Cathy's Art Diary

Comprehensive online course for ARTscapes looking at the how the British royal family have chosen to be represented since Tudor times. Desmond Shawe-Taylor, who has previously been the Surveyor of the Queens Pictures, led us through the subject over two hour long sessions with excellent illustrations mainly from the Royal Collection.   It was as much a history course as a history of art one as he covered changes in ideas about the monarchy, how it has adapted over the years and how this is reflected in the art. The most interesting section, as I knew less about it, was the later Stuart’s post the Glorious Revolution and the Georgians. I loved this picture of two of the son’s of George III by Zoffany from 1765 in Buckingham Palace with portraits of their parent and Van Dyck’s picture of the children of Charles I. He also talked about how in current times photography is taking over from painting for royal portraits and speculated about whether there will be a formal painted Co...

Fun exhibition at the National Maritime Museum of portraits of Royalty from the late 15th century to the present day. Most of the works in the show were from the National Portrait Gallery which is currently closed for refurbishment and this was a great way to show the pictures during this time. Every monarch was represented and interestingly it not only includes wives and husbands but also mistresses and favourites. It would make a great history lesson for children in the summer holidays. It was lovely to see these, mainly familiar pictures, in different surroundings and be able to get close enough to study the details. It was also fun that coins and stamps were included. In the modern section it was a chance to show more photography than at the National Portrait Gallery before the closure so there were a number of pictures I didn’t know. Closes 31 October 2021 Review Evening Standard      

Fascinating online lecture from the Churches Conservation Trust tracing the location of all the tombs of English monarchs. Aidan Dodson from University of Bristol, took us though the tombs from Saxon times until George VI. He described where they were and why and their basic design. He was also full of some grizzly details from the tombs that have been reopened. It was a slightly train spotting approach to the tombs and I would have liked to know a bit more about their design, how that changed and what it represented however I was left with an urge to travel round England looking for them!