Cathy's Art Diary

Dance at the court of Milan

2012-01-08T09:54:00.000-08:00

Charming lecture at the National Gallery to complement the Leonardo exhibition looking at a pageant designed by him called Festa del Pardadiso in honour of a Sforza wedding.

Sian Walters used a translation of a description of the event to talk about what it consisted of relating it to contemporary pictures. The first four hours of the pageant consisted of dancing so to investigate that Darren Royston from Nonsuch Dance used the dance group to illustrate the role of dancing at the time and what the dances might have looked like.

Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan

2012-01-08T09:49:00.000-08:00

Stunning exhibition at the National Gallery focusing on the period in Leonardo da Vinci’s life when he worked at the Court of Milan.

This is obviously the blockbuster exhibition of 2011-12 but it was well worth the trouble to get tickets and my visit to it at 8.30 in the evening. I had expected it might just be about the well known pictures but it was actually a very scholarly display.

It was magical to see the two “Virgin of the Rocks” together. The person I visited with was disappointed that the pictures weren’t side by side however we soon realised if they had been it would have just shown up how dirty the Louvre on was! The “Lady with an Ermine” was entrancing. I loved the ‘new’ picture “Salvatora Mundi”.

However best of all was the juxtaposition of drawings and paintings to give some idea of their development. The best example of this was the studies for the “Last Supper” displayed either side of the contemporary copy of it. It gave a sense that Leonardo had collected faces and types throughout which then used for this commission.

Reviews
Times
Guardian
Daily Telegraph
Independent
Evening Standard Part 1
Evening Standard Part 2

The Power of Making

2011-12-28T15:35:00.001-08:00

Interesting exhibition at the V&A looking at role of making things in our lives.

This exhibition was too busy when I went round it so it was hard to read the labels and I think I lost on what is was trying to do.

There was an eclectic mix of objects which were fascinating but I just wasn’t sure how they fitted together. The moral of the story, don’t wait until the Christmas break to do free exhibitions!

Reviews
Times
Daily Telegraph
Independent

The house of Annie Lennox

2011-12-28T15:28:00.000-08:00

Small exhibition at the V&A looking at the clothes and creative vision of Annie Lennox.

I am a big Annie Lennox fan and was really looking forward to this. What was there was good but it was very small. There we only about 6 outfits which were lit in turn so you had to stand in quite a cramped gallery for a long time to see them all properly.

I liked the house in the middle to show the creative process and the gallery of photos but must admit I came away wanting more and remembering the amazing Kylie exhibition!

Postmodernism: Style and Subversion, 1970-1990

2011-12-28T15:18:00.000-08:00

Good exhibition at the V&A looking at design in the 1970s and 1980s.

I must admit at first I didn’t get this and, given this is my era, I expected it to grab me. It began with a lot of imaginative architecture but after I while I longer to see something which had actually been built!

In the objects section it began to come together but I wasn’t quite sure why at first it was only in the later section that it was because it was the start of design statements such as Alessi which I did notice at the time. Obviously the ground breaking early works had passed me buy it was only when something I could buy appeared that I sat up and took notice!

The best section for me was the performance one with a section on Grace Jones and an outfit, 2 ballet outfits designed by Leigh Bowery and wonderful videos of singers/performance artists of the era. At that point I got it!

I came away from the exhibition with lots of new images in my mind and a better knowledge of things which had influenced me.

Reviews
Times
Daily Telegraph
Independent
Evening Standard

Private Eye: The First 50 Years

2011-12-28T15:05:00.001-08:00

Small display at the V&A examining the first 50 years of the magazine Private Eye.

It mainly consisted of cartoons on various themes such as politics and celebrity but also looked at the investigative journalism of the paper. I loved the mock up of the editor’s desk with various souvenirs of various campaigns. It also reminded me of some of the wonderful parodies of political life such as the Dear Bill letters and the parish magazine of the ‘vicar’ Tony Blair.

The actress now

2011-12-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

Small exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery of pictures of contemporary actresses to compliment the current exhibition of the first actresses.

It ranged from the well established actress such as Dame Judi Dench and Maggie Smith to actresses at the start of their careers such as Anna Popplewell. Some of the commentaries had comments from the actress on the work of their predecessors.

The First Actresses

2011-12-26T11:25:00.000-08:00

Nice exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery tracing the lives of the earliest actresses and how the profession developed.

It started with risqué pictures of Nell Gwynn then looked at the actresses of Covent Garden in the 18th century who started to take on breaches rolls but were sometimes also prostitutes but also began to be writers and business women.

The middle gallery looked at the actress as muse and how they became popular subjects in Royal Academy picture so of the time in their various theatrical roles.

A fun gallery looked at actresses in character plus the role of amateur dramatics amongst the aristocracy.

It was definitely an exhibition that you left wanting to find out more.

Reviews
Times
Daily Telegraph
Evening Standard

Two Years in the Life of the Leonardo Cartoon

2011-12-21T14:59:00.000-08:00

Super lecture at the National Gallery to accompany the current Leonardo exhibition given by Eric Harding.

It looked at his work in the late 1980s to repair and conserve the Leonardo cartoon after it was shot. He had recently retired from the British Museum but was seen as the only person who could do the work and came out of retirement to do it. He was the most engaging speaker and answered questions generously and in a very open manner.

It was fascinating to hear what new techniques were used on this work and the meticulous nature of saving all the minute pieces and cataloguing them to rebuild the work.

The art of drawing

2011-12-21T14:57:00.001-08:00

A good discussion at the National Gallery to accompany the current Leonardo exhibition chaired by the curator of the show Luke Syson with Martin Caplin from the Royal Library at Windsor and the artist Michael Craig-Martin.

The two speakers each spoke for about 20 minutes on the role of drawing in Leonardo’s work and then had a discussion with the chair and the audience. They addressed pictures which were studies, how Leonoard returned to studies throughout his career and the role of finished drawings.

Most fascinating was to hear the artist Michael Craig-Martin talk from an artists view point and how he saw some of the unfinished drawings as an invitation to continue to image.

William Etty: Art and Controversy

2011-12-21T14:46:00.000-08:00

Nice exhibition at York Art Gallery examining the life and career of William Etty, the York born artist.

Having been at university in York I thought I knew the work of Etty well but this exhibition looked not only at the pictures but also at how they were received by his contemporaries. Many art critics at the time viewed his work as lewd due to his use of the female nude however a modern eye finds these figures delightful and maybe notices more of interest in his male nudes.

The first main gallery concentrated on the controversy but the others looked at other aspects of his careers. I loved the section looking at the role of life drawing in his career because there were these wonderful timeless nudes with Victorian hairstyles.

A Leonardo for Today

2011-11-20T09:39:00.000-08:00

A wonderful lecture at the National Gallery to accompany the current Leonardo exhibition given my Martin Kemp, Emeritus Professor at Oxford.

He looked in particular at the newly attributed painting “Salvator Mundi” describing how he first saw it in the conservation studio of the National Gallery and the work that has been done to attribute it to Leonardo.

It was quite magical to hear first hand about this work and to be taken through the detail of why he feels it is genuine. I can’t wait to see it in the exhibition.

