Cathy's Art Diary

Super study day at the Courtauld Institute looking at their current exhibition “Becoming Picasso: Paris 1901”. The first lecture was by the curator of the exhibition Barnaby Wright who took us through the hang and described why he had hung various works together, who he chose them and how he got hold of some of them. Next was Lois Oliver from the University of Notre Dame in London talking about why artists and Picasso in particular came to Paris. I thought the speakers in the morning were very good and clear with well-structured talks. Kicking off the afternoon was Rachel Sloan, the Assistant Curator of Works on Paper at the Courtauld Gallery talking about symbolism in Picasso’s work at this time and placing it in an art historic context.   This was interesting but I wish she had talked slightly more slowly as it was sometimes a bit difficult follow her argument and particularly to pick up the more technical words. The final talk was by Anne Robbins, the Assistant Curato...

The first session of this six week course at the National Gallery focusing on the art of the 17th century. This week looked at Caravaggio, the Counter-reformation and the Baroque and was led by the course tutor Lucrezia Walker. The first half discussed what the Baroque was by taking two artists Bernini and Caravaggio as examples. I am not sure I’d ever considered Caravaggio to be Baroque mainly because I like him and don’t like Baroque which I think of as more about fussy visuals and flying babies! It was interesting to consider the changed from the rather cooler High Renaissance to the flamboyant Baroque. The second half looked in more detail at the religious pictures of Caravaggio. I had never thought before about the fact that all his pictures are set in interiors even if they are an obvious exterior subject such as the road to Damascus. I would have liked to hear a bit more about the Counter –reformation and the Council of Trent but we have got five more weeks to ...

Very good morning workshop at the National Gallery looking in detail at “The Madonna del Gatto” in the current Barocci exhibition. The first section looked at the painting in detail, examining who it was painted for but also looking at the details in it. I hadn’t spotted the lovely prayer book in the basket at the front. We then looked at the art historic context placing it within Barocci’s career and looking at his technique. We also discussed whether he could be described as a Mannerist artist or is he more Baroque. He last session was in the main galleries looking at works which related to the painting. We looked at a lovely Correggio of the virgin fitting a jacket she’s made on the Christ child. I’d walked past this picture so often but never stopped and looked at it properly. We also looked at Parmigianino's "Madonna and Child with Saints" which keeps coming up in lectures!

Interesting exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum taking Sickert’s “Gallery of the Old Bedford” to explore 20th century music hall. I would have liked to see more artefacts with the painting, in fact I almost felt I was missing some if it. However the best this was a wonderful installation in the gallery showing the picture. It was a 20 minute play projected on screens around you to give different views of what was happening. It was about a retired music hall singer moving into an old folk’s home and reflecting on her life through her possessions. It was very touching. Unfortunately I didn’t note down who had done it and the web site doesn’t tell me. I’d love to know more.

Clever exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum looking at trade and diplomacy between England and Russia in the 16th and 17th centuries. The basis of the exhibition was a loan from Russia of an amazing collection of silver which had been given to Russia as diplomatic gifts in this period. These were items which could have been melted down in the Civil War if they had not gone abroad so they are almost unique pieces. Around this loan the museum then used other objects to discuss what the Tudor and Stuart courts were like and the role of diplomacy. I liked the display of armour beside an armorers record book. I loved the little chain mail ankle socks! The best item was a beautiful portrait of Thomas Smith, governor of the Muscovy Company and the best fact I learnt was that the pelicans in St James Park are descended from those given to Charles II by the Then Tsar! I’ll save that one up for a pub quiz! Reviews Telegraph Evening Standard   ...

Blockbuster exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum looking at the life and work of David Bowie which and unprecedented access to his archives. I must admit I came out of this exhibition a bit confused. It was a sumptuously arranged show particularly the latter half which showcased his stage costumes.   I loved the high ceilinged room with floor to ceiling screens showing film of live performances with costumes in front of them. I suspect most of the people in the exhibition at any given time are standing mesmerized in that room.   I would gripe though that there were also costumes behind the screens which you just got glimpses of. It would have been nice to see them properly. Another gripe was the tape tour. It was an innovative idea to set off sounds and commentary as you walked round but it didn’t always work at the pace you had to walk round. I am still recovering from half an hour of repetitive snippets of Gilbert and George singing “Underneath the Arche...

