Bartolomé Bermejo, St Michael Triumphs over the Devil, 1468. The National Gallery, London Today I’m reposting something from the early days of this Blog. It was written on the very first day of Lockdown 1 – the day that everyone in the UK was told to stay at home. I’ve gone back to this one because theContinue reading “Still Triumphing…”
Category Archives: Portraits
232 – ‘There’s so much more to say’
Barbara Walker, Vanishing Point 24 (Mignard), 2021. Pallant House Gallery, Chichester. Barbara Walker is an artist I should have been aware of earlier: she has exhibited every year since she graduated from the University of Central England in 1996, and has built up a remarkable body of work, distinguished by its integrity, its compassion, andContinue reading “232 – ‘There’s so much more to say’”
228 – Curtains for My Parents
David Hockney, My Parents and Myself, 1976. The David Hockney Foundation. David Hockney must surely be Britain’s most famous, and successful, living artist. He also happens to be one of those who is most interested in the art of the past, which is the point made by the National Gallery’s capsule exhibition, Hockney and Piero:Continue reading “228 – Curtains for My Parents”
Another look at Laura looking
Laura Knight, Laura Knight with model, Ella Louise Naper (‘Self Portrait’), 1913. National Portrait Gallery, London. This Monday 5 August at 6pm I will conclude my three part series on Tate’s superb Now You See Us, with a talk entitled From photography to something more modern. I will look at a few remaining paintings inContinue reading “Another look at Laura looking”
Revisiting Velázquez and Juan de Pareja
Diego Velázquez, Juan de Pareja, 1650, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The more I think about the Walker Art Gallery’s display National Treasures: Velázquez in Liverpool the more I am impressed. In terms of the way it is curated, it is undoubtedly one of the best exhibitions I have seen this year. I am currently puttingContinue reading “Revisiting Velázquez and Juan de Pareja”
219 – Sargent and sprezzatura
John Singer Sargent, Lady Agnew of Lochnaw (Gertrude Vernon), 1892. National Galleries of Scotland. Don’t believe what the critics say. And for the same reason, you shouldn’t believe what I say. No one can be expected to know everything. Critics very often have no time to think about what they’ve seen, and they could beContinue reading “219 – Sargent and sprezzatura”
217 – Of Pelicans and Queens
Nicholas Hilliard, Queen Elizabeth I, about 1575. National Portrait Gallery, London. After an enjoyable stroll around the first half of Room 1 at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool earlier this week (thank you to all those who came!), I’m looking forward to returning for (The High) Renaissance Rediscovered this Monday, 19 February at 6pm,Continue reading “217 – Of Pelicans and Queens”
211 – Hans Holbein: the other side of the mural?
Hans Holbein the Younger, Jane Seymour, c. 1536-7. Royal Collection Trust and Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. On Monday I talked about Hans Holbein the Younger’s origins in Augsburg, and his career in Basel, and next week I’m looking forward to talking about his time in England with Holbein II: Realism and Royalty (Monday 27 November atContinue reading “211 – Hans Holbein: the other side of the mural?”
208 – Some are born great
Frans Hals, Portrait of Catharina Hooft with her Nurse, 1619-20. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie. I have rarely been so excited at an exhibition as I was when visiting Frans Hals at the National Gallery. I was excited to go, yes, but on seeing the first paintings, the thrill increased. I’ve seen quite a fewContinue reading “208 – Some are born great”
Revisiting, too…
Sir Peter Lely, …the Virgin and Child, 1664. National Portrait Gallery, London. I will be Revisiting the NPG for a second time this Monday, 9 October at 6:00pm, and in this instalment of the survey I will reach The Stuarts. To introduce that, I am also revisiting an old post: it was originally ‘Picture of theContinue reading “Revisiting, too…”
dr richard stemp 