Claude Lorrain: The Enchanted Landscape

2011-11-20T09:30:00.000-08:00

Lovely exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum of the work of Claude Lorrain.

The exhibition was broken into three sections paintings, drawings and etches. I liked the fact that many of the paintings were hung in their original pairs to show the contracts he painted of sea and land, different times of day and subjects.

The drawings were a revelations as they were so well finished and really illuminated the imaginary processes behind the paintings.

My favourite things though had to be the Firework series of etchings which showed firework designs for the coronation of Ferdinand III as King of the Romans. These includes wonderful machines which split apart and fireworks came out. I think the London 2012 Opening Ceremony could learn a thing or two!

Reviews
Daily Telegraph

The Linbury Prize for Stage Design 2011

2011-11-20T09:17:00.001-08:00

A small exhibition at the National Theatre to show the finalists’ designs in the Linbury Prize for Stage Design.

As well as pictures of the designs it also included small mock up of the sets like old Victorian children’s theatre toys and sketch books collecting ideas for the designs.

I particularly liked a design for the Watermill Theatre as it’s a space I have been to and liked.

Real Venice

2011-11-20T09:01:00.000-08:00

Exhibition at Somerset House of photographs of Venice.

The exhibition included the work of 14 artists and looked at everyday life in the city as well as new interpretations of the city. I love some kaleidoscope style pictures which took a view of a canal plus of a palace and rotated the image 4 times by 90 degrees to form multi mirrored version of the image.

There were also a set of stunning portraits which could have been faces from any era of the city.

Treasures of Heaven : Saints, Relics and Devotion in Medieval Europe

2011-10-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

Wonderful exhibition at the British Museum examining devotional objects from medieval Europe in particular reliquaries.

It was like falling into a jewel box! I liked the fact it put the objects in context but also acknowledged them as beautiful and sometimes ground breaking objects.

Having done a course at the Courtauld earlier this year on early Christian images it was wonderful to see the early items and see how iconography developed.

In amongst the gold there were some wonderfully touching items such as St Cuthbert’s personal travelling altar, a really direct connection to the saint.

However my favourite items have to be the reliquary for the Holy Thorn with tiny gold figures rising from their graves on the bottom and small gold apostles up the edge.

Reviews
Times
Guardian
Daily Telegraph
Evening Standard

From Finiguerra to Botticelli : The Early Italian workshops of the Renaissance

2011-10-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

Exhibition at the Louvre of early Renaissance drawings and incunabula from the collection of Baron Edmond de Rothschild.

I found this an confusing exhibition but this wasn’t helped by the fact we came in from the wrong end and did it backwards! The idea was to show how printing developed in Italy and how this was influenced by drawing. However the exhibition was dominated by a fantastic model book bringing together wonderful architectural fantasies and pictures by the Master of the Soane Album.

The printing elements began with the wonderful “Battle of the Naked Men” by the Pollaiolo brothers and continued with a room of small early etchings. There were also some lovely drawings such as a boy in turban by Gozzoli and Gaddi’s drawings for his frescos at St Croce but they didn’t seem to fit with the theme.

Edvard Munch : the modern eye 1900-1944

2011-10-09T10:42:00.000-07:00

Interesting exhibition at the Pompidou Centre which looking at how new media like photography and film influenced the work of Edvard Munch.

The early rooms looked at how Munch set about reproducing his work. It looked at a series of themes which he revisited many times in his left. The first two rooms seemed almost identical but were the same hang of dfferent versions of about 6 works.

There were then rooms on film and a wonderful picture called “Workers on their way home” which took a cinematic approach to a group of workers walking towards you. The whole exhibition was dotted with photographs and film taken by Munch to show how he used the new forms.

I have to be critical of the way the exhibition was hung and used. The rooms were quite small and there were large groups of school children being lectured to in there. At times a group would practically fill a room and made it very difficult for other people to view the works.

I knew very little about this artist and came away better informed and interested but not moved by him.

Medieval and Renaissance Illuminations

2011-10-09T09:34:00.000-07:00

Small exhibition of illuminated manuscripts for the museums own collection at the Louvre in Paris.

It was arranged over 2 rooms which almost displayed different worlds. The first room was the early work and showed a detailed medieval world with wonderful insights such as a woman chasing a fox which had stolen a chicken. It included wonderful works by Jean Fouquet.

The second room was the Renaissance world with larger pictures looking at classical motifs and perspective. Some pictures were full page illustrations. There was a nice section on Flemish works as well.

Fra Angelico and the master of light

2011-10-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

Beautiful exhibition looking at the work of Fra Angelico and his contemporaries at the Musee Jacquemart Andre in Paris.

The exhibition included about 30 panels by Fra Angelica alongside painters who influenced his work, such as his teacher Lorenzo Monaco, Masolino and Paolo Uccello, as well as artists that he inspired, such as Filippo Lippi and Zanobi Strozzi.

It really was a vision of the use of light and was a real chocolate box for the eyes. I hadn’t realised Fra Angelico and also been an illuminator so was fascinated to see his works on paper. I fell heavily for an altarpiece by Baldovinetti with the most beautiful St Julian.

An added extra was that you could buy the tape tour as a phone app which means I can still refer to it, look at the pictures and zoom into particular sections of pictures to study them further.

Cataloguing early Italian paintings in the National Gallery

2011-10-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

Talk by Dillian Gordon to coincide with the publication of a new National Gallery catalogue of ‘The Italian paintings Before 1400' at the National Gallery (http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk).

This was a fascinating talk which looked at new information which had emerged since the last catalogue was published in 1988. It looked at both scientific discoveries as well as new discoveries of different elements of altarpieces. There was almost too much information to take in including new ideas on Duccios Maesta and Margarito of Arezzo picture in the gallery.

One new thing I learnt was that crucifixions with crosses shown as being made of three woods are usually from the Crusader states.

Forests, Rocks, Torrents

2011-10-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

An exhibition at the National Gallery of 19th century Swiss and Norwegian landscapes from the collection of Asbjørn Lunde.

I must admit I found the pictures a bit uninspiring! I have not been to either country so did not relate to them from familiarity. The picture descriptions were good and explained the political significance of the work however again it seemed to pass over me.

Maybe it’s just because I’m a city girl and don’t ‘get’ rugged landscape!

Art for the Nation : Sir Charles Eastlake at the National Gallery

2011-10-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

Small exhibition at the National Gallery looking at the gallery’s first director and how he built the collection.

The exhibition looked in particular at how Eastlake bought a number of pictures including the Bellini “Madonna of the Meadow” and included those pictures. It included his and his wife’s travel diaries describing meeting with sellers and how they found out about the pictures.

This was a good way of showing off what the National Gallery archive holds and how it has been used for research.

Reviews
Evening Standard

Exhibition in Focus: Devotion by Design

2011-10-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

Study morning at the National Gallery to compliment their exhibition “Devotion by Design”.

It consisted of 3 excellent talks on themes from the exhibition. The first was the best by a co-curator of the exhibtion, Jennifer Sliwka, looking at the huge Sassetta altarpiece. She made you look at the work in a new way giving a lot of background on where it had been placed and introducing interesting ideas of how the side panels may work in a complex set of pairings. It made you go and look at the picture again with a fresh eye.

