My walking route to Trafalgar Square is down CHARING CROSS ROAD. When I reach the NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, I glance over to a large granite monument in the middle of the intersection. I really haven’t paid much attention to it before, but last evening, while I was on my way to a concert at St. Martin in-the-field, I stopped and read the inscription on the base of the monumnet.
The inscription says: PATRIOTISM IS NOT ENOUGH. I MUST HAVE NO HATRED OR BITTERNESS FOR ANYONE. These words really hit me. In the troubled times we live, EDITH CAVELL’s statement deserves our attention.
EDITH CAVELL was an English nurse in German-occupied Belgium during World War I. She was instrumental in getting hundreds of soldiers to freedom for which she was discovered and executed by the Germans on 12 October, 1915.
During the intermission of the St. Martin’s concert, I walked over to the monument again and took ths photograph. I hope you enjoy this post. CAVELL’s 1915 words have great meaning for us today. There it is, right in the middle of one of the busiest intersections of London.
Worth pondering.
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
My admiration for the Prince of Wales is endless. His amazing energy and devotion to his country finds expression everywhere. When this article came across my screen this evening, I had to post it for my readers. I have never seen these panels, but I am going next week. Enjoy the article. I think it is brilliant. Prince Charles said he wants to put the word GREAT back into the name GREAT BRITAIN, and he is certainly doing a fine job. The Prince’s critics make no sense to me. It’s a new breed, but they have come and gone before. Enjoy the article.
THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT EXHIBITION at the Queen’s Gallery is a smashing hit. The entire display is amazing. The center of the exhibit is a throne which Queen Victoria called THE MAGNIFICENT CHAIR.
The Ivory Throne is now the center of the QUEEN’S GALLERY EXHIBITION at Buckingham Palace. Normally, the MAGNIFICENT CHAIR is on display at Windsor Castle for the public to admire and enjoy.
What an amazing story.
At home when I was a child, my mother’s cabinets were filled with valuable 18th and early 19th century WEDGWOOD. I used to look at those shelves of blue and white, black and white, mauve and white neo-classic objects that my mother called WEDGWOOD. One afternoon, she arrived home to find a large case which had arrived from London and filled with several pieces of three-color Wedgwood bulb vases. She was thrilled, and I got excited as well. I inherited these beautiful items, and they are now in our cabinets in my home. I learned the word NEO-CLASSICAL and PALLADIAN when young–well, better said, I was introduced to those terms–my first exposure.
My son Richard did his graduate degree in ARCHITECTURE at Columbia. One evening, he called me to review his paper about Palladio which was a discussion about Palladio’s PORTFOLIOS in THE BRITISH LIBRARY, London. Well, I was thrilled with the opportunity. My own graduate studies dealt with the Renaissance, and I was well prepared to help him with his study. Eventually, the discussion turned to LORD BURLINGTON and CHISWICK HOUSE. We discussed all parts of CHISWICK HOUSE and came to some conclusions about where various aspects of the architecture might have found their inspiration. Of course we discussed Palladio’s most famous building, VILLA CAPRA LA ROTONDA, near Venice. But we concluded that CHISWICK HOUSE was more a result of LORD BURLINGTON’S GRAND TOUR in Italy, and particularly in Rome.
The influence of PALLADIO and INIGO JONES are celebrated in two full-length statues of Palladio and Jones by the Flemish-born, celebrated sculptor John Michael RYSBRACK which are positioned in front of Villa Chiswick’s front walls. The cornice at the church of St. Martin in-the-Fields by Gibbs was the inspiration for the decorative cornice at Chiswick.
Chiswick House was too small to use as a family country VILLA; however, it was Lord Burlington’s splendid accomplishment to create a neo-Palladian building incorporating all the high style of the era. It was indeed his ACCOMPLISHMENT. Lord Burlington was an architect himself as well as the spiritual leader and arbiter of taste in the England of his day. Remember, his London home was BURLINGTON HOUSE on Piccadilly where the Royal Academy is housed today, so he didn’t need more room to house his magnificent collection he had brought from his GRAND TOUR in Italy. However, some of Burlington’s finest pictures and sculptures were at his Villa. CHISWICK HOUSE is the culmination of the 18th century GRAND TOUR.
Goodness, don’t miss this magnificent VILLA, just a short distance from central London. And, Richard, my son, wrote a splendid paper on PALLADIO at Columbia–I just wanted to recognize his splendid efforts. His father appreciates him.
