U3A ART APPRECIATION NETWORK
Subject Adviser: Olwen Hughes
59 Charlton Rise, Ludlow, SY8 1ND
e-mail: [email protected]
tel: 01584 878418
Winter 2014
Newsletter no. 22
Looking through my picture collection, I was taken with the
picture, shown above, by Edward Redfield. The colour is just
as we see in the winter – clear and almost sparkling.
Recently, I was sent a booklet entitled “Galleries” which
covered Exhibitions, events and news, latest shows and their
highlights, an artists’ index and services available. It might be
a help to you – contact [email protected] for details.
I have been very interested to hear from members’ letters
about their meetings, visits and presentations in their groups.
Janet Gleadall took her members to the Yorkshire Sculpture
Park specifically to see the Ursula Von Rydingsvard Exhibition,
made up of huge sculptures looking like cedar wood, although
they were made from industrially milled beams. Some of the
group loved it – others not so enthusiastic!
It happens and it does encourage discussion.
Patricia Mackie from Bury St Edmunds U3A described how her
group operates: with a maximum of 16 members their
meetings are held monthly with each member taking the
‘class’ in turn. The Christmas meeting is devoted to every
member bringing his/her favourite painting, accompanied by
mulled wine and mince pies. Sounds good to me!
We found a great deal of useful information from the
Aberdeen Artists Society whilst on holiday in Scotland last
year. So many galleries and artists were included, it was
recommended as a useful tool for Art groups and I could not
agree more; there were many artists I have now included in
one way or another during our meetings.
Mentioning books prompts me to recommend others which may
be useful when putting your group programme together.
“Dictionary of British Art” and “Art and Artists”
Both produced by Thames & Hudson with b/w illustrations
“A Brief History of Painting” by Roy Bolton
Published by Robinson, London. Coloured illustrations.
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The Ilkley U3A has a different method of working: It is not run
as Art HISTORY – most of the input is from group members, in
a pick-and-mix style. Indoor meetings are mixed with outdoor
visits and visits abroad are very popular. Angie Grain tells me
the only challenge they face is trying to accommodate forty
three members; the answer to set up two separate groups
seems to be imminent.
After Breughel’s busy scene, this
peaceful scene by Fra
Bartolommeo will even out the
effect.
Accommodating 43 members takes some organisation!
Diane Ward asked me for suggestions for starting a group of
brand new members. One book I recommended was by Ian
Chilvers “Art and Artists”, one I have found invaluable over
the years. Diane wrote to say she had the book, her husband
was going fishing and she was looking forward immensely to
doing some free time studying!
Great, Diane: all the best to you!
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Trying to please everyone, encourage all to take part and seat
everyone interested in the subject must take a great deal of
time. I wish you all well.
I like the contrast in the trees,
emphasising Saint Jerome’s
pleasure in the silence
Have you studied Sofonisba Anguissola? Among the first women
artists to achieve stature as a portraitist, she appeared in Van
Dyck’s sketches and I discovered she was praised by Michelangelo
(must have been good to attract his attention) Good for her!
A few more topics as suggestions for your study.
Understanding paintings
Transatlantic artists
Emotion
Social Morality
Religion
Group portraits
Children
Self portraits
Performing Arts
Social Scene
I would like to repeat my thanks to those U3A groups who have
invited me to present an art topic. I have met so many interesting
members and thoroughly enjoyed meeting them all.
I have always enjoyed looking at and learning about paintings and
have every intention of continuing to learn.
Enjoy your groups and do get in touch if I can help
Enjoy the New Year
I never fail to be surprised at how many folk appear
in a Breughel picture. A family of masters!
Olwen
Our picture for Winter – Winter Sunlight, Edward Redfield
Spring - March
Summer - June
Autumn - September
Winter - December
Reports from Members
Another clever artist…….
John Busbridge has been busy over the summer
break – on August 7th he went to see “Radical
Geometry: the modern art of South America”
at the RA.