David Ekserdjian from University of Leicester talked about narrative in altarpieces not just in the obvious pradellas but also in the embroidery on clothing or in the backgrounds.

Finally there was a very different take from Ben Quash from Kings College, who looked at the different theological themes an altarpiece might reflect depending on its setting and use.

Devotion by Design

2011-10-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

Jewel of an exhibition at the National Gallery exploring Italian altarpieces from before 1500.

Although many of the pictures were familiar from the gallery’s own collection they were shown in a way which made you look at them again and see them in their original context.

The first gallery looked at pictures which featured altarpieces to show how they were used in a liturgical setting. This was then backed up in the long room of the exhibition space by putting pieces with our labels on mock altars of the correct height for the picture. In particular this made the Signiorelli of the circumcision come to life and explained it’s off perspective and empty space at the bottom as is was display with a processional cross which filled the space.

Reviews
Times
Independent
Evening Standard

Heracles to Alexander the Great: Treasures from the Royal Capital of Macedon

2011-10-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

Lovely exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum looking at artefacts from the royal burial tombs and the palace of Aegae, the ancient capital of Macedon.

It focused on the Temenid kings including Philip II and Alexander the Great and included new finds from recent excavations.

I must admit in the first room I was feeling a bit despondent as it seemed to be full of rusty spears and just one gold crown however as you moved into the other rooms you realised this was just the early pieces. The second rooms was full of the most wonderful jewellery with the end display showing the complete jewellery from 5 women’s tombs displayed on Perspex bodies to show where the items would have been worn. This was stunning and really brought the pieces to life.

The last room looked at life at court in particular the role of the banquet and included wonderful sets of eating vessels.

This was a period and civilisation I knew nothing about but will now look out for following this eye opening exhibition.

Reviews
Daily Telegraph

Courtauld Summer School

2011-07-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

Another brilliant week at the Courtauld Summer School.

This year I look the course called “Nike to Angel” with Dr Cecil Hennessy which looked at how early Christian iconography evolved from classical themes plus how the iconography developed. Cecil was a wonderfully clear, logical lecturer and really encouraged ideas and participation.

There was a series of ten lectures giving an overview of the topic then looking at different artistic mediums from the period such as ivories, mosaics and metalwork.

We had some really good sessions in the museums going to the V&A and the British Museum twice. The second session at the British Museum was brilliant as it was a handling session. We thought we’d see second rank pieces but when we arrived the curator had out pieces we’d looked at on the previous visit. We handled (in gloves) a wonderful apotheosis ivory with textured elephants, the wonderful casket from a treasure hoard, a fantastic smooth vessel with a perfectly fitting lid and most moving of all a sort of good luck charm with a very early example of a crucifixion.

I just wish I could do two weeks!

Beyond the Mouilin Ruge : Toulouse-Lautrec and Jane Avril

2011-07-17T07:18:00.000-07:00

Another brilliant exhibition by the Courtauld Gallery which focused on the relationship between Toulouse-Laurrec and one of his muses, Jane Avril.

Jane was a dancer at the Moulin Rogue with an eccentric style and is familiar to us from some of the wonderful posters by Lautrec for the theatre as the red headed angular figure.

The exhibition included many pictures of her by Lautrec and often places sketches next to the finished posters. It also had pictures of her off stages as well and showed the pathos of the artist on and off stage.

The exhibition also looked at her life from her childhood in hospital being treated for St Vitus’ Dance to her later tours of Europe with the dance troup.

Reviews
Times
Daily Telegraph

Christopher Le Brun : Watercolours

2011-07-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

A small exhibition at Abbott and Holder, a lovely gallery near the British Museum.

This exhibition was of recent watercolours by Christopher Le Brun, a contemporary watercolourist. They had a wonderful surreal quality while also being understandable, beautiful landscapes.

Out of Australia

2011-07-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

This year’s garden at the British Museum is an Australian one.

Currated in connection with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew it looks at the plants which grow in the different landscapes of Australia. It was clever how the colour of the path changed as the landscape changed. I loved the very colourful sections of yellow flowers.

Review
Daily Telegraph

Falling up : the gravity of art

2011-07-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

Nice little exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery which explores the theme of gravity in art.

It was nice to see an unusual theme plus to see contemporary and older works displayed together.

There was a wonderful photograph called “Dan” by Wolfgang Tillmans which confuses your eyes. I loved the hanging bricks called “Neither from nor towards” by Cornelia Parker which plays with ideas of gravity and time.

Festival of Britain

2011-07-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

Nice little exhibition at the Festival Hall to mark 50 years since the Festival of Britain.

It began by looking at the site for the festival and the designs for it. There was a good display on the design of its logo and how it was used. I hadn’t realised that the festival was celebrated all over Britain and there was a nice section of what other cities did.

My favourite section however was on the souvenirs on offer at the time and how they mirrored the design landscape. There was a nice display of scarves lent by a couple I am in contact with about selling some scarves of my own.

Reviews
Times

Jim Vincent : Imaginary Landscapes

2011-07-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

Nice exhibition of imaginary landscapes by Jim Vincent at the Cornerstone in Didcot.

These mixed media pictures were effective both at a distance and close up as it was only then that the detail came out.

Circle of Animals

2011-07-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

Installation in the courtyard of Somerset House of sculptures by Ai Weiwei.

It consisted of a circle of 12 bronze animal heads re-creationing the traditional Chinese zodiac sculptures which once adorned the fountain of an imperial retreat in Beijing.

The pieces were beautifully detailed and looked great in the courtyard. However I went on a very rainy day and it was too wet to stop and look at them properly!

Reviews
Guardian
Independent

The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900

2011-07-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

Luscious exhibition at the V&A looking at the aesthetic movement of the late 19th century.

It covered all aspects of the movement from pictures though furniture and publishing. There was a good tape tour voiced by Rupert Everett with just enough information and stops. It enhanced the exhibition rather than distracting you.

It was lovely to see pictures shown with artefacts. I liked the recreation of a room in Rossetti's house and the wall of Pre-Raphaelite stunners.

The whole exhibition was like falling into a good quality hot chocolate with marshmallows!

Reviews
Times
Guardian

Gilbert & Sullivan

2011-07-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

Small room display at NPG celebrating the life and work of Gilbert and Sullivan at the National Portrait Gallery.

It has works which you expect to see and but nothing special. There were nice photographs but on the whole the ones which are in all the text books. There were two late portrait photos of the men themselves I'd not seen before. However it was nice that it was in the same room as their portraits.

Journeyings: Recent Works on Paper by Frank Bowling RA

2011-06-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

Small exhibition of recent works by this Royal Academician at the Royal Academy.

OK I have to admit I didn’t really get them! They just looked like paint had been thrown at paper! I found they were rather dwarfed by the grand Tennant Room. I did however like 3 portraits he had drawn in the 1960s. Maybe I should have done this before the Watteau!

Watteau : the drawings

2011-06-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

Exhibition of exquisite drawings by Watteau at the Royal Academy.

