Galleries

Exhibitions

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Suggestions for Gallery Visits
            THE LARGEST VERMEER EXHIBITION EVER                                            Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam – 10th February to 4th June 2023
                                             NOTE: In local cinemas in April
 
 As some Arts Society Members may be aware, this unique exhibition will bring together nearly all known paintings by Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), lent by museums from all over the world. Members who are not planning to see the exhibition in Amsterdam may be interested to know that, as part of the excellent Exhibition-on-Screen series, a one-hour-thirty-minute documentary about the Vermeer exhibition will be shown in the following cinemas in April 2023:The Malt Cinema, Lymington: Tuesday 18th April at 7.15 pmHarbour Lights Cinema, Southampton: Tuesday 18th April at 7.15 pmMilford Centre Cinema: Thursday 20th April evening (time tba)The Regent Centre  Cinema Christchurch  Sunday 23rd April at 2.15 pm
The  exhibition Labyrinth – Knossos, Myth and Reality  is opening on 10th February at the Ashmolean.
If you scroll down the web page there are images of some of the objects that will be on display e.g. amphora depicting Theseus and the Minotaur c 550 BC, Watercolour of Ladies in Blue Fresco by Emile Gillieron Père late 19th C, Map of Crete c. 1420 and ‘Divine Couple’ Ring 1600 – 14550 BC, gold.
ST BARBE MUSEUM, Lymington 

Exhibition organised by the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford.

“Scene through Wood – a century of Wood Engraving”(25th February to 22nd April 2023)

https://www.stbarbe-museum.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/upcoming-exhibitions/scene-through-wood-a-century-of-wood-engraving/

Wormell Book of Dust, cover – engraving.
‘Scene Through Wood’ celebrates one of the most astonishingly skillful and richly creative forms of visual art. Curated by Anne Desmet RA, currently the only engraver elected to the Royal Academy of Arts, the exhibition marks 100 years since the founding of the Society of Wood Engravers in 1920. It includes 120 works from the Ashmolean’s outstanding collection of prints, plus loans from private collections, by leading artist-engravers from the 1790s right up to the present including Clare Leighton, Joan Hassall, Gwen Raverat, Agnes Miller Parker, Gertrude Hermes, Henry Moore and Paul Nash
RUSSELL-COTES ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM, Bournemouth
“Telling Tales: the Story of Victorian Narrative Art” (ends 5th March 2023)
The exhibition explores Victorian attitudes from the cradle to the grave, through paintings chosen to show love and loss, the perils of being a woman, the foreshadowing of adult life through childhood and how war and Empire were legitimised. The exhibition is a collaboration with Southampton City Art Gallery, featuring masterpieces from both collections.
For more details and images use the link below:

Salamanca Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum

Posted by Ruth Conway on in Galleries, Reviews 0 Comment

Whilst on a river cruise on the Douro in Portugal my husband and I had the opportunity to visit this fantastic museum. Our only regret was that we only had a couple of hours as there is so much to see and reflect upon, it really is a whole day’s visit or even better to spread it over two days with time to reflect in between. The galleries display a vast array of art nouveau and art deco of all genres.

The actual building was originally a small private palace built in the 20th century but was restored by the authorities in the late eighties to create this museum.

The porcelain collection is the most international collection in the museum.

The enamel works include French enamel from Limoges – particularly a pair of vases made by Camille Faure.

My favourite section was the art deco glass collection with much work by Renee Lalique – (notably displaying his use of plain or pastel shades to represent flora.and aquatics,) and his follower Ernest Sabine. Other glass works on display were by Emile Galle (creator of the Nancy School) and the most beautiful perfume bottles..

 

There are more than 100 works using the mixing of ivory and bronze (chriselephantine) to create statuettes by many famous sculptors, including the stylized and beautiful dancers by Chiparus based on the dancers in the Russian ballet company of the 20s, and some of the works by Ferdinand Preiss..

There is a splendid collection of dolls from Germany ( including the character babies ) and the luxurious French dolls, and a small collection of toys, incuding some by Margarete Steiff.

One of the most important and beautiful bronzes was the sensual dancer created by Karl Kauba.

The fan and jewellery collection was fascinating, and I could have spent hours studying the furniture on display including a wonderful desk by Joan Busquets.

By the time we came to the paintings our heads were full and reeling and wondered if perhaps the museum had considered rotating their displays.

We were not allowed to take photographs apart from the wonderful windows in the cafe

but if you wish to see some of the items that mesmerised us the website is www.museocasalis.org.

 

If you are ever lucky enough to find yourself in salamanca ( which is a beautiful city ) then we wholeheartedly recommend a visit to this museum. we promise you will not be disappointed

Exhibition review

Posted by Ruth Conway on in Galleries, Reviews 0 Comment

MK Gallery: Milton Keynes

Laura Knight: A Panoramic View

Visited by Bill and Pam Johnson 29 October 2021

An excellent exhibition of over 160 works from public and private collections including her most famous works. This exhibition is the largest of Dame Laura Knight in over fifty years. Her paintings include figures from the world of ballet, circus and theatre, portraits of people’s lives, marginalised communities and racial segregation in America. As an official war artist in the Second World War her painting compositions are unique. The exhibition is open daily except Mondays until Sunday 20 February 2022. More information on page 63 of the latest Arts Society magazine and the Gallery’s website. The café’s offerings are delicious.

 

Compton Verney: Art Gallery and Park near Stratford-upon-Avon

Two exhibitions for the price of one!

Visited by Bill and Pam 30 October 2021.

 

1. John Nash: The Landscape of Love and Solace

A major exhibition of John Nash’s work in over fifty years includes iconic oil paintings, accomplished wood engravings, line drawings, lithographs and watercolours. Nash was also one of the 20th century greatest botanical artists. He was also an official war artist in both the First and Second World Wars and his iconic painting “Over the Top, 1918” is on display along with his thanksgiving to survival “The Cornfield, 1918”.

2. Grinling Gibbons: Centuries in the Making

This extensive exhibition is a tercentenary celebration of Grinling Gibbons (died 1721) and his work as the most renowned British woodcarver of the 17th century and arguably the greatest carver in British history. A superb exhibition, “Centuries in the Making”, explores the influences that shaped Gibbon’s vision, his skills and techniques. This exhibition is also open daily except Mondays until Sunday 20 February 2022.

Book online for a Saturday or Sunday. There is a superb café offering cakes and hot meals.