A Scottish Cornucopia – two exhibitions

I thought that a selection from these two shows might be of interest:

Exhibition of Scottish Artists 2014, until 9th February, Stafford Gallery In association with Wimbledon Fine Art, London SW19

Alice McMurrough PAI RGI RSW
In the Uncertain Hour Before Morning
Oil
31 x 28 inches
£2,900

Andrew Squire
Highland House
Oil on board
20 x 24 inches
£2,350

Jack Morrocco
Black Guitar and Vermeer
Oil on canvas
34 x 36 inches
£9,200

www.staffordgallery.co.uk

The Scottish Show 2014, until 21^st February, Panter & Hall, 11-12 Pall Mall, London SW1

James Fullarton, ‘Bluebells in the Garden’, 36” x 30”, £9,000

Donald Macdonald, ‘Where the wave takes us #2’, 41.5” x 57”, £6,000

Simon Laurie, ‘Winter Sky, Bute’, 32” x 36”, £4,500

http://www.panterandhall.com

“Side by Side” Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, National Gallery, London

Jan28

“Side by Side” Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, National Gallery, London, until 27th April

The lyric “side by side” is a literal description of what you will encounter when you visit this “must see” exhibition of these two Sunflower paintings. They have an emotional resonance which you need to experience first hand.

NG 3863
Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890)
Sunflowers, 1888
Oil on canvas
92.1 x 73 cm
Bought, Courtauld Fund, 1924
© National Gallery, London

Much has and will be written about them and I will not add anything here; the storyboards in the gallery tell you all you need to know and I will not spoil it.

L1162
Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890)
Sunflowers, 1889-01 Arles
Oil on canvas
95 x 73 cm
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
s31V/1962
F458
© Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

A final thought! What if they were for sale and you could afford one of them? Which would you choose? Over to you!

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Diarmuid Kelley – Recent Work, Offer Waterman & Co, until 28th February

Jan26

Diarmuid Kelley – Recent Work, Offer Waterman & Co, 11 Langton Street London SW10 0JL, until 28^th February.

Diarmuid Kelley
Indian Red, 2013
oil on linen

This new exhibition has all the hallmarks of Kelley’ distinctive narrative style with his concentration on light, an effect he achieves in his portraits by using the technique that was favoured by the great 18^th century English artist Joseph Wright of Derby. It is done by building a small enclosed space in a corner of his studio, with a window on one side and the remaining sides curtained off. The window is also curtained and by adjusting it he is able to control light on his subject in the way he requires.

Diarmuid Kelley
Study For a Portrait, 2012
oil on canvas

His models are drawn from his pool of friends and the actress Olivia Williams is particular muse featuring in many of his works. He is also a very talented still-life artist as well.

Diarmuid Kelley
The Thirty Years War, 2011
oil on linen

His paintings are found in many private collections including that at Chatsworth and a portrait of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons, Dame Anne Owers hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

Diarmuid Kelley
I Come and Stand at Every Door, 2013
oil on linen

http://www.waterman.co.uk

All images are copyright

Castiglione: Lost Genius and Gifted: From the Royal Academy to The Queen at The Queen’s Gallery

Jan24

Castiglione: Lost Genius and Gifted: From the Royal Academy to The Queen at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, until 16^th March.

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, Vanitas, mid 1650s.
Royal Collection Trust / (C) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013

There is a link between these two very enjoyable exhibitions and that is monotype prints.

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, Studies of dromedaries and goats,c 1630.
Royal Collection Trust / (C) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013

The creator of the monotype print was Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (1609-64) who is the subject of the major part of this show. He certainly deserves to be brought back to the public’s attention as he was undoubtedly one of the great Baroque draftsmen. He created large-scale drawings in oil directly onto paper which were finished works and not preparatory studies for a painting. He was also a noted printmaker and one can clearly see the influence of Rembrandt’s etchings in his prints. Castiglione was certainly a “wild” character for his life is peppered with colourful and violent incidents and much of what we know of his life story is garnered from court documents rather than his commissions.

