Cathy's Art Diary

Useful, clear online lecture from the Churches Conservation Trust looking at the art collecting of Louis XIV. I don’t know much about this period beyond what I learnt watching the TV drama “Versailles” which I loved. It was all about the hair! Barbara Lasic, from the Sotheby’s Institute, took us thought the expansion of the palace concentrating on the decoration of each new set of rooms by Charles le Brun. She then outlined how the Royal Collection had developed to this point starting with pieces acquired by Francis I and took us through various collections which were left to Louis and which he acquired. I was fascinated by a section on craftsmen and designers who were encouraged by Louis.  

Confusing exhibition at the British Museum looking at the medals of Louise XIV, described as the greatest medallic project ever. I say confusing as it took me quite a while to work out what the project was. I do wonder if I went round backwards but there was no signage to say where to start! By the end I worked out that there was a deliberate move to commemorate all events in the kings reign with a medal with a committee called the Little Academy set up to oversee this. In 1702 all the medals were published in a book. I sometimes found it had to tell what had been in this canon as there also seemed to be displays on anti-monarch medals which I assume weren’t official. The show just needed a bit more narrative as I must admit I came out of the small room wondering why this was important and with no sense of the design or purpose of the objects. Closed   15 November2015. Review Telegraph