"When Earth's Last Picture is Painted"

[Julie Deane]

This is a Rudyard Kipling poem written in 1892. His father was an artist, and I think it's special enough to share:

When Earth's Last Picture Is Painted
L'Envoi To "The Seven Seas"

When Earth's last picture is painted and the tubes are twisted and dried,
When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic has died,
We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it -- lie down for an aeon or two,
Till the Master of All Good Workmen shall put us to work anew.
And those that were good shall be happy; they shall sit in a golden chair;
They shall splash at a ten-league canvas with brushes of comets' hair.
They shall find real saints to draw from -- Magdalene, Peter, and Paul;
They shall work for an age at a sitting and never be tired at all!

And only The Master shall praise us, and only The Master shall blame;
And no one shall work for money, and no one shall work for fame,
But each for the joy of the working, and each, in his separate star,
Shall draw the Thing as he sees It for the God of Things as They are!

[David Draime]

Julie, thank you for sharing that! It is beautiful. I was having a not-so-good day, and this really brightened my mood. Wonderful.

David

[John Reidy]

Julie

I, too, wish to thank you.

Rudyard must have been close to his father as he sums up our need to paint in such a beautiful way. I will save this for future use.

You have done a good thing today. You have made mine and David's day better.

[Mischa Milosevic]

Julie, nice find and good sence of timing. Let us continue and walk that straight and narrow.

[Julie Deane]

I'm glad you guys enjoyed the poem. I heard it a few days ago on a video series (Robert Beverly Hale, who was a famous teacher of anatomy for the Art Students League). This one was quoted on tape no. 2. Apparently, Mr. Hale ended each teaching session focusing off the anatomy and back onto art. The first two videos, he quotes poetry. He is a quite effective orator, and I thought I would share his inspiration.

[Richard Bingham]

Poor Ruddy . . . lost to this age for his unabashed piety and patriotism. All I know is my hope is for an eternity that will permit me to paint, run my dogs, and ride!

Thanks for sharing the sentiment, Ms Deane!

[Tom Edgerton]

This one goes on the wall.