I must admit I’m not a fan of 17th century French paintings but these drawings seemed to have more immediacy and life than the paintings. It was a nicely arranged exhibition with a good tape tour which told you just enough without getting bogged down.

It explained well how he moved from using red chalk, to black and red and finally to black, red and white and the difference those techniques made.

I loved the studies of heads from different angles arranged beautifully on a page. My favourite picture was a study of the back of a woman sitting on the ground which showed in detail the elaborate draping of her dress.

Reviews
Daily Telegraph
Independent
Evening Standard

Rainbow Division Memorial

2011-06-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

New statue which is temporarily in the courtyard of the Royal Academy for the duration of the Summer Exhibition.

It is cheating a bit to blog this as a separate entry to the exhibition but it is so lovely I thought I should, plus I wanted to get it on the blog quickly and I’ve not seen the exhibition yet!

The statue is a memorial to the Rainbow Division, the 42nd division of the US National Guard in the First World War. It will be placed at the site of a battle which took place in July 1918 at Croix Rouge Farm where 162 of the division were killed.

It is a classic statue of a First World War soldier carrying a dead colleague by James Butler. There is a poignant contrast between the heavy uniform of the live soldier and the semi—naked loose form of the dead one. It looks lovely against the buildings of Burlington House and I am pleased it has been shown there for a short time before going to France.

Collier Campbell

2011-06-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

Lovely exhibition at the National Theatre showcasing the work of fabric designing sisters Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell.

I would have said I had not heard of this company however as I looked round I realised how many of the designs were familiar and in fact might be covering my sofa!

The exhibition features big design boards covering each of the 5 decades the company had been operating. There was also a wall of design sketches for sale. I admit I weakened and bought one! I wanted one called simple flowers but have had a phone call to say it has already gone so instead I’ve gone for a more simple one called ‘Damask’.

The Forty Part Motet

2011-05-31T12:57:00.000-07:00

Fabulous installation piece at the Fabrica Gallery in Brighton by Janet Cardiff.

It was part of the Brighton Festival and involved 40 speakers each playing one of the parts in Spem in Alium, a motel for 40 voices by Thomas Tallis.

This was such a magical experience. The first time it played through when I was there I just sat and listened with my eyes shut to the amazing blend of sound. It was so relaxing.

The next 2 times I walked round listening to the individuals voices and delighted in how different speakers came in an out of the arrangement. It was wonderful to hear a voice to come in unexpectedly behind you.

I also liked the fact that the talk before the performance was recorded too so as you walked round you heard quiet snippets of conversation. As I sing in a choir I recognised the conversation as true choir speak!

Radical Bloomsbury: The Art of Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, 1905-1925

2011-05-31T12:55:00.000-07:00

Superb exhibition at the Brighton Royal Pavilion and Art Galleries of the early work of Duncan Bell and Vanessa Bell.

It was full of old friends such as Duncan’s ‘The Bathers’ which hit you afresh as you walked in. However there were also some super pictures which I had not seen before. Paintings were hung well together to create a dialogue, such as pictures by both artists of a camp site.

I think this period saw the product of most of the artists’ best work so it was good to see a such a concentrated examination of it.

There was a lovely video to go with the exhibition which just lasts about 6 minutes and comes at the end so it does not distract from the pictures.

Reviews
Times

Naked

2011-05-31T12:52:00.000-07:00

Small exhibition at Charleston Farmhouse of works by Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell which look at drawing the body.

Most of the pictures are life studies of nudes. The notes covered not only how the pictures were done but also often who the models were and how the artists found them. It also included a few pictures by Vanessa of her children.

This was the first exhibition of work drawn from thousands of sketches, sketchbooks and paintings that make up the Angelica Garnett Gift to Charleston and I look forward to many more exhibitions of this quality from the collection.

Bridget Riley

2011-05-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

Nice exhibition at the National Gallery of work by Bridget Riley.

There was a great use of colour which meant the black and white ones seem to be about lack of colour. The display included a series based on same shapes in different combination of the same colours included one painted directly on wall with a temporary passing quality.

Reviews
Sunday Times
Guardian
Daily Telegraph
Evening Standard

Jan de Beer: Antwerp Mannerist

2011-05-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

Small display at the National Gallery of works by Jan de Beer to compliment the Gossaert exhbtion.

De Beer broke with traditional Netherlandish artists like Gosseart using expressive figures in architectural spaces. The exhibition includes a analysis of altar piece debating if it was for a female, scholarly patron because of the female saints and use of books. There were beautiful female saints in ornate clothes.

The exhibition also included lovely drawings.

An American Experiment

2011-05-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

Small exhibition at the National Gallery of works by George Bellows and the Aschan Group, a group of American artists from the early 20th century who looked at the modern world.

When you first saw pictures from the door they strike you as landscapes but many are urban pictures of New York. “Blue Snow, The Battery” was an amazing snowscape with the city forming the hills in the background across the river. I thought Bellows came out as the best artist and the exhibition has a slight feel of the Scottish Colourists.

Reviews
Daily Telegraph
Independent

Neapolitan and Spanish Drawings from the Baroque

2011-04-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

Small exhibition at the Christchurch Gallery in Oxford which looked at the role of drawing in Spain and Naples in the 17th century.

It discussed the connections between the 2 geographical areas where drawing is rare because it was not seen as essential to the growth of artistic ideas.

There were many lovely works including Ribera’s St Irene which was the star of the show. I loved a picture by Preti of the Vision of St Anthony where he had offered the patron two versions of picture via stuck on flap on paper giving him a chance to choose his tabernacle.

Gosseart : Netherlandish tradition

2011-04-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

Lecture at the National Gallery to accompany the current Gosseart exhibition.

This lecture was given by Catherine Reynolds an independent scholar and put Gasseart into the context of Netherlandish art at the time. She claimed that would have had access to many earlier work including the Arnolfini Wedding as he worked as a picture restored for Margaret of Austria. Although he took on many new innovations from Italy he put these into the context of early Netherlandish work. She outlined how Gossaert adapted the style of earlier painters such as false frames in portraits.

Jan Gossaert’s Renaissance

2011-04-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

Nice exhibition at the National Gallery looking at the career of the Netherlandish artist Jan Gossaert.

The exhibition aims to put Gossaert into context and re-establish him as one of the great artists of his day. I am not sure it succeeds. It is a good overview of his career and I am sure he was very innovative but the ideas he brought in were followed very quickly by others so it is hard to get a true view of how ground breaking he was. There are many excellent works in the show but because he was influence by many people and things you don’t get a sense of one artistic vision.

My favourite section was the portraits. The very focused views of men of the time with false frames behind them throwing them into your space were super and you can’t help but love the portrait of the small Danish princess.

It was also super to see his Adoration of the Magi with preparatory drawings and pictures which influenced the picture such as an etching of dogs by Durer.

Reviews
Times
Guardian
Daily Telegraph
Independent

Man, myth and sensual pleasures: Jan Gossart’s Renaissance

2011-02-28T14:31:00.000-08:00

Fascinating lecture to introduce the new exhibition on Jan Gossart at the National Gallery given by Maryan Ainsworth, Curator of Painting at the Metropolitan Museum.

