By George – it’s Svengali!
Busson is not an aristocratic surname. So, it is not surprising that the Parisian tradesman and speculator, who left France in 1789 to avoid charges of fraud, decided to add …
Unfinished business
Xavier Salomon, The Chief Curator at The Frick Museum, makes no secret of his fondness for the art of Paolo Veronese. In the two most recent episodes of ‘Cocktails with …
At the Neues Museum
The post on Nefertiti reminded Barrie Sheppard of his visit to Berlin. Barrie writes: ‘While in Berlin in 2011, I sought out the Nefertiti in The Neues Museum. Apart from …
Season 1 – ‘The Shirleys’
Readers responded enthusiatically to the miniseries ‘The Graftons’ and hoped more might eventuate. Let’s meet ‘The Shirleys’. Our series begins in the affluent Surrey town of East Sheen on 20 …
This Artwork Changed My Life
During the week Robyn Price sent me a link to an article on the Artsy website which prompted this post. The article is one of several in a series: ‘This …
Reynold’s Hands
Barrie Sheppard has recently been pondering the ability of Sir Joshua Reynolds R. A. to paint hands. Barrie writes: ‘Recently, an acquaintance of mine commented during a Johnson Society of …
14 July
July 14 is celebrated in France as Fête nationale and remembers the ‘Storming of the Bastille’ on this day in 1789. The taking of this medieval armoury, fortress and political …
Job
With the current COVID-19, economic and cultural chaos it is not surprising that the suffering of Job comes to mind. For those unfamiliar with the story, Job is a prosperous, …
‘After’ Holbein
Sir Thomas More – lawyer, philosopher, statesman and Lord High Chancellor to King Henry VIII of England – was executed for treason on this day, 6 July, 485 years ago …
The Fourth of July
The Fourth of July, or Independence Day, in the United States of America commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This document declared that thirteen American colonies …