2. Under the seats, medieval carvers created these amazing images. They are great insights into the life of the Middle Ages
3. A second carving under the choir seats
4. Edward III’s 6 ft 8 in Middle Ages sword Edward III is a fascinating King during the Middle Ages
5. The Round Tower at Windsor with the BEASTS on roof of St. George’s Chapel. Really a beautiful photograph.
Thank you, Maggie.
I AM A GREAT ADMIRER OF THE WORKS OF JOHN SINGER SARGENT. Until the 26th of September, 2010, the exhibit SARGENT AND THE SEA will be at the Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadillly, in London. BUY YOUR TICKETS BY CALLING LONDON 011.44.8442090051. Let me tell you about Sargent’s seascapes.
ST. MARTIN IN-THE-FIELDS on Trafalgar Square was designed by James Gibbs in 1721. The clock at the base of the steeple was installed in 1756 and has been running ever since. The steeple is an elegant structure and is one of London’s most familiar “faces.” I am attaching a picture of the magnificent church and a beautiful image of the interior. STEEPLE #1 is a perfect way to get excited about the next steeple on your WALK WITH A PURPOSE.
ST. MARY-LE-BOW was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and the famous steeple has a copper dragon on top. It was built in 1671. A true cockney is born within earshot of the sound of the Church’s bells. Beautiful–right in the heart of the City of London. STEEPLE #2 IS A MUST VISIT.
ST. BRIDE’S – has Sir Christopher Wren’s tallest steeple–4 octagonal tiers built in 1672. The steeple of this church on Fleet Street is reputed to be the inspiration of the tiered wedding cake. And BRIDES……. The church was greatly damaged during World War II from German bombers. I love this steeple. After the City is quiet at night, I enjoy walkig around St. Bride’s Church; it is truly beautiful. STEEPLE #3 – A SUCCESSFUL VISIT.
ST. GEORGE’S BLOOMSBURY by Nicholas Hawksmoor has a steeple which has a checkered history. The figure at the top is KingGeorge I in a Roman toga, and the heraldic figures of Lions and Unicorns symbolize the struggle of the Hanoverian kings coming to England after the death of Queen Anne. The dramatic steeple with its many steps was altered by the Victorians who felt its theme was too profrane for a religious structure–so the beasts were removed. The tower has now been restored to its former glory. This is a stunning STEEPLE. Have a look; you will enjoy it. STEEPLE #4
WHAT A WALK WITH A PURPOSE: LONDON’S RICHLY DECORATED CHURCH STEEPLES.
Set in beautiful landscaped parkland high on the north edge of Hamstead Heath, KENWOOD HOUSE is one of the most magnificent visitor attractions in London. This elegant Palladian villa was remodeled in the 18th century (1764-1779) by ROBERT ADAM and today houses a superb collection of paintings including masterpieces by REMBRANDDT, VERMEER, TURNER, AND GAINSBOROUGH as well as the SUFFOLK COLLECTION of rare ELIZABETHAN PORTRAITS.
The ADAM LIBRARY is considered by many to be his finest work. The classical friezes and grand colonnades are exquisite. The collection of paintings is outstanding and were left to the Nation by the First Earl of Iveagh in 1927–and how grateful we all are. My favorite is the magnificent VERMEER which draws viewers from all over the world, including me!
The views of London are spectacular from Kenwood House, and the great sweep of lawn overlooking ponds and London below is breathtaking.
Some of the most important of Paul Gauguin’s greatest paintings will be on exhibition at LONDON’S TATE MODERN.
Traveling with a “theme” is fun. I am doing a tour called IN SEARCH OF VICTORIA AND ALBERT in August which will take us from Balmoral to Coburg–that’s a serious theme trip. But also, a visit to the NATIONAL GALLERY to see the newly cleaned MADONNA OF THE ROCKS and to the LOUVRE IN PARIS to see the earlier version of the MADONNA OF THE ROCKS is another theme trip. The Louvre version was painted earlier, mostly by DaVinci. The National Gallery version was painted entirely by the master. I wrote a blog on the newly restored MADONNA OF THE ROCKS in the National Gallery, but wouldn’t it be a fun trip to then go to Paris and see the earlier version? Wow! That’s traveling with a purpose. That’s exactly what I am going to do. Come join.
One of the great paintings of Queen Victoria in the early years is Thomas Sullly’s stunning portrait of the Queen. Thomas Sully was born in England; but at an early age, his family moved to the United States. When Queen Victoria was preparing for the coronation, an American club having loyalty to Britain asked Thomas Sully to go to London to paint the Queen. When he arrived in London where he had studied earlier, there were delays after delays. Finally, Sully started his portrait. When all the coronation portraits were completed, it was determined by Buckingham Palace that Sully’s portrait was the finest of all the portraits, capturing the spirit and personality of the young Queen.