The lecture went through the main themes of the exhibition and outlined new research which had been done for it.

There was an interesting section on Gossart’s trip to Rome with Philip of Burgundy on an embassy to Julius II and how he later pulled on images he’s seen there and sketches he’d done.

I was particularly interested in the section on new research which shows that Gossart worked closely with Gerard David, whose work I love. The lecturer called this a ‘prestige collaboration’ ie 2 artists coming together to work as equals.

A taste of Spain

2011-02-28T14:21:00.000-08:00

One of a series of lectures at the National Gallery in the Paul Mellon Lecture series for 2011.

Given by Elizabeth Prettlejohn, this was a fascinating dense look at the how Victorian artists’ discovered Spanish art and the effect it had on their work. She looked at when significant works entered British collections and who would have seen them. She also outlined contemporary art historic writing on Spain.

Unfortunately I only managed to get to one lecture in the series so did not pick up on and follow the theme.

Henry Aldrich (1648 -1710) - An Oxford Universal Man

2011-02-28T14:11:00.000-08:00

Nice little exhibition at Christchurch College Gallery in Oxford focusing on the life of Henry Aldrich, Dean of the college on the late 17th century.

The exhibition focused on Henry Aldrich as a collector, looking especially at his collection of prints. It also looked at how he used the prints for his own designs.

I liked the section on a design he did for a stained glass window which showed the original print it was based on, Aldrich’s design and a drawing of the window which has now been destroyed by a student.

The exhibition included my all time favourite print Durer’s “St Jerome in his study” a real virtuoso work in which you can see more every time you look at it.

Lucien Pissarro in England : the Ergany Press 1895-1913

2011-01-30T13:45:00.000-08:00

Nice exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum looking at the work of Camille Pissaro’s son Lucien and the private press he ran in the years leading up to the First World War.

The exhibition included all 32 books produced by the press and was a study not only of the art works produced but also of how a private press operated. It compared this press to others in this era such as the Kelmscott Press.

This was a world I knew very little about despite it being an artistic period I am interested in so it shed light on a new aspect of the early 20th century.

Reviews
Independent

British Drawings in the Age of the Eragny Press

2011-01-30T13:40:00.000-08:00

Small exhibition of drawings at the Ashmolean Museum to compliment their exhibition on Lucien Pissaro’s Eragny Press.

This show looked at the progress in drawing after 1913 in particular the role of the Slade School. I must admit I found the link tenuous however it was a good excuse to show some lovely drawings. There were some nice Ruskins and a study for Sickert’s ‘Ennui’. I particularly liked an Augustus John of a Canadian soldier.

Ben Johnson in conversation

2011-01-15T16:31:00.000-08:00

Super talk at the National Gallery between the artist Ben Johnson and Colin Wiggins, Head of Education at the gallery.

This talk complimented the current exhibition of Ben Johnson’s work at the gallery which has included him working on a new picture of Trafalgar Square.

It was really fascinating to hear an artist talk about the ethos of his work. He said he was fascinated by numbers and measurements and has always analysed pictures geometrically. It was interesting to hear how the current picture had developed over many years starting with photographs from the gallery roof and how he had then wondered if any pictures in the gallery equated to it. He found Canaletto’s “Stone Mason’s Yard” broke down into the same shapes and proportions.

I liked hearing him talk about the Liverpool townscape in the exhibition as I had seen it in Liverpool as few years ago. He was very moving about how the people of the city had reacted to it and made the picture develop since he finished it.

Joy Division

2011-01-15T16:19:00.000-08:00

A small exhibition of photos by Kevin Cummins of the band Joy Division at Somerset House.

In the commentary he talks about working on film rather than with a digital camera and the importance this gives to waiting for a moment.It included rehearsal and concert photos plus cover shots and showed Manchester in late 70s looking retro plus moody.

Breon O’Casey: Paintings, Sculpture and Prints

2011-01-15T16:12:00.000-08:00

Exhibition of recent work by Breon O’Casey at Somerset House .

Breon is a contemporary of artist from St Ives and this exhibition included paintings, sculpture and prints.

I liked the sculpture and the prints, particularly the prints of birds as thy were both colourful and peaceful. However I was not convinced by very abstract paintings.

Drawings and prints from Courtauld collection of C16th and C17th Flemish and Netherlandish peasants.

2011-01-15T16:03:00.000-08:00

Small exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery of 16th and 17th century works on paper to compliment the Cezannae card players exhibition.

This gallery focused on the Flemish and Netherlandish tradition of portraying peasant life. The grotesque features and vulgar poses of the people amused urban audiences but the landscape show they wanted their countryside unspoilt.

There was a wonderful Bruegel the Elder drawing for a print complete with mobile brothel in the centre.

Cezanne Card Players

2011-01-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

Small concentrated exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery looking at Cezanne’s pictures of card players.

The exhibition had five paintings plus preparatory works and highly finished drawings. It was a rare opportunity to see these works together and was a good study of how the pictures developed.

The models were farm workers on the family estate. The studies done individually then grouped in the imagination and studio. It is thought that he painted then as monumental figures suggesting an unchanging way of life.

The exhibition also included lovely studies of individual peasants in tones of blue and brown. Often shown in the studio with known works behind them.

Reviews
Times
Daily Telegraph
Independent

Venice: Canaletto and his Rivals

2011-01-15T15:40:00.000-08:00

Lovely exhibition at the National Gallery looking at the work of Canaletto and comparing it to the work of other artists working in Venice at the time.

Each room subtly featured a different rival and discussed each of them and their comparative strengths. Carlevarjis pictures invariably had a gondolier with no shirt on in the middle. One section features three versions of the same view by Canaletto and his nephews.

Canalettos work came out of it well and you realised what a clichéd view of him you have. Although many of the works are the picture postcards of their day the early work has much bolder brush strokes and less stylised views. In others such as one of the Ascension day ones you realised how thick the paint was in the detailed sections. Canaletto was always looking for a new view or image and his style changed through out his career. A clever trick was to have same view done in year of Canaletto's birth and death to show change in style.

And of course he was a master of dog painting even if they were small! I loved one of dogs doing the bottom sniffing thing they so like!

Reviews
Times
Daily Telegraph
Independent
Evening Standard

Ben Johnson: Modern Perspectives

2011-01-15T15:27:00.000-08:00

Wonderful exhibition/happening at the National Gallery of 2 townscapes by Ben Johnson plus a 3rd which he and his team were working on.

I had seen his work before in Liverpool and was delighted that the Liverpool picture was in the exhibition.

The new picture was of Trafalgar Square from one corner of the roof of the gallery and it was fascinating to see such a familiar place from a new angle. It was also so interesting to see it developing and to see the artist themselves working on it. He uses computer cut stencils and spray paint to build up the picture gradually into a wonderfully clear almost hyper real scene.

I have had to go back since to see how it had developed and watch out for a blog on a talk he gave about the project. This was a perfect companion ehibition to the Canaletto one.
Review
Evening Standard

Diaghilev And the Golden Age of Ballet Russes 1900-1939

2011-01-03T15:45:00.000-08:00

Super exhibition at the V&A looking at the work of Serge Diaghilev and his influential dance company the Ballet Russes.

