The Cathedral - oil on canvas - 50" x 31"

Dave Martsolf

The Cathedral - oil on canvas - 50" x 31"

It has been said that the body is the cathedral of the soul. In this painting the fallen figure, be it me or you, or the Christ before resurrection, has been shown without flesh to accentuate the relationship between the rib cage of man and the ribs of the church behind.

In this case the church is real. It is the Romanesque church of the Santa Maria Monestary in Alcobaca, Portugal. The architecture is Cistercian with the choir area dating from the early 1200’s AD. The city in the background (left) is Concord, New Hampshire, where I lived and worked for many years before moving to Windham, NH recently.

“The Cathedral” has been featured in the group “Hand painted or drawn Buildings and architecture”.

Calendars for Friends

Surreal Paintings Calendar

Surreal Watercolors Calendar

Glacier National Park Calendar

Roses Calendar

Works Featured in Red Bubble Groups

The Cathedral - oil on canvas - 50" x 31" belongs to the following groups:

Complex Simplicity of Art, ***♂♥♥QUORN♥♥♀, **A SPIRITUAL / PSYCHIC WALK**, A New Aesthetic.... Divine and Otherwise , All About Your Best Work, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Art For The World, Art Inspired by Dreams, Avant-Garde, Contemporary Professional Painters and Sculptors, Core [C.O.R.E], DaDa Land, Decorative and Traditional Art, Descriptions, Featured Features - For Featured Art, Photography, T-Shirts, Writing, FEATURED ONLY, Fine Arts, Gateways, Hand painted or drawn Buildings and architecture, Heritage in Stone, Historic Churches, Images & Ideas, Imaginative Realism, In Another World .., in-between, Moody, Dark, Evocative (no nudes), Oil Painting, Painters In Modern Times - TWO PER DAY, Practising the Dark Arts, Religious Art & Photography, Secondary Hell, Shameless Self-Promotion, Spiritual Art, Surrealism *MAX 4 PER DAY* and The Voyage Of The Surrealists Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
The Cathedral - oil on canvas - 50" x 31" by Dave Martsolf
  • Al Neaimi

    Al Neaimi

    brilliant work , welcome to Rb Dave.
    regards
    Al Neaimi

  • Oran

    Oran

    Wow your work is amazing Dave! I love surrealism and you do it well.

  • ToastedGhost

    ToastedGhost

    Fantastic work!
    Well done
    wonder portfolio of work

  • Keith Reesor

    Keith Reesor

    Fantastic portfolio!! Welcome to the bubble!

  • davpea1

    davpea1

    Amazing piece of work here. Really something else.

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Hi Dave, Thanks so much for your kind comments. – Dave

  • GerryMac

    GerryMac

    stunning artwork!

  • Dave Martsolf

    Dave Martsolf

    Thanks very much, Gerry. Nice to hear from Perth. Love your photographs!

  • FAIRIEWOMAN1

    FAIRIEWOMAN1

    This is my favorite, that rib cage and cathedral, the perspective, wow!

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Helena, you are very kind. Everyone should click on your link here to see some really great artwork.

  • navybrat

    navybrat

    just brilliant!!

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Too kind, but thanks!

  • Carlos Teófilo

    Carlos Teófilo

    Congratulations Dave.

  • Romo

    Romo

    Fantastic work:)

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Thanks Romo. You’re sweet to say it.

  • nepesh

    nepesh

    this is beautiful! reminds me the art of W.Siudmak (fantastic realism). Great artwork!

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Thanks, nepesh. Thanks for looking and commenting.

  • Jeff Burgess

    Jeff Burgess

    love the perspective on this one…and use of contrasting color and shapes….nice

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Thanks, Cool Bear!

  • Mick Yates

    Mick Yates

    Really like this composition ….

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Hi Mick, Thanks for the kind words. I really like the photo work you are doing as well. – Dave

  • zooreka

    zooreka

    Hopw you painted this Huge!!!! Wonderful eye-candy!

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Ha ha, you are so kind! Thanks.

  • Mugsy

    Mugsy

    Impressive work

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Thanks Mugsy, Much appreciated. – Dave

  • Scott d'Almeida

    Scott d'Almeida

    stunning;

  • Jens Helmstedt

    Jens Helmstedt

    Fantastic! Great work Dave!

  • Martin Muir

    Martin Muir

    This is great Dave,brilliant work.

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Thanks Martin, Seems a sobering subject, but I love the light that comes through the cathedrals plain glass windows. The stone really did have a similar hue to human bones. To me it shows that what is important in life is the light rather than the temporal form.

  • Larry Butterworth

    Larry Butterworth

    This is an extroidinary work, a pleasure to look at.

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Thanks Larry, It is an honor coming from you.

  • Rosina Lamberti

    Rosina Lamberti

    excellent, love it.

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Hi Rosina, Thanks so much for your kind words. I see you take beautiful portraits. Much success to you! – Dave

  • robynart

    robynart

    This painting is beyond beautiful!!!

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Thank you so much, Robyn. And, thanks for the fave.

  • Gyuri

    Gyuri

    Beautiful work of art.
    So delighted that we’ve met. Thank you for your kindness.

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    and great success wished for you also. Your work is excellent. I hope to get back to oils someday. I admire your ability and tenacity in this medium; most difficult especially in these days where everything seems so evanescent.

  • Noewi

    Noewi

    Excellent painting! Great composition!

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Thanks Noewi. Thank you very much!

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Love your High Heels and Might Bite as well. Recommended!

  • Julie Marks

    Julie Marks

    Hi Dave,
    I just discovered your diverse and fascinating portfolio. It is always a joy
    to find a gifted and exceptionally creative artist. This is outstanding and I look
    forward to knowing more about you and your exceptional works of art.

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Thanks Julie, I hope to do a lot more in the years I have left.
    Cheers, – Dave

  • jakeperslow

    jakeperslow

    Dali lives on love it

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Thanks Jake! You have some awesome work in your bubble! Thanks.

  • Colin Cartwright

    Colin Cartwright

    Stunning work, Dave. Impressive detail, subject placement, and tonal variations. A suitable palette choice, also.

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Thanks Colin, So nice to hear from a man who uses brushes!

  • Colin Cartwright

    Colin Cartwright

    Your’e welcome Dave. No problem critiquing a real artist. Stunning work and effort, my friend.

  • Nina Zabrodina

    Nina Zabrodina

    wonderful analogy between the cathedral which is the vessel of spirituality and the human rib cage which holds the soul.

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Hi Nina, That’s it exactly. So glad you like it. – Dave

  • bloorain

    bloorain

    I love the symbolism in this. fav!

  • Dave Martsolf replied

    Thanks so much, Bloorain. Words of silent feeling.

Add your comment

You need to login or signup to add your comment to this work.