This year, the Queen’s Gallery has its exhibition about VICTORIA AND ALBERT. The Queen’s version of the Sully portrait is spectacular. There is a second portrait in the Wallace Collection. What is so so interesting are the artist’s sketches and his color/paint study.
This is one of the most beautiful royal portraits in the Royal Collection. You will see variations in several locations in London this summer. So, when you are doing your visits this summer, keep an eyes open for this portrait. It will be highlighted in various locations.
MR. JERRY HANCOCK is a major Western American artist. It is not London, but I wanted to share my enthusiasm for this artist. I will do a blog later in the month about his many national awards and some of his finest paintings. He is preparing to do a major show, and I will photograph some of the images to share with my readers. I have been buying his work for seveal years, and my children all have their names on the backs of the images. This is an outstanding artist who has been my friend for many, many years. I am posting three images of his paintings that I have just bought for our mountain home high in the Rocky Mountains. Before they are moved to the mountains, I wanted to share them with you. Within ten days, I will post some fabulous paintingss for your pleasure–and purchase, if you wish. The pair of plough horses is a large painting– 3 feet by 3 feet. It is really spectacular and will be beautiful over our mountain fireplace, above Deer Valley, Utah.
Jerry Hancock’s phone number is 801.731.1613 He will enjoy hearing from you.
JOCELYN at GROSVENOR PRINTS has been a dear friend of mine for many years. I have gathered some outstanding engravings from GROSVENOR PRINTS over the years. These magnificent engravings are the center of my English collection. Many years ago now, I bought the fabuous equestrian portrait of KING GEORGE III riding with the Dragoons and his sons. It is massive and once hung over my desk until I came to the office one day to find it GONE. Where did it go? IT WAS STOLEN. Who stole it? MY SON THOMAS, and it now hangs over HIS desk in his home office. I was slightly irritated, but my anger was assuaged when I realized that a young man liked it enough to steal it from his father’s office. And so it goes.
But, I really encourage my readers to visit GROSVENOR PRINTS. These engravings are amazing documents of historical events and usually are engraved copies of some of the great historical paintings which hang in museums and in royal residences.
FABULOUS
There are over four million maps in various forms at the BRITISH LIBRARY. Magnificent maps highlight the British Library’s unique collection of large-scale maps, many of which have never been exhibited before demonstrate why maps are about far more than geography.
THE KLENCKE ATLAS was given to King Charles II at the time of the STUART RESTORATION in 1660. Such magnificent maps and atlases were symbols of status and wealth. They were important items in private and royal residences.
Prior to 1800, these maps would have hung beside paintings and sculpture on the walls of palaces and grand private homes. No expense was spared with vast tapestries, large wooden globes, and painting in gold leaf commissions.
THIS IS MAGNIFICENT AND MUST NOT BE MISSED. Very beautiful.
This image of ELIZABETH I painted during the 16th century was emailed to me. I have never seen it before. It hangs in Westminster School at Westminster Abbey where it has been since it was painted. I thought my readers would like to see this marvelous imagine of the Virgin Queen. Wonderful. Enjoy!
A Visit to Westminster Abbey is part of every visit to London. I visit the Abbey twice a year, either on my own or with guests. This magnificent abbey is like a book that never ends. Our family members were in the Abbey four or five time for Christmas music events, sitting in different locations every time. When I saw the name of THOMAS HARDY under my chair, the most wonderful feeling came over me. This is a very hallowed location in the Abbey, and I wanted to share it with you: POET’S CORNER.
Thanks,
When you are in the Palace this summer, you end your tour in the WHITE DRAWING ROOM. My favorite royal portrait is the center of attention in this exquisite room. The 1908 portrait of QUEEN ALEXANDRA by Francois Flameng is my favorite royal portrait. It portrays the consort of King Edward VII wearing Queen Victoria’s small crown, Prince Albert’s blue sapphire broach, and the Queen’s Cartier Grisaille diamond necklace. On her left arm, she is wearing her favorite snake bracelet which she wears in almost every photograph or painting of the Queen.
THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, San Marino, California is a very short distance from where I grew up. I spent many hours wandering through the beautiful house where much of my interest in art had its start. My mother used to take my brother–who went along reluctantly–and me to see the great 18th century portraits which she loved so much. I remember her telling me that we should talk about the Gainsborough landscapes first because the painter preferred doing landscapes and painted magnificent portraits only to earn a living. She used to say that you will understand GAINSBOROUGH best if you know his landscapes well. Eventually, we made friends with BLUE BOY and the other stunning, aristocratic paintings by this splendid 18th century portrait painter.
