Initially, my study of the life and times of Johann Sebastian Bach was through his music. As a classical guitarist and cellist, and like many other musicians, I grew up with Bach – discovering and playing the great composer’s work.
In early 2020, the first artworks in a series emerged as my study with string instruments was put on hiatus. To fill this gap, I began researching J.S Bach through several literary and musical sources. During this time, I created several pencil drawings after the 1746 oil painting of Bach by Elias Gottlob Haussmann, which led quickly to the first oil paintings in the series.
This body of work is a visual representation, exploring the history and musical themes of J.S Bach’s life between 1685 – 1750. I very much enjoy the use of allegory as a compositional device, especially in the paintings and linocuts.
Since its inception, ‘J.S Bach – Musikleben’ has amassed a large number of works in several mediums. This collection so far comprises of 19 oil paintings, 12 watercolours, 6 linocuts, 8 drypoints, 25 ceramics and over 1,200 drawings. However, this list is by no means comprehensive, as I plan to continue working on it through 2024-25, aiming for a 2026 completion date.
See the catalogue (including works in progress) here
The Bach Method for Guitar – Linocut. Edition of 30.