Legends, Myths

Archive of the Mendocino Heritage Artists

Charles Marchant Stevenson: Legends, Myths, Philosophy & Metaphysics

Father Abbott

Father Abbott (1961). Charles Marchant Stevenson paints his boyhood mentor as an angelic presence, arms outstretched in blessing, healing light radiating from his palms. Egg tempera (22”x 36”). SKU: CS196100*
Father Abbott (1961).  Egg tempera (22” x 36”). SKU: CS196100*

Charles Marchant Stevenson paints his boyhood mentor Father Abbott as an angelic presence, arms outstretched in blessing, healing light radiating from his palms.

Creation

over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good." [Genesis 1:16-18, KJV] Acrylic on canvas (22”x 36”). Private collection. SKU: CS196110
Creation by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1961).  Acrylic on canvas (22”x 36”). Private collection.
And God made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night…and God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. (The Book of Genesis 1:16-18, KJV).

The Universe

The Universe by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1977). S Acrylic on canvas covered wood panel. SKU: CS197720
The Universe by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1977). Acrylic on canvas covered wood panel. Private collection.

Apotheosis of the Working Man

Apotheosis of the Working Man (1993). A halo surrounds the Risen Christ, who during His life was the carpenter Jesus of Nazareth. Charles Marchant Stevenson's sacred geometry also halos the priest, a "worker in the fields of the Lord." The Priest, eyes closed and mouth open, overcome by transcendant bliss from recent presence of the Dove of the Holy Spirit, as yet unaware of spattered traces of the Dove's passage on his jacket. Acrylic on canvas (48” x 48”). Signed: Stevenson. Stevenson/Leach Studios Original artist's frame. CS199310*
Apotheosis of the Working Man (1993).  Acrylic on canvas (48” x 48”). Signed: Stevenson. Stevenson/Leach Studios Original artist’s frame. CS199310*

In Apotheosis of the Working Man, a halo surrounds the Risen Christ, who during His life was the carpenter Jesus of Nazareth. Sacred geometry also halos the priest, a worker in the fields of the Lord. The Priest, eyes closed and mouth open, still overcome by transcendant bliss from recent presence of the Dove of the Holy Spirit, as yet unaware of spattered traces of the Dove’s passage on his jacket.

Remembering

Remembering by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1968). Acrylic on canvas covered wood panel. 182 x 122 cm.

In his article, “Charles Stevenson: The Nature of Reality” (A&E Magazine, August 1994), Gerry Huckaby writes of Remembering: “[Stevenson] explains that he ‘releases himself to visions’ while he paints, and relies on intuition. As Charles approached his easel to begin Remembering, he saw doves coming out of the canvas and through him, then circling around and flying into a bright hole in the middle of the canvas – reminiscent of a ‘sparle’, one of the crystalline fractures found in so many of his paintings. “ Charles told Gerry that he cried and cried, and when he was done, he sat down to paint. Like almost all his paintings, the design is based on the Golden Mean and expresses the artist’s metaphysical vision. Mountains at the bottom are the unconcious; the towering triangle of birds and babies are the spirit, and the bright hole in the center is the path to Christ-consciousness, always available, the path the soul remembers.

Vestal

Vestal (1977). Charles Marchant Stevenson, a Virgo, Charles Marchant Stevenson, a Virgo, considered Vestal his signature work. His muse, Jean Spetrino, is portrayed as a Vestal, one of the priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth. The Vestals' task was to tend the holy fire to which all came for the fire to light the hearths in their own homes. Bringing his community together in his home, through his art, and as a patron of the arts of others, Stevenson saw himself as attendant on the holy fire. Acrylic on canvas covered wood panel (48" x 24"). SKU: CS197701
Vestal by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1977). Acrylic on canvas covered wood panel (48″ x 24″). Signed: Stevenson ’77. Private collection

Stevenson, a Virgo, considered Vestal his signature work. His muse, Jean Spetrino, is portrayed as a Vestal, one of the virgin priestesses of Vesta, Goddess of the Hearth. The Vestals’ task was to tend the holy fire to which all came for fire to light the hearths in their own homes. Bringing his community together in his home, through his art, and as a patron of the arts of others, Stevenson saw himself as attendant on the holy fire

Ascent of the Soul: Portrait of Irma Gillespie

Ascent: Portrait of Irma Gillespie by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1970). Acrylic on canvas (48" x 32"). SKU: CS197010
Ascent of the Soul: Portrait of Irma Gillespie by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1970). Acrylic on canvas (48″ x 32″). Private collection.