The exhibition started with a good section putting his work into context looking at Russia, Diaghilev’s life to this point and ballet at the time. It was interesting to think that he began work just 19 years after Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty was premiered.

There was a magical section which showed various stages of set design for Firebird including squared up design and the real thing. It was magical to turn round and realise the real back curtain was there hung the full height of the gallery and creating a wonderful installation projection of the dance in silhouette against the designs. You then went round corner to Picasso front cloth of "Two Women Running on the Beach" for "Le Train Bleu".

Favourite pieces? A costume for the filmstar in La Pastorale which was a Renaissance bodice and short fringe skirt. Also an early purple dress for Scheherazade.

Reviews
Times
Daily Telegraph
Independent
Evening Standard

Imperial Chinese Robes from the Forbidden City

2011-01-03T15:40:00.000-08:00

Luscious exhibition at the V&A of royal robes worn by the emperors and empresses of the Qing Dynasty, the last ruling dynasty of China (1644-1911).

The clothes were displayed as beautiful objects and grouped by use and purpose rather than date. This was partly because the style of the outfits did not change over the three centuries. There was lots of detail on what clothes were worn when and what different motifs meant.

I found had questions in my mind as I went round such I wonder how often they were worn and if they were handed on to the next emperor? However just when I wanted some info on how they were made I got it in a nice display on the material and tailoring. I loved a piece of material with a gown embroidery on ready to cut out like a paper pattern.

My favourite items which I wanted to wear were a red and purple empress’s skirt with a fur hem and a rather plain but classy brown and gold empress’s regular dress.

Trentannidisegno or Thirty years of design

2010-12-30T15:52:00.000-08:00

Slightly confusing exhibition at the Ara Pacis in Rome which looked at the work of a Inarea Identity and Design Network, “an international network of independent designers, architects, strategists and consultants, specializing in the creation and management of identity systems”.

OK I’m quoting from the website as I was a bit confused. I think they design brand identities and the exhibition included a display of these iconic images. It also had a selection of wonderful models of major buildings made in odd materials such as Big Ben made of pencils.

Cranach : the other Renaissance

2010-12-30T15:50:00.000-08:00

Wonderful exhibition at the Borghese Gallery in Rome using works by Lucas Cranach to compare the Southern and Northern Renaissance.

The gallery used the works in its own collection of Southern Renaissance works to contrast with works by Cranach. On the whole the Northern works stood up well although you had to bare in mind that the Northern and Southern views of beauty were different.

It would have been good to have more time. We were booked into the limited 2 hour slot and had to do the exhibition and the gallery which sadly needed at least half an hour with the Caravaggio’s! Oh for a longer holiday when we could have gone back!

The "Two Wrestlers" by Michelangelo

2010-12-30T15:46:00.000-08:00

Small exhibition at the Capitoline Museum in Rome to mark the loan to the museum of a terracotta ‘sketch’ of two wrestlers by the Casa Buonarroti in Florence.

The small sculpture was displayed in the middle of a beautiful room under heavy security. You were able to walk all the way round and study it in detail. There was a fascinating video on how it was packed and unpacked.

I would have liked to see a bit more background information putting the work into context. It was displayed as a beautiful thing.

The book of the dead

2010-11-19T15:47:00.000-08:00

Charming exhibition at the British Museum looking at the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead.

It had many examples and the exhibition not only looked at the meaning of the different spells but also the iconography and the people who had commissioned the books. The book of Ani was particularly beautiful with detailed illustrations.

The artefacts were lovely too and a nice touch was that the one mummy in the exhibition had her clay slabs with her in the correct position.

I loved the fact that people chose different spells from a list. I fancied the one to turn me into a lotus and the one to kill beetles!

Reviews
Times
Daily Telegraph
Evening Standard

Glasgow boys and girls, Mr and Mrs Macintosh and the Dark Daughter of the North

2010-11-14T10:13:00.000-08:00

Excellent lecture at the Royal Academy given by Tony Jones, Chancellor of the School of Art Institute of Chicago, to compliment the current Glasgow Boys exhibition.

The lecture looked in detail how the Glasgow boys together, what their connection with Glasgow was and what were the influences on them.

My only criticism as that it ran well overtime as it started to be 2 good lectures. He went on to talk about how the Glasgow Boys influenced those who came after them particularly MacIntosh and the Glasgow Girls. This was fascinating but he was starting to rush as some of the audience was getting a bit restless!

Artists' Laboratory 02: Stephen Farthing RA

2010-11-14T10:11:00.000-08:00

Second exhibition in a new series at the Royal Academy entitled “Artists Laboratory” which showcases more unusual work by Royal Academicians.

This one featured work by Stephen Farthing which examined famous paintings and produced works in response to them.

There was a lovely big picture of the Atlantic sea which reminded me of one of the large Monet water lilys. It was very calming.

He had also done a history of art represented by a tube map.

Pioneering painters : The Glasgow Boys 1880-1900

2010-11-14T10:09:00.000-08:00

Exhibition at the Royal Academy of the work of this school of painters based around Glasgow in the late 20th century.

The exhibition concentrated on the work they produced, what influenced it and how it challenged the art market of the time. I found it odd that as a group they had challenged the sentimentality of Victorian art and yet I found many of the pictures very sentimental.

I want to like the Glasgow boys but I can’t quite manage to.

Reviews
Guardian
Independent

Ron Freeborn

2010-11-14T10:07:00.000-08:00

Small exhibition at the Cornerstone in Didcot of works by Ron Freeborn, a local artist.

I found this exhibition very interesting as Ron had been head of the art department at my school, not that I studied art! Family friends have a large picture by him dominating their dining room.

He’d not lost his touch over the years and there were some lovely landscapes.

Visions of England

2010-10-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

Fourth in a series of lectures at the National Gallery complimenting the Channel 4 “Genius of Art” series.

This one was given by Sir Roy Strong and discussed what defines England and proposed that it is the land and how it is represented in art via landscape. It looked in detail at the 18th century landscapes of Constable and Gainsborough and comparing to John Piper in the war years.

The questions after the lecture were fascinating. Roy Strong had argued that the English more than the Celtic nations focused on land for their identity and this idea was challenged by the audience particularly ones with Scottish accents.

France 1500 : Between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance

2010-10-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

Wonderful exhibition about French art at the cusp of the Renaissance in France at the Galeries Nationales, Grand Palais in Paris.

It focused on the reigns of Charles VIII (1483-1498) and Louis XII (1498-1515), and was dominated by the personality of Anne de Bretagne, successively the wife of both kings. The first section looked at the different noble courts and difference influences on them, the next at major projects and the final section looked at Northern and Southern influences.

I think this my favourite period of art where the Medieval is reaching a final glorious culmination and just developing into the Renaissance. People in the art look like archetypal medieval types in tights and pointed hats.

My favourite section focused on the work of Jean Hey, a Flemish artist working in France who probably studied under Hugo van der Goes.