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, Two Fransciscan Saints in devotion, mid-1650s
Royal Collection Trust / (C) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013

In Gifted: From the Royal Academy to The Queen, Tracy Emin has used the monotype process for HRH Royal Britania. The technique was not used for nearly two centuries after Castiglione’s death until it was revived by Degas and others. The gift is a heady mixture of works in various media by over a hundred Academicians, including David Hockney, Grayson Perry and Anish Kapoor, and was presented to Her Majesty to mark her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. I certainly think that it is a wonderful gift and celebration of two great institutions. Long may they both flourish!

Joe Tilson RA, For Her Majesty the Queen a P.C from Venice, 2012. Royal Collection Trust/(C) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk

Dr Jennifer Dickson RA, Transitions: Five (The Sun’s Chalice, Hinton Ampner), 2008. Royal Collection Trust/(C) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013

3 Days Only: Arte in Viaggio – Academy of Fine Art Bari at Fiumano Fine Art

Jan22

Arte in Viaggio – Academy of Fine Art Bari at Fiumano Fine Art, London W2, until 24^th January

This three day pop-up exhibition is a great treat and shows the work of ten recent graduates from the Academy of Fine Art Bari. There is an exciting mix of paintings, sculpture and installations and I feel sure that some of them will go on to make a name in the art world. Take a look now – you won’t regret it.

http://www.fiumanofineart.com

The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Winter Fair, 21-26 January 2014 at Battersea Evolution

Jan20

The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Winter Fair, 21-26 January 2014 at Battersea Evolution, Battersea Park, London SW11

One can understand the continuing popularity of this fair with its combination of 20^th century and period design. If you were inspired by my recent blog on the interior designer Michael Inchbald then this is the place to go in order to create a similar look for yourself.

Classic Aubusson rug using an 18th Century style design (although this example was woven in the 19th Century). The size is 4.86 x 4.06 metres – 16′ x 13′ 4 feet.
£15,000
Gallery Yacou

The forthcoming Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics is the focus of a special selling exhibition of Russian winter sports paintings garnered over the last two decades from artists’ studios in St Petersburg by Fair exhibitor John Barkes, who deals in Soviet realist paintings here in London. They can be seen in the brasserie.

Vitali Tyulenyev 1937-1997
‘’Climbing in the High Caucasus ‘’, 1968
oil on canvas 95 x 115 cm
Priced about £12,500

Miss Austen at Home: from Mansfield Park to Chawton is an exhibition to mark the bi-centenary of Mansfield Park with a display of interiors that would have a resonance with Jane Austen. It has been curated by Helen Linfield, a period furniture specialist. The items used come from Fair exhibitors and are for sale.

Late C18th and early C19th Blue & White English pottery: Rectangular plate (cut border) Rogers Zebra pattern c1815, £220; Loving cup, Italian pattern, £235; Jug, Rathbone, c1825, £275; Cachepot/flowerpot, Adams ‘Cattle Scenery’ c1900, £275; Potted meat tub, c1790, £185
Exhibitor: Sue Norman

Among newcomers to this Fair are picture dealer William Thuillier, Clive Loveless who is showing tribal art and furniture dealers Christopher Buck and Horneman Antiques Ltd.

The Marlborough Family
Mezzotint engraving by Charles Turner
from a painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds
Published 24th October, 1815 by C.Turner,
No 50 Warren Street, Fitzroy Square
Image size: 29 3/4 x 26 1/4 in / 75.5 x 67 cm
Price £2,350
Dealer: Nicholas Price

The rare chest below may make the perfect gift for Burns Night on the 25^th.

A very rare Regency bow front chest of drawers decorated in the Victorian period in tartan ware with added highland vignettes. This type of work is normally attributed to the town of Mauchline in Ayrshire, however it is unusual if not completely unprecedented to see a piece on this scale. The town is mostly associated with tartan trinket boxes and book covers.
Both the National Museum of Scotland, and the National Trust Scotland, have been shown pictures and neither has ever seen a tartan ware piece on such a scale. The largest item known to (and in fact owned by) the Museum is an occasional table/ chessboard.
101cm h x 103cm w 51cm deep
For sale at £7200, Drennan Edinburgh

Free shuttles from Sloane Square – visitor info at www.decorativefair.com

BROWN’S HOTEL, SATURDAY MAYFAIR ART TOURS, starting January 18th

Jan17

BROWN’S HOTEL, SATURDAY MAYFAIR ART TOURS

Starting this Saturday 18^th January the hotel invites you to discover Mayfair’s art world. The tours start at 10.30am with a welcoming tea or coffee in the hotel’s library before setting out on a visit to four local galleries led by one of the participating dealers. At approximately 1pm you return to the hotel and have a set three course lunch (excluding wines) in HIX Mayfair. The cost for all this is £60 per head (subject to availability).