Renaissance

Renaissance by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1975). Oil on canvas covered wood panel (48x24). SKU: CS197507
Renaissance by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1975). Model: Thomas Whiteside. Oil on canvas covered wood panel (48″ x 24″). Private collection.

Renaissance

Renaissance by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1975). Signed by the artist, and the model, Thomas Whiteside. Serigraph (20″ x 14″ ). Private collection.

monologue with leonardo da vinci

monologue with leonardo da vinci by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1976). Acrylic (48" x 48"). SKU: CS197605
monologue with leonardo da vinci by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1976). Acrylic (48″ x 48″). SKU: CS197605*

Tai Chi Energies

Tai Chi Energies (1994). Acrylic on canvas (48” x 21”). Stevenson/Leach Studios. Original artist’s frame. SKU: CS199425*

Hermes Trismegistus

Hermes Trismegistus (1996). Acrylic on canvas (36” x 24”). Signed: Stevenson. Stevenson/Leach Studios. Original artist’s frame. SKU: CS199603*

Symbolism in Hermes Trismagistus

Coal Miner’s Canary

Coal Miner's Canary (1988). Handsigned on reverse: Stevenson Leach Studios. Charles Marchant Stevenson and Matt Leach suggest the moment when the canary's song falls silent. Acrylic on canvas. SKU: CS198804
Coal Miner’s Canary (1988). Signed on reverse: Stevenson/Leach Studios. Acrylic on canvas. SKU: CS198804*

Yellow Harbinger

employing
its vulnerability
coalmine canary

Paul F. Lenzi (July 5, 2016)
written to accompany Coal Miner’s Canary
by Stevenson/Leach Studios (1988)
Our Poetry Corner

Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1974). Acrylic on canvas covered wood panel. SKU: CS197410
Adam and Eve by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1974). Acrylic on canvas covered wood panel. Private collection.

The Citadel by Moonlight

The Citadel by Moonlight (1996).  Acrylic on canvas (40” x 30”). Signed: Stevenson. Stevenson/Leach Studios. Original artist’s frame. SKU: CS199629*

Charles Marchant Stevenson views the mid-19th century Great Mosque of Mehmet Ali Pasha through an exquisite grillework window within the Citadel, a medieval Islamic fortification in Cairo. The Mosque was built within the walls of the Citadel which might be the reason the Mosque itself is popularly known as The Citadel (al-qal’a).

Surah 24:35 of the Holy Qur’an says, Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth, and likens the light of Allah to the light of a lamp. The simple terracotta oil lamp at the window is our reminder.

Through the grillework, the domes of the Mosque of Muhammad Ali glow under the light of a full moon, each dome, symbolic of the dome of heaven.

The Great Mosque of Mehmet Ali Pasha, sometimes called the Alabaster Mosque, was built during the first half of the 19th century (architect Yusuf Bushnaq). Photo courtesy of Olaf Tausch, Wikimedia Commons
The window through which Charles Marchant Stevenson saw the Great Mosque of Mehmet Ali by moonlight. Photo courtesy of Momo.
On the Way between Old and New Cairo, Citadel Mosque of Mohammed Ali, and Tombs of the Mamelukes by Louis Comfort Tiffany (c.1872), Photo: The Athenaeum.

 

Apsaras

Apsaras (1992) is a monumental study for an even larger, eight-panel screen, never realized. Shanti Balsé is the model. Acrylic on canvas (48” x 72”). Stevenson/Leach Studios. Original artist’s frame. SKU: CS199210*

Mendocino Angels at Sunset

Mendocino Angels at Sunset (1994). Acrylic on canvas (30” x 48”). Signed: Stevenson ’94. Stevenson/Leach Studios. Original artist’s frame. SKU: CS199427*

A reminder to look for the angels in Mendocino skies. Models: Shanti Balsé and Matt Leach.

