The Leonardo Exhibition

 

The Leonardo Exhibition

Phew, got up at 5.00am to get to London for an early timed entry into the Leonardo Exhibition in the Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery, London. 

I love the timed entry idea, but why, oh why are they always so crowded?  Loads of pushchairs and wheelchairs made everyone's pushing and shoving worse.  National Gallery, please take note - wheelchair users have special needs and really should have their own timed entry to exhibitions so they can see the paintings from their lower perspective, and not have to try to peer through the crowds.  And it's difficult for the rest of us to get close to the pictures if there are lots of wheelchairs in the way.  The ticket is £16 - not cheap - so it's frustrating not to be able to get close.  Anyway, moan over, the exhibition was hung in two parts, one part in the Sainsbury Wing and the Last Supper, with all it's preparatory sketches, in the main body of the National.  Actually, sorry, but I am going to moan again.  The two Virgin of the Rocks were hung in the same room, but at opposite ends so it wasn't possible to see them together, and even more difficult to see them over the heads of the crowds....

 The lightness of Leonardo's penwork and the fineness of his brush are amazing close up.  Of course that's why we go to see exhibitions isn't it? to see real paint, real brush strokes, real talent and really feel the history of each piece?  And of course the twin stars of the show are the Cartoon of the Virgin and Child, and the Last Supper.  The Cartoon is one of my favourites, in fact I bought a poster years ago which was sold to raise money to restore the original.  If my memory serves me correctly, it had been shot - which seems quite unbelievable now.  So yes, it was worth getting up so early, and yes, I'm very pleased to have seen the exhibition, especially as some of the paintings and drawings are too fragile to move any more, and this will probably be the last exhibition like this....

 

Rome in Autumn

Just back from a quick weekend trip to Rome where the sun is shining and the skies are blue.  Here are a few random photos of things that caught my eye.... and they're mostly about the quality of Roman light.  The low sun striking the street between buildings and on the statue's foot, the reflected light in the water of the Trevi Fountain and the golden glow on the road to the Vatican.  Love Rome, didn't want to come home.........

The Mall Galleries

The Mall, London.

Popped in to see the Discerning Eye Exhibition at the Mall Galleries last week, what an amazing exhibition.....  It's an open exhibition juried by six selectors - 2 artists, 2 collectors and 2 critics - so the range of paintings was enormous.  The gallery is a huge contemporary space with loads of beautifully hung paintings - coffee and cake too.  The exhibiton ended on Sunday, but next year's show is in my diary already.  Have a look at their website  http://www.mallgalleries.org.uk

Autumn Colour

Last weekend we rented a cottage in Orford, Suffolk, with a view of the castle and within walking distance of some excellent restaurants and the famous Pump Street Bakery.  I think autumn colour was at it's optimum for those few days and the Suffolk countryside surrounding Orford was just glorious.

I love autumn, and October 2011 has been one of the nicest that I can remember.  It's been blue sky heaven.  But now it's November, and it's turned colder and much, much greyer.....