Nice exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery of portrait busts by Jacob Epstein. These were beautifully displayed so you could walk all round most of them and were shown next to photographs of Epstein’s studios. It was a really clever use of a small space. They had been modelled in clay and cast in bronze. Epstein aimed to capture the physiological and physical presence of the sitter. I loved a very angular head of Nehru. Also head of Lucien Freud who married Epstein’s daughter Kitty but they were divorced four years later. He really was very beautiful as a young man but I was drawn to the quote from Epstein on the commentary “That spiv Lucian Freud turned out a nasty piece of work.”  

Fun exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery looking at the Victorian fashion for fancy dress. Fancy dress was seen as a way people could take on alternative personas. Queen Victoria held three fancy dress balls following her wedding and there were wonderful photos of Victoria and Albert in 18th century French dress. The photographer David Wilkie Wynfield produced a set of pictures of artists of the time in historic dress including Millais and Holman Hunt. A wonderfully different take on the Victorian who we often see as being rather stuffy.

Small display at the National Portrait Gallery of work by Alexander Bassano, a Victorian photographer. There were interesting photos of the Royal Family including the Duke of Connaught in fancy dress including ruby slippers and a leopard head! Also a picture of the last King of the Zulus who was captured and brought to England and caused quite a stir. Evidently the photo studio was mobbed while he was there. These days it’s the photographers doing the mobbing not being mobbed! I was interested in the set of society beauties at the end. Evidently not only actress but also society ladies would allow photographers to sell their images in return for royalties.

Small display at the National Portrait Gallery of photographs by Bob Collins of entertainment stars of the 1950s and 1960s. These were rather lovely informal pictures such as a nice picture of Tommy Steele in an East End London cobbled street. There was an interesting set of pictures called Famous Amateurs of famous people whose hobby was photography. These were very witty shots and I particularly liked one of Morecombe and Wise where Eric is hitting Ernie with a camera.

Interesting display at the National Portrait Gallery of work by the Cambridge photographer, Lettice Ramsey, focusing on pictures she took of the Bloomsbury Group including her friend Julian Bell and of his Cambridge contemporaries. Being a bit of a Bloomsbury nut I was fascinated by these pictures. The commentaries to the pictures gave nice explanations of the subject’s relationship to Julian Bell. I loved the pictures of his fellow members of the Apostles at Cambridge including Burgess, Maclean and Blunt. However my favourite had to be the picture of John Cornford and Ray Stevens. My goodness he was good looking!

Interesting little exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery showcasing 17th and 18th century drawings from their collection. The description of the show explained that is the age when drawing began to be collected in its own right and there was a growing trend for artists to sell finished preparatory sketches. It covered formal and informal works. There was a lovely picture of Henry Purcell by John Closterman where is head is almost appearing out of cloud. I really liked a relaxed picture of John Cartright leaning on a book by Henry Fuseli, a real sense of a friend drawing a friend. There were also fascinating commentaries on the work particularly where there was evidence from letters or diaries of the sittings for the drawing.   A nicely put together, thoughtful display.

Annual show of the Society of Botanical Artists at Methodist Central Hall in London. This was a real find of an exhibition, full of very detailed pictures of flowers and plants of almost Flemish intensity. I had assumed it would be quite a small show but quickly realised that I was only in section A of a whole alphabet! It took up most of the very large basement of the building and spread over a number of rooms. It was fascinating to listen to the other visitor many of whom seemed to members of the society and were commenting wisely and gave an added insight into the work. There was some attempt to add a theme of the language of flowers with some works having description if the symbolism of different plant but this was hardly needed the lovely works spoke for themselves. I’ll certainly look out for the show again next year.

