The James McNeill Whistler exhibition at Tate Britain is big, probably a bit too big, but it's packed with beautiful pictures and it's not in the least bit boring. That's not surprising as Whistler led a colourful life, never shying from controversy and confrontation -- notably pursuing a high-profile libel case against John Ruskin -- and he produced art that was groundbreaking, hugely influential and enormously atmospheric. Including, of course, probably one of the most recognisable paintings in art history, that of his mother in profile, dressed in black. It's in this show, and we'll be taking a look at it shortly. But we start in Whistler's studio, where the artist has painted himself at work, palette and brush in his hands, and looking out directly at us, the viewers. This is the first picture you see in the show, and we're told that for Whistler, the studio was a place for public performance, as well as making art. So here he is, making a statemen...
Britain and Russia don't enjoy the easiest of relationships. Espionage, assassination and mutual mistrust seem to be the order of the day. But in the time of the Tsars, the two countries' royal families cultivated friendly ties and became linked by marriage. That is the subject of Russia: Royalty & the Romanovs at the Queen's Gallery in London. It all started with Peter the Great, the first Russian ruler to set foot on English soil in 1698. He stayed for three months, meeting King William III and finding out among other things about how to build ships as he sought to open up Russia to the West. On departure, Peter presented William with his portrait, painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller. Kneller's one of the few artists in this exhibition you may actually have heard of. Shows at the Queen's Gallery provide a chance to put on public display works from the Royal Collection. There was a Canaletto exhibition in 2017, and starting in May you'll be able to ...