Corinne Warren enjoyed visiting Pallant House in
Chichester, where John Duncan Ferguson, (18741961), portrayed elegantly dressed Edwardian
ladies, swimsuit clad beauties and voluptuous
nudes.
The abstract paintings and sculpture from eighty
years had its own political/historical interest altho’
John felt quite uninvolved. He thought influences
of Calder, Mondrian, Vasarely, Malevich and Russian
constructionists were obvious but was disappointed
that the really memorable images was very small.
He was greatly influenced by his muses – among
them Jean Maconachie who sat for several portraits.
As a colourist he tended to restrict his work to a
few sombre colours, although “The White Dress”, a
portrait of Jean painted in 1904, was most
attractive. She sits, very posed on a green settee,
her gaze emotionless and direct. Her long white
dress cascades down the picture although the
severity is broken by pale pink roses on a huge hat.
In contrast, “Rhythm” shows a huge nude woman
among colourful fruit, strongly coloured cushions:
partly under a tree – rather like a stained glass
picture, he obviously enjoyed painting!
He felt the most visually attractive pieces were
delicate wire structures floating over a dais with
shadows on adjacent walls: several were by the
artist Gertrude Goldschmidt, known as “Gego”
“Matisse: the Cut-Outs” at Tate Modern was truly
comprehensive although very crowded. His earlier
experiments using cut paper in comparison with
still-life paintings, with memorable film-footage
was most impressive. There was much to see of
other work included sketches and preliminary
studies – this included the windows and vestments
of the Vence chapel. The sheer size of some pieces
was impressive, daunting in impact, with
intoxicatingly vibrant colour.
He lived mostly in France, confirming his influence
by Boudin’s sea-scapes, Manet’s Edwardian ladies,
Frans Hals, Rembrandt and Velasquez with very few
portraits of men! Back in England around the time
of World War 1, he painted in England and Scotland
often experimenting with Cezanne’s Cubist style.
His second muse, Margaret Morris appeared in later
portraits. In the 20s & 30s they spent much time in
France. His work was colourful, bright, large and
soft. Although surprised at the scantiness of the
clothing, Corinne liked the artist’s sense of humour.
Among the pictures, “Christmas-time in the South of
France” was very attractive with all the elements
clearly defined. However, her favourite canvas was
“Wisteria Villa Florentine”, again with much fruit
and overlooking a garden. Despite the limited
subject matter, Corinne discovered an appreciation
for his work.
Malevich at Tate Modern. A comfortably busy show
and for a studier of Matisse, the show was truly
impressive. The interest is deep. This artist’s style
showing Abstraction, Suprematism & Cubo-Futurism
was well represented, with some fascinating works.
The force of Suprematism was very apparent in a
final selection of white-on-white paintings and
dissolving colour planes were very clear in the room
– The End of Painting. An enormous range showing a
lifetime’s work – a major achievement.
Some interesting animals enjoying themselves. A most attractive theme with a Christmas
feel. My compliments of the season to you all.
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Exhibitions
Suggestions for your group.
After all the studying, let’s enjoy some portraits
** Constable – the making of a master
Victoria & Albert Museum, London until 11.1.15
** Late Turner – painting set free
Tate Britain, London until 25.1. 15
Sigmar Polke 1963-2010
Tate Modern until 8.02.15
A simple but serious self portrait by Ernest Bieler.
Real Tudors: Kings & Queens rediscovered
National Portrait Gallery until 12.03.15
Georgio De Chirico’s
Contemplative woman
Caravaggio in Clerkenwell
Museum of the Order of St John on permanent display.
** Comment by those who know. Alastair Sooke
confesses he started by assuming Constable was hidebound and sentimental, eventually concludimg that the
artist was a revolutionary and a leader in the avantgarde. Do we assume he felt Turner was also
revolutionary but difficult? I would agree with that!
Mary Queen of Scots
H.G. Birchall
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For those who will be in Scotland next year, there is
plenty to view around the country – on holiday I had
a wonderful time and collected information on
sixteen galleries offering landscapes, portraits,
wildlife, abstract, sculpture, to name just a few.
