Cathy's Art Diary

Fascinating exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery looking at landscapes by female artists from 1760-1860. These works were by largely unknown artists working during the first 100 years of the Royal Academy. Some of the works had been shown in the annual shows, held at the time in the building they were now being displayed. There were some beautiful works and fascinating stories from Elizabeth Frances Batty's small works which were engraved and published as "Italian Scenery" in 1820, Mary Smirke who showed at the Royal Academy every year from 1809-1814 despite being hindered by her artist father who was on the hanging committee and Harriett Lister who later worked with her husband, Amos Green, on works which began with an ink blot. There were a number of potential novels in this show. Closes 20 May 2026

Rather luscious exhibition at the Musee D'Orsay in Paris looking at the Impressionists and clothes. It was a very stylish exhibition with some full length life sized pictures being displayed like a cat walk and a lovely garden room at the end for pictures of the out doors but sometimes the style was at the expensive of ergonomics! Please can we have legible labels and don't put pictures on the audio tour or introduction boards in corridors!  Grumpy old lady moment excepted it was lovely to see the real dresses of the time next to the pictures and also alongside Eugene Disderi calling cards.  I had not come across Alfred Stevens before and now want to know more as some lovely small pictures of women in white. Tissot of course can out of it as a fashion star and of most note was his picture of a group of stylish men "Le Circle de la rue Royale". Reviews Telegraph  

Fascinating exhibition at the Musee D'Orsay in Paris looking at the work of the architect Victor Baltard who helped to transform Paris in the mid 19th century. The first section looked at his early life including his time in Rome and the friendships he made there with people like Ingres.  The main section was beautifully arranged along a gallery set up to look like his major work for the markets at Les Halles with rooms off one side, decorated in the style of the period, looking at all aspects of his work.  The exhibition also included some of the first architectural photographs by Charles Bossu dit Marville.  I found the section on Les Halles most interesting as our hotel,overlooks the current building work. One photo from about 150 years ago was almost exactly the view from our window albeit we have cranes. The section on the cultural legacy of the old Les Halles buildings was also fascinating.