We must confess that religious paintings are not our favourite subject, and we've tended to regard Spanish Catholic art as being, well, just a little too religious to cope with. So we approached the Francisco de Zurbarán exhibition at the National Gallery in London with a certain amount of trepidation. A degree of contrition is due.... Yes, there were monks, altarpieces and lots of saints, but we were blown away by Zurbarán's ability to depict textures and fabrics and to convey an intensity of feeling. It's an absolutely excellent exhibition, full of truly beautiful paintings. Such religious art was intended to bring the faithful closer to God, to bridge the gap between Heaven and Earth, in an age when many could not read. Zurbarán was a master at it. Let's start with a saint: Just take a look at the fabrics, trimmings and gems in this picture. And the garments are even more striking when you are stood in front of this nearly life-size figure. This is Casild...
Shape of Light is the title of the new show that Tate Modern says aims to tell the intertwined stories of photography and abstract art for the first time. Man Ray and Alfred Stieglitz are among the pioneering photographers featured from May 2 to October 14.
At the Royal Academy, the third of Tacita Dean's three spring shows at major London museums opens on May 19. This one focuses on Landscape and runs to August 12. The two others -- Portrait at the National Portrait Gallery and Still Life at the National Gallery -- can be seen until May 28.
Edward Bawden, perhaps best known as an illustrator and graphic artist, is the subject of a wide-ranging retrospective at Dulwich Picture Gallery that's also intended to champion his work as a fine artist, including innovative watercolours in the 1930s. It's on from May 23 to September 9, following on from Dulwich's excellent David Milne show.
The Guildhall Art Gallery in the City of London focuses on William De Morgan, described as "the most intriguing and inventive ceramic designer of the late Victorian period". Sublime Symmetry, a free exhibition, runs from May 11 to October 28.
The Museum of London Docklands looks at how the Londoners of 2,000 years ago buried their loved ones, with a sarcophagus newly discovered in Southwark on display for the first time. Roman Dead starts on May 25 and is on till October 28, and there's again no charge to see it.
Bringing things bang up to date, the V&A looks at 100 projects shaping the world of tomorrow from smart appliances to satellites. The Future Starts Here starts there on May 12 and ends on November 4.
The Pallant in Chichester celebrates the work of female artists in a show inspired by the writings of Virginia Woolf that was well reviewed when it was first on at Tate St Ives at the beginning of this year. Barbara Hepworth, Gwen John, Vanessa Bell and Laura Knight are among the 80 women featured from May 26 to September 16. The exhibition then travels to the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge.
Prized Possessions is the title of the new exhibition at the Holburne Museum in Bath, featuring Dutch paintings from National Trust houses by artists including Rembrandt, Cuyp and ter Borch. Running from May 25 to September 16, this seems set to be a quality show, not least because it moves on to the Mauritshuis in The Hague later this year. There's another chance to see it at Petworth in spring 2019.
In Eastbourne, the Towner marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Edward Stott, "the poet-painter of the twilight". His atmospheric depictions of rural scenes are being brought together for the first time in more than four decades from May 26 to September 16.
Back in St Ives, the Tate's summer show is devoted to the vibrant abstract paintings of Patrick Heron in a retrospective spanning the second half of the 20th century that gets under way on May 19 and will be on till September 30.
One highlight on the Continent is a 130-work show in Denmark covering the career of Gabriele Münter, whose saturated-colour landscapes and portraits belie the Angst-ridden image of German Expressionism. It's on at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art north of Copenhagen from May 3 to August 19. You might not think the Danish capital the most obvious destination for art-lovers, but it's actually got a fantastic array of galleries to visit.
Dame Laura Knight, The Dark Pool, 1908-1918, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle. (c) Reproduced with permission of the Estate of Dame Laura Knight DBE RA 2018. All rights reserved
Gerard ter Borch, An Officer Making His Bow to a Lady, c. 1662, Polesden Lacey, Surrey. (c) National Trust Images/John Hammond
At the Royal Academy, the third of Tacita Dean's three spring shows at major London museums opens on May 19. This one focuses on Landscape and runs to August 12. The two others -- Portrait at the National Portrait Gallery and Still Life at the National Gallery -- can be seen until May 28.
Edward Bawden, perhaps best known as an illustrator and graphic artist, is the subject of a wide-ranging retrospective at Dulwich Picture Gallery that's also intended to champion his work as a fine artist, including innovative watercolours in the 1930s. It's on from May 23 to September 9, following on from Dulwich's excellent David Milne show.
The Museum of London Docklands looks at how the Londoners of 2,000 years ago buried their loved ones, with a sarcophagus newly discovered in Southwark on display for the first time. Roman Dead starts on May 25 and is on till October 28, and there's again no charge to see it.
Bringing things bang up to date, the V&A looks at 100 projects shaping the world of tomorrow from smart appliances to satellites. The Future Starts Here starts there on May 12 and ends on November 4.
The Pallant in Chichester celebrates the work of female artists in a show inspired by the writings of Virginia Woolf that was well reviewed when it was first on at Tate St Ives at the beginning of this year. Barbara Hepworth, Gwen John, Vanessa Bell and Laura Knight are among the 80 women featured from May 26 to September 16. The exhibition then travels to the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge.
Back in St Ives, the Tate's summer show is devoted to the vibrant abstract paintings of Patrick Heron in a retrospective spanning the second half of the 20th century that gets under way on May 19 and will be on till September 30.
One highlight on the Continent is a 130-work show in Denmark covering the career of Gabriele Münter, whose saturated-colour landscapes and portraits belie the Angst-ridden image of German Expressionism. It's on at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art north of Copenhagen from May 3 to August 19. You might not think the Danish capital the most obvious destination for art-lovers, but it's actually got a fantastic array of galleries to visit.
Images
Edward Bawden, Untitled Landscape with Sunset, 1927, Private Collection. (c) Estate of Edward BawdenDame Laura Knight, The Dark Pool, 1908-1918, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle. (c) Reproduced with permission of the Estate of Dame Laura Knight DBE RA 2018. All rights reserved
Gerard ter Borch, An Officer Making His Bow to a Lady, c. 1662, Polesden Lacey, Surrey. (c) National Trust Images/John Hammond
Edwar
d Bawden,
Untitled landscape with
sunset
, 19
27
,
watercolour
on paper
, Private
Collection,
© Estate of Edward Bawden
Comments
Post a Comment