Duccio, The Virgin and Child with Saint Dominic and Saint Aurea, and Patriarchs and Prophets, about 1312-15 (?). The National Gallery, London. OK, so this is the third time I’ve posted this blog, which could therefore be seen as a triptych, but… the posts are all the same, and lack the rich variety of theContinue reading “A Triptych: Duccio”
Author Archives: drrichardstemp
286 – 14 October 1066: The death of Harold?
Scene 57, The Bayeux Tapestry, 1070s. Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, Bayeux. The Battle of Hastings happened on today’s date, 14th October 1066, so I could say that it happened exactly 960 years ago. However, the calendar has changed: in the UK we moved from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar in 1752, whenContinue reading “286 – 14 October 1066: The death of Harold?”
285 – Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown
Scene 30, The Bayeux Tapestry, 1070s. Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, Bayeux. I’m quoting William Shakespeare – as so often before – and in this case it is Henry IV Part II, Act 3, Scene 1. I think it’s relevant, because I’ve come to see the Bayeux Tapestry as being Shakespearean in its scope,Continue reading “285 – Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”
284 – Bayeux: the ‘Here’s looking at you’ kit
Scene 1, The Bayeux Tapestry, 1070s. Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, Bayeux. Well, it’s finally here, and by the time you read this, I will finally have seen it! Indeed, there’s so much to see that, as I’m sure you know, I am dedicating three talks to it. The Bayeux Tapestry, that is –Continue reading “284 – Bayeux: the ‘Here’s looking at you’ kit”
283 – Life and Thought inspired by Art and Poetry
Evelyn de Morgan, Life and Thought emerging from the Tomb, 1893. The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. I’ve written about Evelyn de Morgan before, and spoken about her fairly often as well as the result of at least two exhibitions, but also in connection to the ‘Pre-Raphaelite Sisters’ – the women associated in one way orContinue reading “283 – Life and Thought inspired by Art and Poetry”
282 – And when did you last see this painting?
William Frederick Yeames, And When Did You Last See Your Father? 1878. The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. This week, on Monday 7 September at 6pm, I will be continuing my occasional series of talks A Stroll around the Walker, getting to know my local museum of ‘Old Master’ paintings, the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.Continue reading “282 – And when did you last see this painting?”
281 – Definitely flowers, definitely real
JD Fergusson, Jonquils and Silver, 1905. Fleming Collection. I first got to know the Scottish Colourists, about whom I will be talking this Monday, 31 August at 6pm, when I spent seven months in Pitlochry, ‘The Gateway to the Highlands’, nearly twenty years ago. Not far away was the city of Perth (Scotland, not Australia),Continue reading “281 – Definitely flowers, definitely real”
Looking back across the sea
Barbara Hepworth, Pelagos, 1946. Tate. Yes, another re-post! Basically, I’m having a break from writing over the summer… but I’ll have to write a new entry next week. This is a good one to look back to, though, as the sculpture Pelagos, which takes its name from πέλαγος – an Ancient Greek word for theContinue reading “Looking back across the sea”
Clara Peeters: Second Breakfast
Clara Peeters, Stil Life with Cheeses, Almonds and Pretzels, c. 1615, Mauritshuis, The Hague. You may be familiar with the concept of ‘second breakfast’ from the writing of J.R.R. Tolkien – he popularised the idea by suggesting that it was popular with Hobbits. However, even before Tolkien took it to Middle-earth, the second breakfast was standard practiceContinue reading “Clara Peeters: Second Breakfast”
Looking again at the Leading Star
Judith Leyster, Self Portrait, c. 1630, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Greetings from Shetland! I still have a few days here, but will be back in plenty of time for my talk this Monday, 3 August at 6pm which will be the first of two about the superb exhibition I saw in Ghent back inContinue reading “Looking again at the Leading Star”