Lovely exhibition at the Watts Gallery of work by Eleanor Fortesecue-Brickdale, often described as the last Pre-Raphaelite. By the end of Eleanor’s working life her style was quite old fashioned but the works were very delicate and engaging. A lot of her work was for book illustration and it was interesting to see the preparatory drawings and finished books together. There was also some lovely paintings such as a Renaissance style portrait Most interesting was a picture of Winifred Roberts who went on to become Winifred Nicholson, a real colliding of artistic worlds. This was the first time I had visited the Watts Gallery and I thought it was delightful and I’ll definitely be going back.

Small exhibition at High Cross House in Devon looking at the artistry and craft of basketry and organised by Basketry and Beyond, a not-for-profit organisation encouraging and furthering the craft and skills of basketry. There were examples of different basketry techniques and materials as well as a display of different types of objects. I was particularly taken by a pair of woven boots. On the day we went there were some of the basket weavers upstairs giving demonstrations and showing their work. There was also an area where you could try weaving a basket yourself. The smallest member of our party, aged 3, thought that was good fun, as did his parents!

Exhibition at High Cross House in Devon of work by Group 21 , one of the oldest groups of artists in the county. The group includes professional and semi-professional artists and there were some interesting works. My favourite was John Dodson’s “The Corner Shop” an striking almost cubist picture of factory chimneys. I also liked the abstract landscapes by Val Jones. Can I also put in a good word for the house? It is a National Trust property near Totnes and is a wonderful example of a Modernist house. I really liked the style of it and the few pieces of furniture which were on show. As not all of it is furnished the Trust are also using it as an exhibition space which works well.  

Nice exhibition of still life watercolours by Jenny Barron  at the Gallery at Birdwood House in Totnes. I found this exhibition while on holiday and it included some delightful pictures in Dutch style. I loved the pictures of shells and, for sentimental reasons, those of blue and white china shards. A good discovery on a nice day out! I was very tempted to buy!

Last session of a six week course at the Bishopsgate Institute looking at the art of the 19th century, a period of great changes in art and society. The course is led by James Heard and this session looked at symbolism at the end of the period. We began by looking at the growth of Art Nouveau and its influence throughout Europe and in all genres. I particularly interested to be introduced to the idea of the difference working in bronze made to sculpture because it was a string material than stone and more able to support itself so artists could achieve more innovative works without incorporating a contrived support structure. In the second half we concentrated on paintings including Gaughin’s, Klimt’s and Rossetti’s. This was an excellent course and really made me look at 19th century art with a fresh eye. I have taken a lot away from it.    

Surprising exhibition at the Royal Academy of work by The American realist artists George Bellows. I must admit I’d gone along as a follow up to the Manet exhibition but almost preferred this one. I particularly liked the early work such as the nude in the first room who was made more vulnerable by the fact she still had her shoes on. His New York pictures were fabulous. I liked the Penn Station picture which looked just like the current work in London at Tottenham Court Road! The leisure pictures were a bit clichéd but I loved a stunning seascape called “Forth and back”. I wasn’t convinced by his war pictures partly because they were based on newspaper reports rather than real life and smacked slightly of the “plucky little Belgiums” stage of the First World War. The later works were fascinating as he tried out different styles. As he died quite young it was hard to tell what his mature style would have been. Reviews Times Telegraph Independent ...

Interesting exhibition at the Royal Academy looking at Manet’s portraiture and the blurring between formal portraits and genre pictures using known people. One quote on the commentary on the pictures said it all about Manet “Use of the art of the past to create a new language of art to depict modern life”. Need I say more? Probably not but I will! I liked the parallels it drew between the artists of the past and Manet particularly those referring to Velazquez including the picture of Austruc who travelled with him to Spain.   Also that the labels said whether the work had been exhibited in his life time as that gave a clue as to whether it was a public or a private work. I would like to have seen a bit more about the history of the time and how the pictures fit in. There was a   good time line in one room but the works did not always link back to it but then again I had just read Ross King’s “Judgment of Paris”, which I heartily recommend, so I was seeped in ...