Dancer on Heartbeat

Dancer on Heartbeat (1993). Dancer on Heartbeat is a blessing, and an affirmation for healing the heart, both physical and emotional. The model is Matt Leach. Acrylic on canvas (48” x 48”). Hand signed. Stevenson/Leach Studios. Private collection

Shanti’s Dream

Guardian Angel (1991). Wrapped in a glowing golden heart, a young woman sleeps surrounded by angelic protection. Shanti Balsé and Matt Leach are the models. Acrylic on canvas (72” x 48”). Stevenson/Leach Studios. Original artist's frame. SKU: CS199140
Shanti’s Dream (1991). Acrylic on canvas (72” x 48”). Stevenson/Leach Studios. Private collection.

Wrapped in a glowing golden heart, a young woman dreams of angelic protection. Shanti Balsé and Matt Leach are the models.

Hermes

Hermes by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1991). Acrylic on canvas covered wood panel (75 x 49). Signed: Stevenson. Stevenson/Leach Studios. SKU: CS199150
Hermes  (1991). Acrylic on canvas covered wood panel (75 x 49). Signed: Stevenson ’91. Stevenson/Leach Studios. Private collection.

Phaeton I

Phaeton I (1995). Acrylic on canvas (48” x 24”). Stevenson/Leach Studios. Private collection.

Phaeton II

Phaeton (1995). Acrylic on canvas (48” x 24”). Stevenson/Leach Studios. Signed: Stevenson. Original artist’s frame. SKU: CS199520*

Phaeton, the Shining One, child of the Sun God, takes a wild ride on his father’s fiery chariot and plummets toward earth.

The Seer: Portrait of Antonia Lamb

The Seer: Portrait of Antonia Lamb by Charles Marchant Stevenson. Acrylic on canvas. SKU: CS197810
The Seer: Portrait of Antonia Lamb by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1978). Acrylic on canvas. Private collection.

Aunt Betty Goes to Heaven

Aunt Betty Goes to Heaven by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1972). Acrylic. SKU: CS197220
Aunt Betty Goes to Heaven by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1972). Acrylic. Private collection.

Manna

Manna by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1975). Stevenson describes the subject: a woman receiving roses from her inner being. Acrylic on canvascovered wood panel. SKU: CS197515
Manna by Charles Marchant Stevenson (1975).  Acrylic on canvascovered wood panel. Private collection.

Stevenson describes the subject: a woman receiving roses from her inner being.

Phoenix Song

Phoenix Song (1993). Signed on reverse: Stevenson/Leach. Stevenson/Leach Studios. Original artist’s frame. SKU: CS199303*

A singing phoenix rises from the glowing shadow of a woman clothed in flame, in an affirmation of hope and rebirth.

Warrior Woman: Tomo-e Gozen

Warrior Woman: Tomo-e Gozen (1988). The medieval Japanese epic, The Tale of the Heike, describes Tomo-e Gozen as "especially beautiful, with long hair, and charming features ... a warrior worth a thousand, ready to confront a demon or a god, mounted or on foot. She handled unbroken horses with superb skill; she rode unscathed down perilous descents. Whenever a battle was imminent, Yoshinaka sent her out as his first captain...and she performed more deeds of valor than any of his other warriors." - Helen McCullough, translator. The warrior rides toward battle carrying the naginata, a pole weapon effective in cavalry battles. Acrylic on canvas (24” x 24”). Handsigned: Stevenson. Stevenson/Leach Studios. Original artist's frame. SKU: CS198805*
Warrior Woman: Tomo-e Gozen (1988). Acrylic on canvas (24” x 24”). Signed: Stevenson. Stevenson/Leach Studios. Original artist’s frame. SKU: CS198805*

The medieval Japanese epic, The Tale of the Heike, describes Tomo-e Gozen as especially beautiful, with long hair, and charming features … a warrior worth a thousand, ready to confront a demon or a god, mounted or on foot. She handled unbroken horses with superb skill; she rode unscathed down perilous descents. Whenever a battle was imminent, Yoshinaka sent her out as his first captain…and she performed more deeds of valor than any of his other warriors. – Helen McCullough, translator. She rides toward battle carrying the naginata, a pole weapon effective in cavalry battles.

The Stained Glass Angel Windows

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