This Saturday’s inaugural tour sounds exciting. It will be led by the Albemarle Gallery’s director, Tony Pontone, and will visit Connaught Brown, The Alan Cristea Gallery, and Belgravia Gallery before going on to the Albemarle Gallery where the noted art historian and author Edward Lucie-Smith will give an introduction to their current show.

This really does sound a delightful and relaxed way to appreciate some of the art that is on view in Mayfair. A tour would make a great present or just a lovely way to spoil yourself. Nor should you forget that the hotel has works by Tracey Emin, Bridget Riley and Michael Landy and its Donovan Bar is hung with photographs by Terence Donovan.

To book a place for the Art Tours call Reservations +44 (0)20 7518 4172 or email reservations.browns@roccofortehotels.com

ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT

Michael Inchbald: A Legacy of Design, 22 January 2014, Christie’s London

Jan16

Michael Inchbald: A Legacy of Design, 22 January, Christie’s, King Street, London

Michael Inchbald at home, Stanley House

This sale is of the contents of the London home of the exemplarary interior designer Michael Inchbald who was so very talented in combining modern design with that of neo-classical.

His drawing room which was created between 1957 and 1959 has survived into the 21^st century relatively unchanged. Indeed I remember seeing it in magazines over the years and it is a mark of Inchbald’s talents as a designer that I recall it so well. He was innovative in that he was not afraid to use modern materials such as lino or bleached cork for floors and walls.

Inchbald did a lot of work in the commercial sector for companies and hotels, including the Savoy’s River Room and the Ballroom at the Berkeley Hotel. Noted for his design for the first-class saloon on the QE2, he also created interiors for the Carpathia, Franconia and the Windsor Castle. He also refurbished the head office of the Crown Estate Commissioners in Carlton House Terrace in 1972.

His private clients included Dukes and Earls, the banker Henry Tiarks and the film director John Schlesinger.

The lots in this sale are an exciting mixture of silver, paintings, furniture, sculpture and antiquities. There is arms and armour, a mixture of oriental and western ceramics, books and drawings too. Some of the clocks in the sale came from his uncle Courtenay Ilbert’s renowned horological collection – The Ilbert Collection. Regarded as the finest clock collection ever it is now in the British Museum.

All of this, as the accompanying images show, was arranged to create a timeless and elegant home which really is a visual representation of Inchbald’s philosophy which he summed up as follows;

“I believe the more you design for the future, the more you should know about the past. You’ve got to have a feeling for the great heritage of civilisation.

Surrounding yourself with beautiful things gives you a standard.”

I couldn’t agree more!

Pre-Sale Exhibition Viewing Times:

Thursday 16 January 9.00 am – 4.30 pm

Friday 17 January 9.00 am – 4.30 pm

Saturday 18 January 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm

Sunday 19 January 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm

Monday 20 January 9.00 am – 4.30 pm

Tuesday 21 January 9.00 am – 8.00 pm

London Art Fair: The Hepworth Wakefield and International Dialogues in Art Projects, 15–19 January

Jan15

London Art Fair: The Hepworth Wakefield and International Dialogues in Art Projects, 15–19 January, Business Design Centre, Islington, N1

KLARI REIS, Hypochondria, 2013, Petri Dishes, Tee Nuts and Steel Rods, Photo credit Cynthia Corbett Gallery

It is hard to believe that the very popular London Art Fair which celebrates Modern British and Contemporary Art marks its 26th edition this year. For the first time the Fair has a Museum partnership; this year with The Hepworth Wakefield who will present a special exhibition focusing on “Barbara Hepworth and the Development of British Modernism”. This year sees the 10^th edition of the acclaimed Art Projects section and there is new series of international ‘Dialogues’, curated by Adam Carr of MOSTYN, to mark this. This year the theme of the annual contemporary photography section Photo50, is ‘Immaterial Matter’ and its curators are Charlie Fellowes and Jeremy Epstein, Directors of Edel Assanti.

