Cathy's Art Diary

The sixth session of this six week course at the National Gallery focusing on the art of the 17th century. This week looked at the Dutch Golden age with a lecture by the course leader, Lucrezia Walker, taking us through the different genres in Dutch art in this period from church interiors to vanitas still lives. The second half was a summing up of the six week course and a chance to ask questions. This was a really good course and I am just sorry I have to miss the next module.  

Interesting small exhibition at the National Gallery of works on loan from the Barber Institute at Birmingham University. This collection are the first twelve pictures which were bought for the Barber and which were displayed and stored at the National Gallery before the building was built and this is the first time they have returned since. It was a lovely little overview of the history of art with works by Poussin, Hals, Tinteretto, Monet and Manet and the descriptions on the pictures gave a good idea of why the pictures are important and a view of the price paid. The highlight was a lovely big unfinished portrait by Manet of Carolus-Duran which gives a good idea of his working methods.  

Talk at the Charleston Festival looking at the biographies of two fascinating 20th century figures. First Alex Danchev talked about Cezanne and showed us fascinating photographs of the artist painting. Then Lucy Hughes-Hallett talked about Gabriele d’Annunzio, a futuristic poet and politician, who is seen by many as the founder of Italian Fascism. Although both talks were very interesting it was a shame there wasn’t more of a link between the two men to bring the event together.  

Talk at the Charleston Festival looking at the role of muses in art. Henrietta Garnett talked about and read from her book “Wives and Stunners” which looks at the women who were muses to the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and Rupert Thomson read from his book “Secrecy” set in post Renaissance Florence and looking at a real sculptor in wax commissioned to create a life-size Venus. Under the excellent chairmanship of Francis Spalding the authors then discussed what had led them to write the books and the role they felt muses had played.

Nice exhibition at Brighton Museum highlighting works in their collection by female artists. There seemed to be a concentration on art of the late 19th and early 20th century with some lovely works I’d not seen before such as   Veronica Burleigh’s self-portrait with her parents which showed her as an elegant lady in white with shades and her parents at easels. There were others I did know such as the lovely “Elsie” by Hilda Carline, a portrait of her maid. There were artists I’d not come across before such as Dame Ethel Walker and Alison Smith which I will now be looking up. Earlier artists were represented by two large portraits by Angelica Kaufman. There were also works on show in the print room from which I learnt that Sickert’s wife Theresa Lessore was also an artist so something else to look up!

Disappointing exhibition at Brighton Museum of work by Jeff Koons. It was disappointing because it was quite small with only about 10-12 works. What was there was good and interesting there just wasn’t enough to get a good overview. I did like the tourist bears, exquisitely carver by traditional German wood carvers but in themselves rather banal. It did make we wonder if it’s time for a good retrospective of Koon’s work. The works were from ARTIST ROOMS, a collection of modern and contemporary art jointly owned by Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland.

The fifth session of this six week course at the National Gallery focusing on the art of the 17th century. This week looked at the Low Countries focusing on Rembrandt and Vermeer with a lecture by the course leader, Lucrezia Walker. As ever this was fascinating but I was left wanting more. She gave a good guide to the pictures but I would have liked to know more about the possible symbolic meanings in the Vermeer's. The second fascinating lecture was by Betsy Wieseman, Curator of Dutch and Flemish paintings 1600-1800 at the National Gallery who had curated the recent Vermeer and Women exhibition in Cambridge and the Vermeer and music which starts in 3 weeks at the National Gallery. She talked about what had sparked the exhibitions and how she had organised them and chosen works. I can’t wait for the National Gallery one and already have tickets for day   one!

Fascinating discussion as Charleston Festival looking at the role of design in society. It brought together Alice Rawsthorn Whose book “Hello World” looks at how design can help us understand the changes that are transforming our lives with Charles Saumarez Smith, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy, whose book “ The Company of Artists” is an insider’s look at the egos and politics that led to the founding of the Royal Academy of Arts. This event also marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Omega Workshop which led to a lively discussion about how the Bloomsbury artists viewed design before the First World War. Needless to say the audience was suitably full of experts to discuss the matter!

Talk at Charleston Festival on two aspects of the Enlightenment. A.N. Wilson talked about his novel based on the life of Josiah Wedgwood “The Potter’s Hand” and Jenny Uglow about “The Pinecone” , a life of the forgotten female architect, Sarah Losh. Both speakers focused on people of the period with a real passion for what they were doing. A.N. Wilson was particularly interesting as his father had been managing Director of Wedgwood so although his book was a novel he showed a real insight into the business, its founder and its history.

Interesting talk at the Charleston festival bringing together Pat Barker talking about her novel “Toby’s Room” and Hugh and Mirabel Cecil talking about their biography of Rex Whistler as both books featured art teacher and surgeon, Henry Tonks. I had read the Pat Barker book and really enjoyed it so it was very interesting to hear her talk about the creative process and reading a section. Hugh Cecil gave a nice outline of the life of Rex Whistler. The talks were then followed by a conversation about Tonks and his influence. The questions after were fascinating as members of the audience remembered Whistler and could give first hand memories of him. A magical event.    

