Barocci: Brilliance and Grace - The title says it all....... Brilliant!!

Yesterday, after receiving my 3 month free art pass, I headed to see the sparklingly reviewed Barocci: Brilliance and Grace exhibition at the National Gallery.

My knowledge of this intriguing artist was almost nil a fact which has thankfully now been redressed.

This self-portrait included in the exhibition shows the face of this intense, motivated, deeply religious, talented and creative artist. Whose name deserves to be splashed across the pages of art history but who is left out of the major surveys.

The exhibition leaves you with the impression of a man that sought to understand everything, whether it was the different mediums he worked in; paint, drawing materials, pastels and even etching and engravings. Or his evident fascination with human anatomy and his (sometimes unsucessful) attempts to represent it in his paintings.

He carefully observes even the smallest details in his work such as the delicate reflection of the Madonna's thumb from 'The Rest on the Flight to Egypt', the instruments of Christ's crucifixion from 'The Entombment' or the carefully rendered donkey's head in 'The Visitation'.

These are just a couple of examples and you could stand in front of the paintings for hours and keep discovering more, particularly in his later and larger works.

It is not just in the details that Barocci comes up trumps. His use of light to strenghten his painting's spiritual impact is phenomenal. In 'The last supper', the largest work included, this is done to fascinating effect.

Barocci The Last Supper shown in the exhibition image from The Times

We are shown two very different systems of lighting. In the centre Christ is bathed in a cool and pure light which emanates from the space above him and bathes him in a heavenly glow. On the right of the scene and in the two doorways shown in the background we see a very different lighting. This can only be described as worldly. It is warmer, hazy and much more earthy. This light is used to illuminate the figures surrounding the event who are oblivious of the ecclesiastical significance of the moment. The figures tending the fire, the mother and child in the doorway or the group peering out of the other doorway all carry on with their everyday tasks. In placing these elements alongside Christ and his disciples Barocci situates the last supper in a world and a surrounding which the contemporary viewers could understand.

Barocci's colours sing out from his painted surfaces with an extraordinary array of hues and tones and his subtle blending of these in his painting of flesh.

But he is not simply a gifted colorist and his drawings almost steal the show. They allow us an insight into a mind that was constantly seeking new approaches to a problem experimenting with different poses and angles and falls of drapery.

Rarely does a sheet include just one drawing and the artist was known to have carried out multiple preparatory drawings for his large scale works. At least forty known drawings survive for 'The Visitation' several of which are included in the room alongside the painting.

The beauty of putting together an exhibition on an artist who has received such little critical acclaim is presumably that other galleries and churches are far happier to lend out the works. And as a result the exhibition draws together works from across the globe allowing us a rich picture of the artist. Including work from different points in his life carried out in Rome and Urbino and as I mentioned often brought together with their preparatory drawings.

On exiting the exhibition I was gutted to find out that all of the softback exhibition catalogues had sold out as I was already reaching for my purse! I might just have to save up a bit for the hardback copy (£45 a pop) as I simply have to have it!!!

I can not recommend this Exhibition highly enough so get booking!!!

Portraits of Margaret Thatcher

The National portrait gallery alone has thirty portraits of Margeret Thatcher, some on her own, some in groups, some paintings, some etchings and lots of photographs.

One thing is for certain her legacy and her image will never be forgotten. Looking at this handful of portraits I urge you to remember that whatever her politics she was a person just like any other.

Margaret Thatcher by Rodrigo Moynihan NPG

“I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions.”Augusten Burroughs

Margaret Thatcher by Gerald Scarfe NPG

"The problem with people is that they are only human" Bill Watterson

The Conservative Shadow Cabinet by Tom Blau NPG

"I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left."  Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher by Yousuf Karsh NPG

So Juicing might just be a trend but Fruit and Vegetables have been an obsession through the ages

My mother and I are joining the crowd and starting a Simple Green Smoothie 30 day challenge and today we went out to buy all of the delicious ingredients for a week of lovely fresh smoothies. This made me think of the way that artists through the ages have been obsessed with painting fruit and vegetables.

So this is really a double edged post. A couple of images of my first experiment with juicing and then a couple of the paintings that it reminded me of.

One lovely healthy shopping trolley

My very own still life......

and one from a far superior artist.

William Henry Hunt Basket with Melon, Peaches, Grapes and Plum c1840, The Courtauld Gallery (hmm just add some spinach and you could make your very own Still Life smoothie)

First in goes the vegetables with the water as these are the hardest to break up and need to be blended seperatly to avoid getting big chunks of vegetable in your drink. This was the bit that felt the weirdest blending up all the veg that might usually go with some meat or a fillet of fish!

Then came the time to measure out all of the fruits. Although in future I would take these out of the freezer to thaw a little first. Otherwise the smoothie is just too cold and you miss out on some of the flavour.

