Cathy's Art Diary

Magical lecture from the London Art History Society held at the Art Workers’ Guild on the life and work of Alfonse Mucha. I say magical as it was given by his great grandson Marcus Mucha who now runs the Mucha Foundation. He led us through Mucha’s work from the early graphic design posters, which are his best known work, through to how he used art to further the cause of a free Czech nation, in particular his work on a grand project called   the Slav Epic. He then talked about the history of the collection since Mucha’s death in 1939 and how the family fought to keep it together and out of Nazi then Soviet hands. He outlined the work of the foundation including showing us the museum and plans for a space to finally show the Slav Epic works together.    

Stunning exhibition at the Art Workers’ Guild of work by Edward Stones. These paintings were wonderful still lives and interiors packed with art historic references such as the one shown incorporating a magazine with a centre spread of   Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring. In some the artist is seen Velazquez like in   a mirror and all of them featured warm inviting interiors. I so wanted one of these! Closes 15 November 2019

Fun exhibition at the Art Workers’ Guild of drawings, watercolours and lithographs by Glynn Boyd Harte, a past master of the guild. Most of the works were big bright paintings of old packaging like the Gold Shred label and a Rockets firework box. However there was also a lovely picture of the Rialto and I loved a painting of a postcard of Nice superimposed with a beautifully painted Nice biscuit! Closed 4 October 2019