinity
Oil on canvas, 72x48 inches
Wesleyan College, Macon GA
The Duchess and the Infanta beneath the Trinity are in the Alhambra Palace in Spain. The lace and embroidery of the clothes are set against the marble and Islamic patterns of the architecture.
Calligraphic Conundrum
Oil on canvas, 48x60 inches
Wesleyan College, Macon GA
In Callagraphic Conundrum a sculptural Baroque angel is placed against Spanish Islamic patterns.
Bibliophile
Oil on Canvas, 60x48 inches
Jean Flannery, Atlanta GA
The bibliophile enjoys perusing tomes in the Vatican Library. I created this painting in memory of the numerous hours I spent in libraries in the US and Europe.
In Reverie
Oil on Canvas, 80x54 inches
Mae and David Lifsey, Atlanta GA
Mae Lifsey, her dog, statues of Saints Christopher, Roch, the Archangels Gabriel and Michael and the opera singer Pavarotti gather in an Italian palazzo.
Santa Barbara in a Spanish Orange Grove
Pastel on paper, 60x40 inches, Glenda Ferguson, Macon GA
Santa Barbara is a pastel of the saint standing meditatively in a holy orange grove. In this instance the oranges represent wisdom and sweetness.
Vatican Visions
Oil on Canvas, 72x48 inches
In Vatican Visions pilgrims worship before an altar in a chapel containing frescoes of the stories of Saints Lawrence and Stephen by Fra Angelico. In the upper left the Archangel Michael destroys evil.
The 2000s-2010s
The Synod of the Bishops
Oil on canvas, 72x54 inches
George Bailey and Alex Tucker, Maryville TN
In The Synod of the Bishops, three church fathers discuss the nature of Jesus. The walls and ceiling of the lower church of Assisi are adorned with fourteenth century frescoes.
Meditations in the Mosque
Pastel on Paper, 74x44 inches
Louise Barfield, Little Carnegie of the South, Macon GA
Meditations in the Mosque depicts a prophet and the Trinity in the mosque at Cordoba, Spain. The arches have Islamic horseshoe and scalloped curves. Above the prophet, a crowned God the Father holds Jesus with the crown of thorns. The dove represents the Holy Spirit.
In the Basilica
Oil on Canvas, 72x48 inches
The Georgia Museum of Art, Athens GA
The basilica is San Antonio in Padua. The pale blue and lavender stand out against a burnt orange and yellow ochre background. The chapel contains frescoes by Altichiero, the specialty of the art historian.
Tosca Ascending
Pastel on paper, 60x44 inches
Louise Barfield,
Little Carnegie of the South, Macon GA
In Tosca Ascending, rather than dying at the base of the Castel Sant' Angelo, Puccini's heroine is saved by the marble angels on the bridge and ascends. Pastel is a very direct way of working which allows for rich, subtle layers of colors.
The Dream of the Golden Bishop
Oil on canvas, 48x60 inches
Alex Tucker, Maryville TN
The Dream of the Golden Bishop features a gold reliquary in front of Apollo riding in his chariot pulled by putti across the sky.
The Presentation of the Reliquary
Oil on canvas, 60x48 inches
Louise Barfield, Little Carnegie of the South, Macon GA
The Presentation of the Reliquary was painted in my so-called "tapestry style," inspired by medieval and Renaissance tapestries.
Tapestry
Oil on canvas, 48x54 inches
Michael McGhee, Macon GA
The painting was created for the cover of the CD Tapestry, Michael McGhee, Organ. The scenes of children and characters from folklore refer to organ compositions on the CD. The musical angels refer to Michael's beautiful interpretations.
Entrée Royale
Oil on Canvas, 48x72 inches
Louise Barfield,
Little Carnegie of the South, Macon GA
The queen regally descends a staircase to make a grand entrance in a spacious palace. The bejeweled coral dress and gold architectural decoration stand out against the pale blue walls.
The Triumph of Physics
Oil on canvas, 72x48 inches
Jean Flannery, Atlanta GA
Jean Flannery commissioned this painting in memory of her husband Ray, who was an award winning physicist. The heavenly bodies depicted in the starry sky are actually tiny organisms seen under a microscope. The characters represent Aristotle, Ptolemy, Galileo and other physicists in medieval garb.
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Louise Barfield: Concert in the Palace
Oil on canvas, 72x54 inches
Louise Barfield,
Little Carnegie of the South, Macon GA
Concert pianist Louise Barfield exudes the brilliance and beauty of her playing and her passion for music. A teacher and the founder of the concert hall and art gallery, Little Carnegie of the South in Macon GA, Louise stands by her beloved 1884 Steinway concert grand piano.