One Anthropologie measuring cup full of juicy frozen berries.

Pour it in and blend.

And Voila! Two glasses of delicious home made smoothie and plenty for later.

Along the way new paintings kept popping into my mind. When you see all these lovely fresh ingredients together it is not hard to understand why so many artists and sculptors alike have fixated upon them. They are readily available, you can create interesting compositions with the myriad of shapes, there are so many vibrant colours and of course most fruits have a symbolic association.

The first painting to come to mind was this work by Joachim Beuckelaer:

Joachim Beuckelaer The Four Elements: Earth 1569 National Gallery

It is one of four paintings in the National Gallery which includes Earth, Water, Fire and Air. It shows the abundance of sustenance that the earth has to offer all heaped together. Falling somewhere between a still life and a scene of rural life. The fruit and Vegetables are carefully observed but the painting still retains a sense of the hustle and bustle of market life with the shapely women in the background presumably getting ready to sell their wares at market.

Cezanne Apples, Bottle and a Chairback circa 1904-06 Courtauld Gallery

 This watercolour by Cezanne does not include quite the variety of fruit as the previous work but it certainly warranted inclusion. Cezanne often painted apples and once said "I will astonish Paris with an Apple". They were one of the subjects through which he explored his new way of painting using planes and ignoring classical form and perspective. He used to spend so long looking at and painting the fruits that they would rot.

Speaking of rotting fruit....

 Sam Taylor-Wood Still Life 2001

This video work by Sam Taylor-Wood  entitled Still Life from 2001 shows a very classical arrangement of fruit harking back to 16th and 17th century still lives popular in Flanders and the Netherlands. However we are shown the fruit decaying over time while a cheap plastic ball-point pen in the foreground endures.

So from now on I am going to look to art for some recipe inspiration (although maybe not Sam Taylor-Wood's work)

The Northern Renaissance: Dürer to Holbein

I took advantage of one of the few and far between sunny days of 2013 to take a trip to The Queens Gallery to see The Northern Renaissance: Dürer to Holbein exhibition. 

Before popping in to the show I decided to soak up some of the sunshine outside Buckingham palace and boost my Vitamin D levels.

It looked marvelous with the sun reflecting off the magnificent building and the hustle and bustle of tourists taking in the stunning sight. Queenie was even in so the Royal Standard was flying proud.

The show itself was sublime. The Queen's Gallery if you haven't visited before is a really wonderful exhibition space which is only appropriate as the Royal collection is one of the biggest and best royal collections around. 

Look at that sunshine!

This exhibition focused on the work of Northern European artists in the collection. A branch of art history all too often overlooked and undervalued in favor of the perspectival genius of the Italian Renaissance.

The portraiture component is particularly strong and the walls throughout the exhibition are lined with the faces of some of the most prominent royals, politicians, intellectuals and nobles of the day. The care and attention put into these portraits in self-evident. I was particularly struck by the various artists efforts to create a true likeness of the sitter. The portrait by Hans Memling hanging in the second room is a prime example of this. The careful modelling of the flesh on the face and the inclusion of the fine v shaped lines on the mans necks leaves you in no doubt that you are looking at a face of a man that once walked and talked on this earth. 

The inclusion of various masterful drawings by Holbein and the French artist Jean Clouet and his workshop strengthens the sense that these northern artists were truly observing their subjects during the painting process. Some of the drawings are even shown alongside their accompanying painting and it is interesting to see the alterations that were carried out along the way.

This drawing of Sir Thomas Elyot by Holbein includes what can only be described as an early manifestation of designer stubble!

 Image from Wikipedia

  
The exhibition is appropriately titled after the two artists Durer and Holbein who contribute the greatest number of works to it's walls. However the important word 'from' in the title should not be missed. This is not an exhibition that simply presents these two artists as the main protagonists of Northern Renaissance art. Oh no it includes and celebrates the work of the undeniably brilliant Hugo Van der Goes, Hans Memling, Quinten Massys, Jan Gossaert, the two Clouets and Lucas Cranach.

It has taken me soo long to publish this that the exhibition is now in it's last week so seize the moment and Click Here to book.

An Easter offering: Grinling Gibbons

I had been struggling to think of a little Easter appropriate offering for my blog. Of course the walls and store rooms of London's galleries are filled with paintings meditating on the theme of the passion of Christ and his subsequent Resurrection which would all be appropriate. So it is really a case of being spoilt for choice.

Luckily this morning in the attempt to do something constructive with my weekend off work I watched the second part of BBC Fours Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork documentary series available on BBC iPlayer. This episode (the second of three) focused upon the life and work of the eminent wood carver and sculptor Grinling Gibbons.

