We are back at Fotheringhay in Northamptonshire, where I wrote the post below in July 2018. This time I wanted to look at the painted pulpit given to the church by Edward IV in around 1475. I am becoming interested in English painted panels of this period. July 2018 post Sandy Denny, while with Fairport…
Category: Comment
Sutton Hoo and an Anglo Saxon Ship Burial
Sutton Hoo, on the east coast of Suffolk high above the River Deben estuary must be one of the most important and fascinating archaeological sites in Britain. Our visit was one of the highlights of our East Anglian adventure. The site is mainly one of archaeological interest rather than art history as the gold, silver…
A Day Out with the Contemporary Treasures of Hereford Cathedral
Hereford is someway off the main tourist routes in Britain, but those intrepid enough to discover the city, will be richly rewarded, especially in the vicinity around the cathedral. Our visit last week was not our first and we skipped the two great attractions on this occasion. The Mappa Mundi is one of the great…
A Visit to Salisbury Cathedral in May this year as lockdown eased
Salisbury was our stopping off point last week on our way to the coast. The last visit before further relaxation of lockdown measures. It was strange to see the medieval town so empty and the cathedral closed. Still the City looked great bathed in Spring sunshine, unlike the last few days. Salisbury Cathedral is unique…
Piero della Francesca and the ‘art’ of Looking at Art.
Piero della Francesco will always stand out in my memory of studying the History of Art at Oxford University. In the first module of the first term of the Certificate course we listened to the wonderful Mary Acton explaining how to look at paintings. She used a number of themes to illustrate her lectures: composition, space,…
Piero della Francesca and the ‘art’ of Looking at Art.
Piero della Francesco will always stand out in my memory of studying the History of Art at Oxford University. In the first module of the first term of the Certificate course we listened to the wonderful Mary Acton explaining how to look at paintings. She used a number of themes to illustrate her lectures: composition, space,…
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…
Art Deco illustration for New Years Eve
My last post of the year and what a year! Normally I would describe a piece of attributed art with an interesting history of iconography, or a serious exhibition. But for this one off post I will just use this gorgeous Art Deco illustration of ‘The New Years Eve Ball. The delightful little illustration reminds…
The apprentice sculptor who became a great Renaissance mathematical painter
Landscape paintings are always my favourite when it comes to headers for my blog site. And there can be no more evocative wide paintings than the three depictions of the Battle of San Romano by Paulo Uccello. And how about the locations for these great works: The National Gallery in London, The Galleria degli Uffizi…