The Vision of Saint John
Oil on canvas, 60x72 inches
George Bailey and Alex Tucker, Maryville TN
In this painting St. John envisions the symbols of the Apocalypse. The imagery includes the Archangel Michael, the beasts of the Apocalypse and the Apocalyptic Lamb. Three aristocrats observe the scene.
Rococo Lady in the Chinese Room
Oil on canvas, 72x48 inches
George Bailey and Alex Tucker, Maryville TN
This painting depicts a lady in an embroidered dress standing in the Chinese porcelain room of the Royal Palace in Madrid. Decorations of lime green and ochre with touches of red are placed on pale blue and pink walls and floor.
Louise with Some of her Furry Friends
Oil on canvas, 48x72 inches
Louise Barfield, Little Carnegie of the South, Macon, GA
Louise is depicted with (left to right and top to bottom on the Jeep) Lily, Scarlett, Yuri, Blue, Rhapsody, Mozart, Fred, Sophie, Oreo, Peaches, and (left to right on the ground) Scarbo, Magic, Duchess, Rex, Siegfried, Taz, and Abby.
Zydeco Zodiac
Oil on canvas, 58x74 inches
George Bailey and Alex Tucker
Maryville, TN
In Zydeco Zodiac, an 18th century European maiden in a red, Turkish-style dress adorned with lace, pearls and embroidery, emerges from the center of an Islamic zodiac design. the brilliant yellow stars, constellations, interlace and calligraphy radiate in varied rhythmic patterns from the girl, who acts as the fulcrum of the wheel of time, space and fortune, forever turning.
Earth Gods in a Stream
Pastel on paper, 76x48 inches
The ancient earth and water divinities, based on the sculptures of Bomarzo, are memorialized in a serene landscape. The presence of Neptune, behind them, represents the ascendancy of the sky gods over the earth gods.
Mosaic Musings
Oil on paper, 72x48 inches
George Bailey and Alex Tucker, Maryville, TN
The dizzying perspective of Mosaic Musings suggests a domed space, while the colorful, kaleidoscope pattern of the mosaic tiles creates a heavenly halo for the earthly Spanish lady in red with her golden icon.
Papageno Presiding over Renaissance Idylls
Oil on canvas, 38x48 inches
Eleanor and Pat Boyd, Alexandria VA
Papageno, from Mozart's opera, The Magic Flute is surrounded by vignettes of courtly love and happiness.
Rhine Maidens, Sea Gods and Earthly Virtues
Oil on Canvas, 52x72 inches
Eleanor and Pat Boyd, Alexandria VA
The Rhine Maidens, Sea Gods and Earthly Virtues is structured with horizontal layers. At the bottom, opera composer Richard Wagner's characters guard the Rhine gold, representing desire. Above them a band of sea gods, based on French fountain sculpture, form the transition to the upper realm of earthly virtues, represented in the Renaissance tapestry style. The rich colors contribute to the painting's pageantry, grandiosity, seriousness and density, reminiscent of an operatic production.
The Selection of the Clocks presents a frivolous mood, inspired by Rococo ladies, palace interiors and objets d'art. There are curving lines and off-tones of color, suggesting lightheartedness, pleasure and opulence. The aristocrat, seated in a tilted, perspective space, takes her time selecting clocks among those with Greek, Chinese and Indian décor, revealing a taste for the exotic. The ladies, the clocks and the harpsichord, representing music, suggest that beauty, time and life are ephemeral.
The Selections of the Clocks
Oil on canvas, 72x52 in.
Cerises sur le gâteau
Oil on canvas, 24x34 in.
Jean Flannery, Atlanta GA
Cerises sur le gâteau was commissioned by Jean for her kitchen. It celebrates French food, a French saying and happiness. The commedia dell'arte characters are Pantalone, Columbine and Harlequin.
Lady in a Blue Tiled Courtyard
Oil on canvas, 54x72 in.
Louise Barfield, The Carnegie Inn, Macon GA
A lady in a blue gown pauses in a blue tiled courtyard before a statue of an amazon with a cornucopia. Muses are depicted in the arches and the labors of the months are represented in the floor.
Lady in Lavender with Romulus and Remus Tapestries
Oil on canvas, 54x72 in.
A lady in a diaphanous lavender gown and pearls stands before a throne with a tapestry canopy. On either side the stories of Romulus and Remus are represented in tapestries.
The Embarkation of Cleopatra
Oil on canvas, 72x54 in.
Cleopatra departs in a boat from Israel, represented by Judith on the right. The knight is Herod and the soldier is Mark Antony.