Sometimes an artwork has an almost inexplicable energy that draws the viewer in- a secret ingredient that the artist has added.

In this episode of Beyond the Frame, we explore Edward William Cooke’s 1856 oil on canvas, “Violent Squall on the Adriatic” in which he transports us to the Venetian lagoon where we feel the wind whirling around us and hear the crashing of the waves while we watch a ferocious storm barrel in.

Together, we’ll explore that secret ingredient which the artist has used to transform this powerful stormy seascape into a daring, but touching story.

This series is made possible by the generous support of the Newport News Arts Commission and the York County Arts Commission.