As I grew older and began to wander through the Dulwich Picture Gallery, Kenwood House, the National Gallery, and the Wallace Collection, Gainsborough’s paintings became very familiar to me. A few years ago, the absolutely glorious portrait of QUEEN CHARLOTTE which is usually in the Queen’s Audience Room at Buckingham Palace was exhibited at the QUEEN’S GALLERY. When I saw this large portrait, I knew that I would have liked to know this great artist. IT HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE EYE.
Thomas Gainsborough established himself as the dominant British portraitist of the second half of the 18th century. His paintings have found their way into almost every major museum in the world. In the community where we live, a local international family has five Gainsborough portraits. I own a large pastel portrait of a lady from the School of Gainsborough which I bought in Boston nearly fifty years ago which now hangs in one of the guests rooms in this old house. I have been fortunate to have the works of this painter somewhere near me for almost all my life. So, I decided to pay HOMAGE TO GAINSBOROUGH and drop my head at his burial site.
Kew was where the Royal Family lived in the 18th and early 19th centuries. St. Anne’s Church, Kew Green, had been first built by Queen Anne, but much enlarged by King George III since it was the church was closest to his residence at Kew Palace. Where else should the Gainsborough family worship than in the church where his clients attended services. When Gainsborough died 2 August, 1788, at the age of 61, his body was buried next to the walls of the Church. In the vaults of the church was the crypt where many members of the Royal Family were buried. During the 1930′s, Queen Mary set out to put the collections and Royal Vaults in good order. When she came to St. Anne’s Church to inspect the Royal Vaults, she found the site in complete decay and had the remains of the members of the Royal Family removed to the Vaults at Windsor Castle. But Thomas Gainsborough’s tomb remains in its original state, in good repair. He was buried next to FRANCIS BAUER, the botanical illustrator.
So, off to Kew I went; and with the greatest of pleasure I easily found the stone covering the remains of Thomas Gainsborough. I felt such great pleasure. Many of my readers go to Kew at least once during their visits. Please, stop at St. Anne’s Church, Kew Green, Kew, and pay HOMAGE TO THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH. A simple rose would be fitting. Wherever he is, I am sure he is painting–perhaps a rose!
Wonderful.
ONE OF THE GREATEST PAINTINGS IN THE WORLD HAS BEEN RECOVERED IN BERLIN. Caravaggio’s THE TAKING OF CHIRST (1573-1602) was stolen from the ODESSA MUSEUM OF WESTERN AND EASTERN ART in Odessa.
TATE BRITAIN TODAY UNVEILS ITS NEW DUVEENS COMMISSION, HARRIER AND JAQUAR, BY FIONA BANNER. Banner’s large work, HARRIER AND JAGUAR, brings the highly-charged physicality of two real fighter jets, both previously active military service, into the unexpected setting of the neoclassical Dureen Galleries. HARRIER AND JAGUAR has been specially devised for the TATE BRITAIN DUVEENS COMMISSION 2010– supported by Sotheby’s.
DO I LOVE COLOR! A young man in London named LESTER HUTT decided he would see what various alcoholic drinks look like under a microscope. The images were so spectacular that he started taking photographs of these fabulous color arrangements. The microscope revealed the molecules that make up our favorite tipples.
When I saw these images from London this morning, I had to forward a few of them on to my readers. LONDON IS ALIVE! PERFECT TIMES FOR VISITING: tours, exhibitions, art, sports, pomp, fashion, fine food, antiques, and now ALCOHOLIC MICROSCOPIC ART. CONTACT INFORMATON: EMAIL: Service@bevshots.com Telephone: US 850.807.0507
These days, if you blink you miss a whole new world–so much is happening. I will try to keep you posted. I WILL DO MY BEST.
Goodness, what next! What a place this London really is.
Wonderful.
Tom
Wednesday, a top London art gallery will unveil an exhibition of works that had tricked its own experts–until scientific advances revealed cleverly produced fakes or unexpected treasures.
A Rembrandt turned out to be the work of a student in the master’s studio, and WOMAN AT A WINDOW was later modified because of concerns over morality.
When I drive down the Embankment, in front of the Mercedes-Benz showrooms, a sculpture of the child and flying dolphin catches my attention. When friends come to London with their children–always hungry–I take them to the CARVERY AT THE TOWER THISTLE HOTEL AT THE TOWER OF LONDON. After our meal, we always seem to find ourselves outside gazing up and down the River with our eyes gravitating to the magnificent TOWER BRIDGE in front of us. Then we all want our picture taken in front of a fountain with another dolphin and flying figure. These two figures are two of several sculptures done by DAVID WYNNE.