The fourth session of this six week course at the National Gallery focusing on the art of the 17th century. This week looked at Poussin and Claude with a lecture by the course leader, Lucrezia Walker, who discussed how although they were French they were considered to be Roman artists and how they almost became the picture postcards of the Grand Tour. I’d never really looked at these artists properly and found this talk really useful as an introduction. The second lecture was by Susanne Avery from the National Gallery talking about why Claude is so popular in Britain and why there are so many Claude’s in British collections. It was fascinating to hear more about how the National Gallery collection was amassed in the early days and how the pictures then have affected national taste.  

Another good weekend at the Brighton Open Houses concentrating on the Hove trail. There were some evocative seascapes by Dion Salvador Lloyd, more super ceramics and jewellery. She wasn’t on the Hove trail but I have to give a special mention to Eve Shepherd’s studio. I had loved her work last year so me made a special trip to her in Woodingdean and she didn’t disappoint. She had some lovely new works investigating war and I particularly liked a circle of men pointing guns at each other but they looked like elegant dancers.   She generously talked to us for a long time about her work and plans. I am still lusting after one of her zodiac bronzes!  

The third session of this six week course at the National Gallery focusing on the art of the 17th century. This week looked at the Spanish Golden age with the first lecture given by the course tutor, Lucrezia Walker, looking in detail at El Greco, Velazquez, Zurbaran and Murrillo. The focus was on Velazquez and his work at court. I would have liked a bit more on Murrillo but I think we ran a bit short of time. The second talk was given by Larry Keith from the National Gallery conservation department discussing how the colours in Velazquez pictures have altered and the gallery’s ethos for correcting this. He had interesting photos of the original colour of the bed cover on the Rokeby Venus. He also talked about restoration of “The House of Mary and Martha” where colour deterioration had altered the way the shadows worked in the picture. A fascinating talk.

An installation at Fabrica in Brighton by Kaarina Kaikkonen which consists of hundreds of shirts arranged in a great semi circle giving a rainbow effect. I loved this. According to the blurb this work is investigating the colour blue, which did not appear in European art until the 12th century, and its association with religion and modern culture eg blue blood, blood jeans. I liked the fact it was such a large striking work and yet you could walk round it, and I guess through it although no-one was brave enough when I was there. As you walked round the individual pieces became more evident as shirts and it made you wonder where they had come from who had worn them etc. During the Brighton Festival there will be two artists in residence at the gallery, an artist and a musician, will be reinterpreting the work.

In two days I did 29 of the open houses which are part of the Brighton Festival focusing on the Five Ways and Hove trails! I There were some lovely things but I must admit after about 10 some of the houses have merged in my head! Exhibits raged from jewellery made from old watches, lots of ceramics, stained glass, paintings, sculptures and a garden full of upside down heads! My favourite paintings were the seascapes by Dion Salvador Lloyd which had a slightly abstract quality but really showed how light plays on the sea. I succumbed to a vase with the crackle of the glaze at the bottom representing a pebbly beach and a blue tip with seagulls on it, very Brighton! Also some stained glass bunting for the balcony! Roll on next weekend!    

I was kindly invited to a couple of Open House preview evenings for the Brighton Festival so I thought it was only polite if I’d drunk their wine, to blog them separately to my mass visiting which I’ll blog later! The first stop was actually a church rather than a house, St John the Evangelist’s Church in Knoyle Road. The centrepiece of their display was a fascinating work by Annelies Clarke called the Seven Sisters the first part of a work to interpret the Book of Revelations. These seven pictures address the first chapters of the book but she hopes to work through the whole thing. There were also fabulous clocks by Christian Cotton. The second house was Jo Sweetings in Ashford Road. Jo is a wonderful stone carver and the friend I was with had bought me a pebble with my initial on for Christmas made by her. I loved a new piece she’d made a memorial for the football ground. I also like the pottery there by Judith Rowe

Exhibition of modern ceramics at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre , a new gallery to showcase the work of the Craft Potters Association. This exhibition included work from three artists Susan Disley, Andre Hess and Jane Perryman. There was due to be a third but unless I was being very stupid I couldn’t find their work. These were art pieces not practical one but it was interesting to see how the ceramic can be used as an art form. I have to say a quick word about the gallery as a whole which is a lovely new space opposite the British Museum and sells work by many of the association’s members from affordable mugs to great art pieces.

A series of small video installations at Canada House by Peter Wilkins   focusing on twelve Canadian writers. Each video was placed in a wooden frame and latest about minutes. He had asked the sitters questions about themselves and then read back their answers to them while filming them. There was no sound, just pictures of people looking thoughtful and reacting to what was being said to them. I found these fascinating. Some of the subjects seem to be trying very hard not to react at all and the women seemed to most expressive. My favourite was Margaret Atwood with was smiley and slightly embarrassed but left me thinking I’d like to have a cup of tea with her.

The second session of this six week course at the National Gallery focusing on the art of the 17th century. This week looked at Rubens, Van Dyck and the Flemish Baroque. The first lecture by the course leader, Lucrezia Walker, looked at the work of the two artists and how it developed over this period looking in some detail at their major works. It was fun to take a look at Rubens’ Marie de Medici cycle as they have always fascinated in the Louvre as they appear quite silly to the modern eye.   The second session introduced us to Ulyana Gumeniuk a former BP Portrait Award winner and fellow of Trinity College. She has done much work copying, although she described it as transcribing, the Old Masters in galleries from which she investigates what were the artists first brush strokes and how did the picture build up. From that experience she then creates her own works. I found this session fascinating and I could see that she was working in a Baroque style but I must admit I’d