MAIN PAGE ⎔ SECTION PAGE ⎔ SITE MAP ⎔ GLOSSARY
ART OF ULLMAN’S OFFICE
CRAM’S SUPERIOR MAP ⎔ FLOCK OF LOONS ⎔ GREAT EARTH MOTHER ⎔ MYSTERIES ⎔ THEATRUM ORBIS TERRARUM ⎔ TRAPPER’S CAMP
MYSTERY CHARLES TUNNICLIFFE DUCKS
Seen in Ullman’s secretary’s office (in the crook of Watson’s elbow), and at the west end of the hall right before Danny sees 237. So, this painting appears nearest rooms where Jack and Danny meet very sinister figures in supernatural rooms (237, Ullman’s). My current best guess about the species is that they’re ruddy ducks.
Appears once at 5:12-5:14 and again at 41:40-41:42. In seconds that would be 312, which is the Aarne-Thompson code for Bluebeard, the fable Danny thinks about the most in the novel. In fact, he thinks about it thanks to Hallorann warning him to stay out of room 217. And in its second appearance, Danny has just passed room 231 for the only time he ever will, and I have a theory that that’s the room Jack’s soul is absorbed into.
Similar artist: Charles Tunnicliffe, who produced over 250 books of paintings. I’ve leafed through one such volume, and many, many online databases so far, so this might take a miracle.
It’s one of three paintings seen right around Ullman’s that also appear elsewhere in the hotel, along with Flock of Loons (2nd entrance) and A Trapper’s Camp (BJ well/bloodfall).
MYSTERY REFLECTING DUCKS
Twin waterfowl reflecting in water. A Tunnicliffe duo would seem the most likely, given that JF Lansdowne has a confirmed dual set hanging in the lounge. I also recently discovered Larry Hayden and Bill Morris who both painted a great many ducks reflecting in water. Morris would give us another “Maurice” sound in the area, but I don’t know if that would add much.
Appears once from 5:12-5:14.
EAGLE CARVINGS AND STATUE
Ullman has two eagle statues and some kind of abstract art piece between them that I’ve always thought was something equine like a horse or mule, but really, it could be something like a wolf or bear or tiger or any of the non-avian Four Directions animals. Perhaps that’s why it’s got the two eagles flanking it. Anyway, I’ve looked through some hundreds of eagle carvings to find no end to carvings that are near-twins to the ones in the film, but I highly doubt the point is to identify the artist. Almost none of the ones I found had an associated artist.
Also, as for the weird animal-shape sculpture, recent inspection helped me see that it seems to be made of some kind of linking material. And I’m wondering now if these are railroad spikes that have been fused together to look like an animal. There’s a railroad subtext to the film that gets one of its biggest jolts in the scene immediately following the interview.
Next art reference: Napolitano Postcard with Augustus Caesar Statue
MAIN PAGE ⎔ SECTION PAGE ⎔ SITE MAP ⎔ GLOSSARY
OTHER MAIN PAGES FOR SHINING ANALYSIS
THE MIRRORFORM ⎔ THE BEATLES ⎔ THE RUM AND THE RED
BACKGROUND ART ⎔ OVERLOOK PHOTOGRAPHS ⎔ GOLDEN SPIRALS
PHI GRIDS ⎔ PATTERNS ⎔ VIOLENCE AND INDIGENA ⎔ ABSURDITIES
THE STORY ROOM ⎔ ANIMAL SYMBOLS ⎔ THE ANNOTATED SHINING
EYE SCREAM 