The Haunted Palace Canvas/Collage

Every year I make a new Edgar Allan Poe canvas.
This year is no different.

What is different is that this one reflects more on the present day. Take from it what you will.

 Poe's The Haunted Palace:  This year's selection is a poem that struck just the right chord in me. I kept to my collage, vintage look as well as bits of buttons and a bold title. The author makes a less predominant appearance but he's in there. Different in this one is that I actually added in a quote from Poe's work, the stanza where I drew most of my inspiration. I had my doubts about this canvas from the start but I am pleased with the results. For those who are unfamiliar with this title, I include Poe's work in the rest of this post.

In the greenest of our valleys

By good angels tenanted,

Once a fair and stately palace—

Radiant palace—reared its head.

In the monarch Thought’s dominion,

It stood there!

Never seraph spread a pinion

Over fabric half so fair! 

Banners yellow, glorious, golden,

On its roof did float and flow

(This—all this—was in the olden

Time long ago)

And every gentle air that dallied,

In that sweet day,

Along the ramparts plumed and pallid,

A wingèd odor went away.

Wanderers in that happy valley,

Through two luminous windows, saw

Spirits moving musically

To a lute’s well-tunèd law,

Round about a throne where, sitting,

Porphyrogene!

In state his glory well befitting,

The ruler of the realm was seen.

And all with pearl and ruby glowing

Was the fair palace door,

Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing

And sparkling evermore,

A troop of Echoes, whose sweet duty

Was but to sing,

In voices of surpassing beauty,

The wit and wisdom of their king.

But evil things, in robes of sorrow,

Assailed the monarch’s high estate;

(Ah, let us mourn!—for never morrow

Shall dawn upon him, desolate!)

And round about his home the glory

That blushed and bloomed

Is but a dim-remembered story

Of the old time entombed.

And travellers, now, within that valley,

Through the red-litten windows see

Vast forms that move fantastically

To a discordant melody;

While, like a ghastly rapid river,

Through the pale door

A hideous throng rush out forever,

And laugh—but smile no more.

I will be adding this to my "Poe-st" cards at my Etsy Shop soon. I also have a few Halloween mixed-media canvases there for sale. Take a look if you're in the market for some new spooky décor.

Thanks!
-Wy