100 photos by Pierre & Alexandra Boulat

2010-10-26T14:19:00.000-07:00

Exhibition of photographs by father and daughter photo journalists, Pierre and Alexandra Boulat, at the Petit Palais in Paris.

I preferred the fathers work on the suburbs of Paris, women in America and WestPoint to the daughter’s work which focused on current war zones. I am sure her work was the harder hitting but somehow by focusing on the brutal side of war I found myself being desensitised.

My favourite picture was by Pierre of two soldiers dancing at WestPoint. He had a vey honest eye.

Counterpoint

2010-10-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

Exhibition at the Louvre of contemporary Russian art.

This was rather imaginatively displayed in the medieval Lourve so very modern art was set against the foundations of a medieval keep. I love the space so it was fascinating to see it used in this way. The most dramatic exhibition projected flames into an alcove of the architecture.

I loved a series of Staffordshire style ceramics by the AES & F Group contrasting opposites in society such as an anarchist and a policeman.

Art for the people

2010-10-15T04:26:00.000-07:00

Second in a series of lectures at the National Gallery complimenting the Channel 4 “Genius of Art” series.

This one was given Gus Casely-Hayford and explored William Hogarth’s revolutionary pioneering of art for the people. In particular he speculated on how his ancestor, a newly arrived freed slave in 18th century London would have related to them.

In particularly enjoyed the discussion following the lecture as the questions were are erudite as the answers.

A London Bestiary

2010-10-15T04:24:00.000-07:00

Lovely exhibition at the National Theatre of photographs by Ianthe Ruthven of familiar animals and birds on London buildings.

These were super photographs and a nice mix of familiar faces such as the lions in Trafalgar Square and carving you had not notices before. Personally I am off to look for the lion and unicorn sliding down an arch on Westminster Abbey!

Power and Personality

2010-10-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

First in a series of lectures at the National Gallery complimenting the Channl 4 “Genius of Art” series.

This one was given by David Starkey and looked at the way the British Monarchy have used portraiture seeing Holbein and the Tudors as the epitome of this.

David Starkey was a lively speaker and attracted a big audience. He made interesting points and set unusual images beside each other such as a Testino photo of Princess Diana next to the portrait of Christina of Denmark.

Quentin Bell – Illustrator

2010-10-01T04:10:00.000-07:00

Lovely exhibition at Charleston Farmhouse of small intimate pictures by Quentin Bell drawn for his children.

Many of the pictures were bound into books complete with stories. The pictures were fine and detailed and full of princesses. I loved a history book including a 1900 picnic!

Andrea Bates

2010-10-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

Exhibition at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot of work by Andrea Bates of landscape pictures in oil and pastel.

On the whole the pictures worked better from a distance but I liked the ones of fields on hillsides.

Camille Silvy: Photographer of Modern Life

2010-10-01T04:06:00.000-07:00

Exhibition of the work of this pioneering early photographer at the National Portrait Gallery.

I must admit although I am sure the works were innovative at the time but I did find the works quite boring! I did like the London scenes but found the endless portraits dull.

It did however give a good view of a photographic business at the time and I loved the fact they had a dress which his wife wore in one set of images.

Reviews
Guardian
Evening Standard

BP Portrait Award 2010

2010-10-01T04:03:00.000-07:00

Annual exhibition for this prize for portrait painting at the National Portrait Gallery .

I thought this years exhibition was very good as there were less abstract works than previous years. Here seemed to be an emphasis on busy backgrounds such as wallpaper or skulls and quite closely cropped faces.

Despite this my favourite was “Mary” by Wendy Elia which was a picture of her mother aged 87 with her favourite things around her such as her grandchild, her dogs and her Land Army medal. I must admit the baby was a bit scarey!

Reviews
Times
Independent

The Phoenix and the Pelican: two portraits of Elizabeth I

2010-10-01T04:01:00.000-07:00

Small temporary exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery bringing together 2 portraits of Elizabeth I, The Phoenix portrait from the gallery’s own collection and the Pelican from the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.

This was a rare chance to see these works together. The gallery had studied them closely while they were there and decided that they are by the same artist who was probably Nicholas Hilliard. I loved comparing the jewellery and think the collar is the same in both pictures and also appeared on other pictures around them. It had different pearls hanging from it but was the same basic collar.

Reviews
Guardian

Sir Henry Rushbury : Drawings, watercolours and prints

2010-09-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

Small exhibition at the Royal Academy of works on paper by Sir Henry Rushbury.

I was struck by the fact that the works encompassed both Edwardian classical topographic works and contemporary Second World War factory scenes. I found the works a bit soulless but this may be because I had already done the colorful Sargent sea pictures.

Hartgrove : paintings and photographs

2010-09-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

First exhibition in a new series at the Royal Academy entitled “Artists Laboratory” which showcases more unusual work by Royal Academicians.

This exhibition looked at works by Ian McKeever inspired by a move from London to Dorset. There were lovely black and white photographs of every day objects such as tea cups which concentrated on how light hit the objects and was reflected by them. There were also big paintings inspired by the landscape but I must admit I didn’t really get those.

The lovely thing about the exhibition was that is was in the two Weston Rooms and very quiet so I have the magical experience of having these two beautiful rooms to myself for about 5 minutes. It was a wonderful contrast to the clamor in these rooms during the Summer Exhibition!

Reviews

Evening Standard

Sargent and the Sea

2010-09-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

Nice concentrated exhibition at the Royal Academy of sea pictures by John Singer Sargent.

Sargent’s sea pictures tended to be his early works and in later life almost his holiday pictures. He shows a wonderful understanding of the sea and an ability to catch the idea of movement in water.

I particularly liked 2 galleries which looked in detail at a picture and the studies which were done for it. In each case “En Route pour la peche” and “Neapolitan children bathing” the pictures looked spontaneous but were in fact completed in the studio and based on extensive studies.

My favorite picture was one of an Atlantic storm from a steamship which gave a real sense of mountainous waves and dipping sea. I felt slightly queasy looking at it!

Reviews

South Africa Landscape

2010-09-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

Garden in the courtyard at the front of the British Museum to highlight the wealth of plant life in South Africa.

This is organised by the museum and Kew Gardens and follows on from last years Indian garden. It is lovely to see the space outside the museum used and to have living things in it. I love the vista’s through the garden of the buildings around it.

Maison Martin Margiela '20’ : The Exhibition

2010-08-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

Classy exhibition at Somerset House marking the 20^th anniversary of the Paris fashion house Maison Martin Margiela.

I must admit I couldn’t visualise myself in the clothes but I felt they were clothes as art. I loved the trompe l’oeil works especially the boots which looks like sandals with legs! More importantly it was a wonderful laid out exhibition which was also an art work in itself. I liked the display of the shoulders of jackets to show tailoring techniques and the room upstairs with easy chairs from which to watch videos of fashion shows.

National art and Design Saturday Club Summer School

2010-08-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

An exhibition at Somerset House of work by 100 young people aged 14-16 attending Saturday morning art and design classes at Cleveland College of Art and Design, Hereford College of Art, Leeds College of Art and Plymouth College of art.