Barbara Hepworth - Kneeling Figure 1932 - Wakefield Permanent Art Collection ©Bowness, Hepworth Estate

The Fair really does cater for all levels of collecting with its heady mixture of established and up-and-coming new galleries from the UK and elsewhere. Among new galleries at the Fair are Goodman Fine Art, Jenna Burlingham Fine Art and the Tokyo-based Whitestone Gallery. The latter is showing examples of Gutai, Japan’s leading avant-garde artist movement of the 1950s, with an emphasis on the work of the artist Chiyu Uemae.

Chiyu Uemae – Yellow. Courtesy of Whitestone Gallery Japan

The Art Projects section will also host the launch of the fifth edition of The Catlin Guide which not only acts as a show case for the forty most talented new graduate and postgraduate artists from the most recent round of BA, MA and PG Dip final shows but also gives an idea of the trends and future paths in contemporary art. Among this year’s crop are painters Charlie Billingham (Royal Academy Schools) and Neil Raitt (Royal College of Art), multi-media artists Ophelia Finke (Central Saint Martins) and Saejin Choi (Glasgow School of Art), photographer Chloe Rosser (Falmouth University), sculptor Sungfeel Yun (Slade School of Fine Art) and the enigmatic Mr. & Mrs. Philip Cath (Goldsmiths).

The above can only give a hint of what an exciting and vibrant fair it is. It really is a place to visit and experience for yourself.

Brian Crouch, Discs 1964. Oil on canvas 102x76cm. Courtesy of the artist and Waterhouse & Dodd

London Art Fair 2012 at Business Design Centre, Islington, credit James Champion

A CELEBRATION OF CORPORATE ART PROGRAMMES WORLDWIDE at Bonhams HQ, London W1

Jan13

A CELEBRATION OF CORPORATE ART PROGRAMMES WORLDWIDE, Bonhams HQ, 101 New Bond Street, January 13^th– January 24th.

In their new book, A CELEBRATION OF CORPORATE ART PROGRAMMES WORLDWIDE (£75, Wapping Arts Trust, supported by Bonhams) authors Peter Harris and Shirley Reiff Howarth’s give us a fascinating insight into the world of corporate collecting. The first such collection is thought to be that of the Sienese Monte dei Paschi Bank which was formed in 1472 and it still thrives today.

Benvenuto di Giovanni, Madonna della Misericordia (Madonna of Mercy) fresco, 1472, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena headquarters

Some two thousand companies and half of the Fortune 500 were seriously collecting by the second half of the 1990s. Organisations such as airports, retailers, hotels, hospitals (my local hospital, for example, has a good collection, including wall paintings by Bridget Riley), legal firms and blue-chip corporations. In most cases these collections are used to show the companies philanthropic interests and their core beliefs to their employees and the wider world. Sponsorship of art programmes and loans to major exhibitions also brings the company’s name to a wider audience.

Gold Muisca boat
Museo del Oro, Inv. M.O.11.373
Photograph: Juan Mayr/Museo del Oro

There is an emphasis on the modern and contemporary in this exhibition which features up to four works from companies, including ABN AMRO Neuflize Vie (France), Canary Wharf, Clifford Chance, Fleming Wyfold Art Foundation (UK), EON (Germany),Fundacion Telefonica, Fundacion Mapfre (Spain), Hiscox, HSBC (France), Simmons and Simmons, Statoil (Norway).

Michael Elmgreen & Ingar Dragset Short Cut, 2003  Mixed media, Fiat Uno, camper trailer 250cm x 850cm x 300cm  Installation view  Ottagono, Vittorio Emanuele Gallery, Milan  Photograph: Jens Ziehe  commissioned and produced by Fondazione Nicola Trussardi. Courtesy Michael Elmgreen & Ingar Dragset. Massimo De Carlo Gallery, Milan

Paintings, prints, sculpture, photography and video art are on loan with works by Cadell, Tracey Emin, George Grosz, Otto Dix, Roberto Matta, Antoine Tapies, Richard Hamilton, Ellis O’Connell and Cornelia Parker as well as a Delvaux and a Magritte. Some of which have not been widely seen before.

www.bonhams.com

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Monthly Archives: January 2014