It included this crucifixion which was the work that legend has it helped kick start his phenomenal career. It threw him in the way of the influential diarist Evelyn who wrote… "I saw the young man at his carving, by the light of a candle. I saw him to be engaged on a carved representation of Tintoretto's "Crucifixion", which he had in a frame of his own making." Evelyn in turn helped introduce him into the circles where his work could receive prestigious commissions.

 Crucifixion by Grinling Gibbons

The crucifixion wood carving is currently housed in Dunham Massey Cheshire and was completed by the artist at the tender age of 19. As Evelyn points out it is based upon this work by Jacopo Tintoretto in la Scuola di San Rocco in Venice. Both artists have attempted to represent chaotic scene of the crucifixion with the Vigin mary swooning in the foreground clouds darkening the sky in the background and the bodies of the two other men crucified alongside Christ being taken down amidst soldiers, onlookers, tools and horses.

Jacopo Tintoretto Crucifixion

Gibbons entire work is carved from a single piece of limewood. Unusual as the sculptor became particularly famous for his ability to create large scale works formed by the joining of lots of small pieces, a technique that allowed him to create some of his most spectacular and breath takingly detailed works.

Redos at St James Piccadilly by Grinling Gibbons

Some of which are even located in London such as the incredible work in St Pauls Cathedral, his carvings at Windsor Castle, the Orangery in Kensington and the church of St James Piccadilly. To name but a few.

Tonight the third part of this series will be shown on BBC four from 8 o’clock until 9 o’clock.

Big Egg Hunt 2013: The Auction

Unfortunately I have been pretty busy this week and have been unable to volunteer for Action for Children at the Big Egg Hunt this time around. Hopefully I will be able to slip a couple of days in before it finishes on the 7th. However, I have been following its progress with interest since week one and can wholeheartedly recommend taking a trip to Covent Garden to join in the hunt. At a donation of £3 per hunt pack it's a great way to spend the Easter weekend.

If you have decided to hibernate until warmer weather reaches these shores (and frankly who could blame you) but you are feeling mightily generous then why not take a look at the online egg auction. The action is begining to hot up!

Currently only one egg has sold and it is this stunning egg by Yuki Aruga. On its first visit to London's Covent Garden it was hidden away in Links as you can see in the image. I saw it again today in its new home in the Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden. A little post about spas and art will follow soon.....

This egg went for a whopping £7000 which is fantastic as it will make an incredible difference to lots of lives.

So all the rest are still up for grabs. To be honest some of my favourite eggs have yet to be bid for so still lots of gems to be snapped up.

The top 15 most popular at 7.30pm on 28th March are:

1. Yoni (ova 1) Michael Petry – £2500

2. Lindor by Lindt – £1500 

3. Ben 10 “Inside the Omnitrix” by Cartoon Network – £1500

4. Adventure Time “Bro Hug” by Cartoon Network – £1500

5. Humpty Dumpty £1500

6. Anticipation of a Thousand Moments Anna Barlow – £1300

7. Dora the Explorer by Nick Jr - £900

8. Golden James Joyce – £800

9. Peter Rabbit by Penguin - £800

10. Thomas &Friends by HIT Entertainment Limited - £800

11. Lion Estate Frank Laws – £700

12. A Thousand Forests Matthew Dent – £700

13. Spongebob SquarePants by Nicktoons - £700

14. Tie Dye Egg Lindsey Bull – £600

15. All Aboard by Network Rail – £600

But with 10 days to go on the auction and lots of eggs yet to get off the starting blocks I'm sure this will all change soon.

Southbank Centre Refurbishment

Over the past couple of decades the popularity of the southbank centre has gone through the roof. Therefore it should come as no surprise that they are now planning to carry out a dramatic £120 million referbishment which will include the Purcell Room the Hayward Gallery and the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Image of the proposal - image from MayorWatch website

The plans, which were released today (6.6.13), look spectacular and the dated buildings and at times cramped spaces could certainly do with a revamp. I recently went to the stunning Light Show exhibition which I hope to have time to put pen to paper and review shortly. The show was phenomenal and any gallery that can put together such an unusual and eclectic show deserves to have the best environment possible.

Image from Evening Standard

This being said I was sad to see that all three locations will have to be shut for three years during the building work. Also personally I think one of the most interesting things about wandering along the river side is watching the skateboarders doing their thing in the intricately graffitied space outside the centre. It appears that this space is set to be demolished and replaced with restaurants and shops. The skateboarders and graffiti artist will be offered an alternate location so hopefully they will be given a prominent space with the new complex as that aspect of the southbank is so much a part of the experience.

The plans will go on show on the Southbank centre's website and in the Royal Festival Hall in due course so that everyone can see what the changes will mean for the space. So do take a look and have your say as remember the changes are for the good of the public as much as anything else.

For more info head to the Evening Standard, MayorWatch,