Playing the game …
Barrie Sheppard provides a glimpse into the ‘strategic mind’ of the English artist, Joseph Mallord William Turner. Barrie writes: J. M. W. Turner applied for Associate membership of the Royal …
What would we do without collectors?
In a beautifully crafted piece that combines literature and art, Helen Robinson writes: Having a bit more time on my hands lately has allowed me to make progress through my …
Two Portraits
Barrie Sheppard continues to reflect on 18th century portraiture. Barrie writes: Both Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough painted portraits of Mrs Sarah Siddons, the acclaimed Welsh-born English actress famous …
Reynold’s ‘Herculean’ painting
Barrie Sheppard continues to add to our knowledge of the life and times of Sir Joshua Reynolds. Barrie writes: The Hermitage in St Petersburg holds Sir Joshua Reynolds’ history painting …
You gotta S-M-I-L-E
After yet another zoom/webex/Microsoft teams meeting where I was confronted with a checkerboard of faces, I was reminded of the photograph ‘Crowd #9 (Sunset Five)’ 2013 by Los Angeles photographer, …
Gainsborough’s letters
Once again, Barrie Sheppard gives us a greater insight into Gainsborough’s creative abilities. Barrie writes: Famous for his talent with paint brush and pencil, Thomas Gainsborough also had considerable skill …
The Rivals – Gainsborough vs Reynolds
Barrie Sheppard continues his exploration of the lives of two great English artists. Barrie writes: Thomas Gainsborough (born 1727) was married. His wife, Mary, was the illegitimate daughter of the …
‘The earth laughs in flowers’
In 1891 Artur Loureiro (the Portuguese-born, but Melbourne-residing artist) painted his vision of ‘Spring’ in Kew, Melbourne. In a lush, verdant and peaceful sylvan setting a young woman stands next …
Love is all you need…
This week I received some reading recommendations from Susie May who suggested writers I might enjoy following up – Rutger Bregman, Jeremy Lent, and Roman Krznaric. Many of us are …
A Stare Case
Our regular contributor, Barrie Sheppard, provides another titillating insight into the ‘Georgian art world’. Barrie writes: Before occupying its present quarters (Burlington House on Piccadilly) in 1869, the Royal Academy …