Fireplace Tile c. 1936

This Fireplace Tile was made by John Dixon sometime between 1740 and 1811. The tile is really quite beautiful, in that it describes a particular story. I love how the deep purple, almost burgundy hues, create a kind of solemn, meditative atmosphere. You can see how the artist has really focused on the line, which gives the scene a sense of depth and dimension, while still feeling somewhat flat. You get a real sense of the texture of the piece, particularly in the figures and the architecture around them. The figures have real, individualised qualities in their faces and gestures. Look at the hunched, sleeping man and the urgency of the figures rushing toward him. It’s like looking at a medieval manuscript! Or perhaps even a dreamscape. I wonder what else Dixon created? What are the influences and interests of an artist who creates something as strange and beautiful as this? Ultimately, art is an ongoing conversation, and this little tile is a perfect example of that.