does not evoke costume pageantry

09:20 Dec 27, 2012 

I would just add that when you look at Wyeth's whole series of illustrations rather than just this one of Lancelot, it's not true that he avoids rich, colourful medieval costume, and that's not what the author is saying. It's just that (according to the author) he depicts it in a natural way which seems real, as if we actually are back in the Middle Ages rather than seeing a costume pageant, in which modern people dress up as medieval people. So it's not a matter of avoiding "fastuosidad" but of making the "fastuosidad" seem real rather than theatrical. It is very important to remember that the comment we are considering does not apply only to the picture of Lancelot behind his rock.

There was no costume pageantry in the Middle Ages; costume pageantry is a modern entertainment. Not evoking costume pageantry means avoiding that impression of falseness and anachronism.

04:34 Dec 27, 2012 

Sometimes I can't see the forest for the trees! Of course, the subject here isn't "medieval scenes" but "a way". Thanks, it took a while to sink in.

23:38 Dec 26, 2012 

Yes, they're singular because they refer to the way the artist renders the medieval scenes, a way which is common to all of them.

23:28 Dec 26, 2012 

Thank you for writing again Charles. I'm mystified by the verbs here, aren't they in singular? "does not", "seems"?

23:26 Dec 26, 2012 

"Medieval scenes" certainly does seem to apply to all Wyeth's illustrations for "The Boy's King Arthur". This sentence, "The artist's contribution was to render the medieval scenes in a way that does not evoke costume pageantry, but rather seems real and immediate", applies to all of them, and this real, immediate quality is exemplified by this particular illustration of Lancelot. That's how I read it.

Here they are, by the way (or at least some of them):
http://spiritoftheages.com/N C Wyeth - ''The Boy's King Arth...

23:13 Dec 26, 2012 

Just realized that it says "medieval scenes", in plural, and "does not evoke", singular. If they meant to say "scenes", that would fit with fionn's comment, that they are referring to other book illustrations. On the other hand, it would be odd that they write this while describing this painting. Why mention another book illustration while you are describing this one?

23:05 Dec 26, 2012 

Thanks to all for your ideas. Need to send this soon, but will check the answers again in a few hours. Thank you for your comment fionn.

21:39 Dec 26, 2012 

Hi there teju, I think you are needlessly confused - the author is referring to how the artist illustrated the legends in general throughout the book, not just in this scene. Obviously there is a long-established imagery connected with Arthurian romance i.e. of elaborate costume and pageantry that evokes a distant past, and in this case the intention was to break with this tradition and produce more realistic images.

See def of pageant: 1. an elaborate colourful parade or display portraying scenes from history, esp one involving rich costume

21:31 Dec 26, 2012 

¿Qué tal "que no nos recuerden la fastuosidad/pomposidad de su indumentaria"? o "eliminando la fastuosidad..."?