Cathy's Art Diary

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lovely exhibition at the National Theat re 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!

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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