Truth is often stranger than fiction, isn't it? Head to the newly opened venue of Charleston in Lewes for Dorothy Hepworth and Patricia Preece: An Untold Story , an exhibition that relates a piece of art history that, you have to say, would make a good film. And here are the two principal characters: Dorothy, on the left, a talented graduate of the Slade School of Fine Art , and her fellow student, friend, lover, partner and collaborator Patricia, perhaps not quite so talented, but both passionate about art. The photograph seems to tell you a lot. Dorothy looks a little bit awkward and ill at ease, slightly frumpy, androgynous even. Patricia appears confident, glamorous, exuberant, perhaps a little.... possessive? But maybe we're getting ahead of ourselves. We need to establish the plot.... The rather retiring Hepworth and the outgoing, gregarious Preece became inseparable as students, and they planned to set up a studio together after graduation. In 1922, Preece took exam
There are an awful lot of new shows to talk about this month, particularly in London, and one that looks set to be a crowd-puller is Gauguin Portraits at the National Gallery. It's the first ever exhibition devoted to the portraits of Paul Gauguin and aims to demonstrate how he revolutionised the genre. There are more than 50 works, including high-profile loans from around Europe and North America, but ticket prices (£24 on the door at weekends) are £6 higher than for the recent Sorolla show and £2 up on last year's Monet blockbuster. October 7 to January 26. Dulwich Picture Gallery is marking the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt's death with Rembrandt's Light , an exhibition designed to showcase the artist's mastery of light and shadow and focusing on his middle period. It will have around 35 works, including some never seen in the UK before, and runs from October 4 to February 2. The recent show at the Foundling Museum showed just how much meaning William