Nine paintings about the knight of the Round table, Lancelot

The Tale of King Artus was already known to me, when the reading of the
version of John Steinbeck ( based on the work of Sir Thomas Mallory)turned the scale, to do a more profound look to the figure of Sir Lancelot.
There was something, that hat been first nebulous, but getting this something clearer, it was faszinating me more an more.

It is the fatal effect, that the prophecy of Merlin, he would be one day the First of all knights, takes on the puerile Lancelot.

Not for a moment Lancelot hesitates and strikes with the idea, that it is just the nature of a prophecy, that it will fulfil itself, even if there is anything done to prevent it.
It is remarkable to see, with which kind of obsession Lancelot tries to let the prophecy - as his only task an duty - come true. And how he makes himself blind against everything, that seems to lie beside this way.

Then occurs the first meeting with Genoveva, and soon afterwards the completeprecipitated abandon of his castle joice-garde, shortly after his guests, King Artus and his Queen, have arrieved.

There are beginning the years of haste. Of haste, because he does not live his adventures, no, he ticks them off, till his behaviour gets more and more the dimension of a flight.

Then - as Steinbeck tells- comes suddenly a moment of silence.
In this moment of paralysing silence he gets conscience of his loneliness.
I said conscious, because in this moment he must confess to himself, that his love to Genoveva is not as platonically, as he would have preferred it.

This is the rupture through his soul. Lancelot, who had consecrated his life to the highness of duty, finds now himself in the wildest conflict between duty and love. Duty will not win it. In the long run duty can not win against love.

On these thoughts are build up the paintings.
Nevertheless I did not want, to let Lancelot's end be as despairing and
tormenting as in the original tale of Artus.

1. The series begins with the prophecy of Merlin.  In the midst of nature in spring, as symbol for the hope, for the beginning, where everything seems
possible, lies a ruin, to which Lancelot will come back in a darker moment.




2. The second painting shows the knighting of Lancelot done by Genoveva






3. The third shows Lancelot leaving joice-garde. The flight from his feelings.








4. After his flight, Lancelot will get into the force of the sorceress Morgana.
From now on  the fabulous features of the Anderworlds will have more and more presence in the paintings.



5. Lancelot, who has liberated himself from the power of Morgana, finds
himself again in the ruin of the first painting. This is the moment, where he
gets conscious of his loneliness. He is still sitting in the light of sun.
But a rupture goes already though his soul and shows the other half of the
ruin in darker shadow.

6. The next painting shows the entrance to Gorre. Gorre where to Genoveva was carried off.
Lancelot will pass through Gorre. But it is an Anderwelt, that he will set foot on, a world of spell. He will cross it, but he will not succeed in doing it unhurt.



7. The wounded Lancelot frees in Gorre Genoveva. It will be the moment, where the second tear takes place. The coat of arms left above is broken through the midst. The statue of Artus Rex, that is staying on the fountain, will not prevent it.


8. Lancelots fight to save Genoveva from the stake.







9. The farewell. Lancelot and Genoveva are leaving the kingdom of King Artus, jump over the ditch, as symbol for the last tear. Genoveva shows his face.
Lancelot is yet not able to do this. In the background appears the world of Gorre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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