Beginnings

So I've decided to run a little side project based on Lovecraft's The Case of Charles Dexter Ward and the first thing that sprang to mind was the painting of Joseph Curwen.

"Dwight had begun at the bottom; hence since the picture was a three-quarter-length one, the face did not come out for some time. It was meanwhile seen that the subject was a spare, well-shaped man with dark-blue coat, embroidered waistcoat, black satin small-clothes, and white silk stockings, seated in a carved chair against the background of a window with wharves and ships beyond. When the head came out it was observed to bear a neat Albemarle wig, and to possess a thin, calm, undistinguished face which seemed somehow familiar to both Ward and the artist. "

So off to research we go to find paintings of the era. I wanted to introduce some of the elements of the tale to the painting also, leaving the viewer with no doubt as to who the seated figure is.

So more research is needed. Numerous jugs and containers are mentioned in the story so I thought it only right to include one in the painting. As Curwen was a necromancer I thought the addition of a skull would not seem too cheesey.

Here's a shot of the first pass on Curwen's bookshelf in the background of the painting. The painting is till a little bit rough, but successive passes will hopefully smooth out some of the imperfections.