Renoir painted three, almost life size, paintings of dance scenes early in 1883, for the art dealer, Paul Durand-Ruel. These paintings mark a change from the artists Impressionist leanings towards the more classical themes of David and Ingres. The third of these, which I have featured in my February “Painting of the Month” is Dance…
More Pop Art at the Pallant House Gallery
Brigitte Bardot features in my banner to accompany the feature on Pop Art at Pallant House Gallery. The Bardot print of 1968 is from a series created by Gerald Laing while in New York. Gerald Laing, who hailed from Newcastle Upon Tyne, had an initial career as a soldier but left the Army in the sixties…
British Pop Art at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester.
Pallant House Gallery is one of a number of fine art spaces outside London along the South Coast. It contains one of the best collections of Modern and twentieth century British Art in the U.K. The collection is based on a gift of the ex Dean of Chichester Cathedral, Walter Hussey in 1977. There have…
Renoir’s Dance in the Country is my second February Painting of the Month.
The Musée D’Orsay on the south bank of the Seine in Paris is home to my second painting of the month for February. Dance in the Country was also painted early in 1883. The artist claims the scene was inspired by his visit to Italy in 1881. It was during this visit that Renoir visited…
February Painting of the Month (1) is Renoir’s Dance at Bougival
Renoir’s Dance paintings of 1883. I thought, for February, I would have three “Paintings of the Month”. My inspiration is Pierre Auguste Renoir, an artist I regularly turn to and his ‘dance’ paintings. My first choice is Dance at Bougival. If there was a painting that evokes great memories for me this is it. Not…
The Garman Ryan Collection at The New Art Gallery in Walsall
The New Art Gallery, Walsall. One of the things I am missing most during this pandemic lockdown is days out at provincial galleries. The big museums and galleries in the capital can be great trips out but I much prefer visiting the smaller provincial and town galleries. Less hustle and bustle but equally good art…
More about the Bayeux Tapestry loan to the U.K.
The Bayeux Tapestry comes to the U.K. next year. In my last post, that you all enjoyed, judging by the feedback, I said the loan would be this year. It is actually planned for 2022. So sorry about that. I am not guilty of peddling Fake News, just happen to have made a mistake. Anyway…
The Bayeux Tapestry and the demise of King Harold in 1066
The Bayeux Tapestry is represented in my new header image. This wonderful example of Norman Romanesque art portrays the story of William of Normandy (The Conqueror) and the English Kings, Edward the Confessor and Harold Godwin. The scenes portray the intrigue of eleventh century politics culminating in Harolds demise at the Battle of Hastings in…
Vision & Reality: 100 Years of Contemporary Art in Wakefield
Virtual exhibitions and tours again. I was browsing earlier and found what should have been a great exhibition to visit. I will have to just enjoy the advertising and curators notes, until the galley opens again. Vision and Reality celebrates the vitality which exemplifies the Wakefield Art Collection. Started in 1923, and now containing some…
January Painting of the Month
Joseph Wright of Derby’s 1768 painting “An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump” Covid 19. We now appear to be doing the hard yards with the pandemic, rolling out the new vaccine. Science can be so exciting and yet so concerning. My January Painting of the Month emphasises this most brilliantly. Joseph Wright…