It was just a small exhibition but I felt a buzz for the children that they had a show at a prestigious venue. In particular I liked the groups which had made plaster casts of their torsos and decorated them.

Fourth Plinth : 2010 shortlist exhibition

2010-08-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

Exhibition to show the six shortlisted finalists for the next competition to find an art work for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square held at St Martin in the Fields.

I love the idea of using this Plinth for modern public works of art so rushed to the exhibition on its first weekend. It was a small exhibition in a nice space and it was great to hear people talking about the works and enthusiastically voting.

I’d seen press coverage of the finalists the day before and made my mind up which one I liked best. But on the day I changed my mind and voted for “It’s never too late and you can’t go back” by Mariele Neudecker. This was a mountainscape on stilts. From the press coverage I had though it would look dull from below as all you would see would be the bottom however I’d not appreciated that the plate of the bottom was a map of Great Britain. As one of the two winners will be in the Square during the Olympics I felt this was appropriate.

Reviews

Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art

2010-08-08T05:24:00.000-07:00

Nice exhibition at the British Library looking at the history of maps concentrating on how they were used and displayed.

I liked that fact they were displayed as they would have been categorizing the display areas as the rooms in which they would have been shown and that it looked at them as objects rather than concentrating on how they had been made.

It was also good to see the old and new mixed and I spent ages looking and laughing with the Grayson Perry Mappa Mundi.

My favorite piece was a tapestry from the 17th century which was one of a series made for a landowner. I was intrigued to find that the tapestry on show was of Oxfordshire, where I was born and brought up. I loved the small depictions of the local towns and villages.

Reviews
Times
Daily Telegraph

Reading Van Gogh

2010-07-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

Plenary lecture to mark the end of the first week of the Courtauld Summer School.

This was given by John House who had recently retired from the Courtauld and looked at the work on Van Gogh focusing on his time at the Yellow House and comparing his outlook on art to Gauguin’s. Van Gogh had invited Gauguin to Arles thinking they thought the same way about art but this lecture pointed out the differences and the almost inevitable conflicts which emerged.

Frederick Cayley Robinson: Acts of Mercy

2010-07-17T10:27:00.000-07:00

A nice exhibition at the National Gallery examining the Acts of Mercy pictures by Frederick Cayley Robinson which were rescued by the Wellcome Trust from the Middlesex Hospital when it was demolished.

It was lovely to see these pictures again as I’d last known them at the Middlesex when I visited a friend having an operation. The exhibition put them into context with examples for the sort of work Cayley Robinson had seen in Italy and based these on alongside other works by him.

Courtauld summer school day 5

2010-07-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

The week has gone so fast! You just get a rhythm and routine and it’s over!

The morning’s lectures begin with looking at the landscape tradition in the Italian and German Renaissance. It looked at how the practice of landscape came from the Netherlands to Italy and then fed into Germany. We saw how in Germany there was a culture of representing the forest and discussed the allegory of this.

The second lecture took the same area and period and looked at portraits. Again the Netherlands led the way but we looked in detail at how Venice developed this tradition. We discussed the social changes which were reflected by the growth in portrait painting.

The afternoon trip was the National Gallery where we looked at the wonderful set of Cranachs there moving on to the Holbeins and the Altdorfers what may be the first landscape study in art. We then looked at the Italian side concentrating on the Titians.

So what have I learn this week? Sadly that I’m not sure I like German art! I now understand it better but it doesn’t move me. I did learn to distinguish between Netherlandish Northern Europe which I love and Germanic. They are very different traditions.

Fra Angelico to Leonardo: Italian Renaissance Drawings

2010-07-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

Fantastic exhibition at the British Museum bringing together the Italian Renaissance drawings from its own collection at that of the Uffizi.

Where do you start?! Possibly by saying I was there for 2 1/2/ hours! It was very good at looking at why artists drew and the different techniques used while still letting the pictures speak as works of art. It was well paced and never felt too crowded.

Every artist you’d want to see was there and actually I loved seeing the Titian, Carpaccio’s, Signorelli’s etc more than the big hitters like Leonardo! It was great to see the Bellini sketchbook from the British Museum as it’s such an iconic Renaissance object.

Reviews
Times
Daily Telegraph
Evening Standard

Courtauld summer school day 4

2010-07-17T10:21:00.000-07:00

Today was a bit different as we did the gallery bit in the morning by going to the Strang Print Room at UCL. This was fascinating as I’d never come across it before. Open to the public it givens access to UCL’s art collection including the archive of the Slade.

On this course we were looking at prints by Durer and his contemporaries. It was a great chance to compare the different techniques he used wood cut, engraving and etching. I loved getting up really close to the Madonna and the monkey and seeing all the subtlety in it.

The afternoons’ lectures began with Lucas Cranach taking him as a comparison to Durer and looking at why he painted I the style he did when there is evidence that he could use a finer approach. After tea we looked at the work of Grunewald, in particular the Grunewald altar piece, again as comparison to Durer.

1:1 : Architects build small spaces

2010-07-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

Exhibition at the V&A in which the museum invited architects to submit proposals for structures that examine notions of refuge and retreat and selected seven submissions to construct at full-scale.

I must admit I wasn’t too sure about this exhibition. I didn't really understand what it was trying to do but I must admit I only had time to see 4 of the works. I did love the work in the gardens which was meant to be a climbing structure but did remind me from a distance of a big elephant. Also the big book tower at the bottom of the stairs to the library. I want one!

Reviews
Times

Courtauld summer school day 3

2010-07-14T11:44:00.000-07:00

Gosh this enjoying yourself is really tiring! Today’s lectures merged into each other either side of the coffee break.

First was a talk on Gothic sculpture in Germany which was fascinating as I knew nothing about it before. It focused on the big altar pieces and looked at the difference between the polychrome and monochrome ones and why each was used.

After coffee we looked at why this style continued so long in Germany and how the Renaissance style began to creep in and why.

The afternoon was a trip to the new Medieval and Renaissance Galleries to look at the German sculpture there and the little bit of Venetian. We then went upstairs to look at how Durer prints had influenced design and other forms of carving.

Courtauld summer school day 2

2010-07-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

Another really stimulating day at the Courtauld Summer school. Today’s lectures look at art in Venice when Durer arrived. It focused on the use of colour in the pictures and in particular how they used colour to create light effects.

The second lecture looked particularly at Durer in Venice. It examined what the Venetian’s knew of him before he arrived. They knew his woodcuts which by this time were circulating throughout Europe. We then looked at the work he did while he was there focusing on the “Madonna of the Rose Garlands” painted for the German church. Finally we looked at what he took away from the trip.

The afternoon was a visit to the National Gallery. We began with the small picture of St Jerome by Durer which I’d never really looked at before and moved onto the Venetian pictures. Although I’d looked at many of these works on the course last year this put them in a new context.

Blood Tears Fear Doubt

2010-07-14T11:31:00.000-07:00

An insightful small exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery which examines the role of works created from a stand point of faith in a more secular world.

The exhibition is curated by students on the Courtaulds’s MA in Curating the Art Museum. I liked a small room with a small devotional picture and ivory which put them back in their original context of an object to be examined at close quarters and in detail.