I remember seeing the sculpture of the head of Prince Charles, the new Prince of Wales, wearing his new crown several years ago. Then came the bronze of the Queen which for many years was in one of the public rooms at Windsor Castle–now in one of the spaces added after the fire. The Queen wearing the Coronation Crown, all in bronze, takes your breath away.
David Wynne’s sculpture of the Beatles was so novel for this wildlife sculptor, but the bronze sculpture captures the spirit of the age; you can almost hear the voices of the era singing.
I particularly like THE RIVER GOD on the Tyne, not in London, but I saw it last year on my way to Edinburgh.
David Wynne captures in sculpture so many aspects of British life. As we all walk around London, particularly along the river and in Cadogan Square Park, we will meet his work often.
It is time to pack your surfboard and get on the road to the MUSEUM OF BRITISH SURFING. From June 12 to 19 September, 2010, there will be an exhibition AN ART HISTORY OF BRITISH SURFING HISTORY at WOODHORN, QUEEN ELIZABETH II COUNTRY PARK, ASHINGTON, NORTHUMBERLAND NE63 9YF. This is a spectacular venue on the north east coast of England.
Very interesting.
What can we do with a wretched old soul who wakes up on Saturday morning with the excitement and energy of a young fellow enjoying the first day of his honeymoon? I suppose we have to do a serious investigation to see what is in his head. Usually, it is the excitement of a MARKET and ANTIQUE STALLS. Your poor old author here has this dilemma, and I am assured by my doctor that there is NO cure. Could be worse like having no money to buy anything. Hopefully, I have saved enough to buy a perfect antique button for my wife’s sewing kit.
CHURCH STREET MARKET on a Saturday morning is fascinating. I put my few pennies and my Oyster Card in my front pocket and have a thrilling time. Like many of London’s markets, CHURCH STREET reaches a crescendo at the weekend. On Friday and Saturday, stalls selling cheap clothes, household goods, fish, cheesse, and antiques join the everyday fruit and vegetable stalls. ALFIES ANTIQUE MARKET (No.13-25) houses around 100 dealers selling everything from jewelry to furniture–and of course the Staffordshire figure of Queen Victoria.
SHEPHERDS -BOOK BINDERS – STATIONERS – FINE PAPER MERCHANTS is home to two of London’s oldest and most prestigious bookbinding companies:
These two old binderies are widely acknowledged as two of the most important hand-bookbinding companies of the 19th and 20th centuries. They designed and produced the miniature books for Queen Mary’s DOLL HOUSE and for other Royal Commissions.
I have kept my favorite novels over the years. I have written in them copiously. My favorite novel is THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE, and I am going to take it to SHEPHERDS to be bound in Moroccan leather for a Christmas present for my granddaughter Julia. She is only six years old, but she loves to read, and I want her to have something very personal of her grandfather’s.
What a beautiful thing for visitors to organize before going to London. It would be a MEMORY unmatched for your family.
46 CURZON STREET, LONDON W1J 7UH (CORNER OF SHEPHERD MARKET) FINE BINDINGS, LEATHER GOODS, STATIONERY
Thomas Moore
I LOVE TO GO TO ART EXHIBITIONS. I love to stand before a contemporary painting and think to myself: EITHER YOU ARE WACKO OR I AM NUTS–or BOTH. But I love it. Even though I live in a big old house filled with everything made before 1830, I still love huge canvases covered in red, yellow, orange, a bit of blue, and shocking green–no attempt to have meaning–it just exists as a magnificent “madrugada” of color. If it ever stops raining in the Wasatch Mountains where I live, I am going to go into my bee garden and dump loads of paint onto a canvas. I don’t think I can find a nude to dip and slide around, but I do think I can splash a big brush and away I go.
NOW IN ITS 242ND YEAR, the 14 June -22 August show will include works in all media including painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, architecture, and film.
If you like contemporary art, you will be in heaven. If you are a closeted admirer of contemporary art but don’t want your friends to know, PUT ON A WIG AND SOME DARK GLASSES, and enjoy yourself– all by yourself– totally incognito. Come on, admit it, there is nothing better than standing in front of a modern picture, full of strange figures and wonderful colors, and saying to yourself: WOW, I LIKE THAT. You don’t have to take it home and shock the spouse who might think you have gone crazy–hopefullyreally crazy,