The welcomes were also excellent
Exhibitions: Compton Verney offers
Canaletto:
Celebrating Britain:
The Arts & Crafts House: The Art of the Elements:
A Chinese Display: its art, culture & history
Leamington Spa has an Art Gallery with Museum
Tate Modern will highlight Alexander Calder
Tate Britain will feature Barbara Hepworth
Upton House, (Banbury) is showing 12 of the best!
The Bowes Museum sent me a Visitor information
leaflet. This Museum has a wide variety of art on
show. If your group visits it, do let us have your
comments
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Jean Taylor – one of our merry band, wrote to say
she was pleased I had enjoyed our holiday in the
Lake District – she also likes the Thornthwaite
Gallery and the Abbot Hall Gallery in Kendal, where
a visit is well worth while, if only to see the “Quaker
Tapestry” in Kendal.
Edward Burra has been
featured on Radio 2
recently and I wonder how
many of our readers have
listened to the programmes.
Jean also recommends a visit to the Bowes Museum
in County Durham – (mentioned across the page) to
see the fabulous collection of European fine and
decorative art including paintings, ceramics,
metalwork and textiles. The Museum is in the style
of a French chateau, is set in lovely grounds with
sculptures in an attractive, interesting market town.
One of his pictures here
is a strong painting and
there is certainly plenty to
look at.
Jean’s group visit coincided with a special show –
“Mining Art” which included many examples of The
Pitman Painters work, particularly interesting for
some of the group with family links to the mining
industry of West Cumbria.
Your views will be welcome!
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Uccello, (his name means ‘bird’) painted the Battle
of San Romano in 1455. It was a long battle,
fortunately with no casualities, so he included
paintings of flowers and fruit; it was a parade of
Armour meant for decoration only.
Thank you, Jean – it’s always good to hear from you.
You’re spot on – the Lake District has much to offer.
My Bowes Museum booklet arrived just after we got
home – so it is on my list to see asap !!
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Looking for new subjects to study?
Appreciating art
I mention the Resource Centre on the lower right
hand corner of this page and would like to add some
information on obtaining help from this great aid.
Part 16
(based on John Farman)
Looking back for “The Future”
It is now understood that one group of artists were
determined to follow the Grand Manner and the
style of old Raphael, who had always idealized the
school and importance of nature. From 1848 a small
group of English artists got together to get art out of
a rut and recapture – ‘the simplicity of painting
before Raphael’s time’. (reinventing the wheel?)
Have your tried contacting the Resource Centre of
the Catalogue on-line? If you find it difficult to
access, try calling the office on 020 8315 0199.
Susan has recently added to the lists available and
up-dates the information every August – do take
advantage of this service – it is superb.
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In my groups we have been looking at the Modern
Romantics, introduced to me in detail by reading
John Piper’s book - “Fifty Years of Work”
Terribly arty and rather pompous, one gang had the
nerve to draw up a list of Immortals, which consisted
exclusively of (guess) artists and writers, with the
aim of restoring art to a ‘moral seriousness’. Many
felt they achieved the exact opposite by creating
canvases which had the Disneyland effect.
Their subjects were literary, religious and
sentimental in sometimes garish colours – the only
difference being their pictures were enormous. A
typical example would be ‘The Knight Errant’
rescuing a beautiful maiden tied to a tree –
absolutely good old fashioned pieces of kitsch.
Enough said – easy to see but of little real value.
Thinks: Could John Farman be biased?
It does seem rather harsh to me.
Did you know Giotto was famous for his straight
lines? Asked to draw one for the plans for the
Duomo, he said they had to believe him!
This artist didn’t suffer fools gladly.
A Modern Romantic scene by Edward Hornel.
Greatly impressed by Japanese art, he acquired the
ability to take the viewer into the picture
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I was entertained by Guy Browning’s comment on
enjoying art:- “Appreciating art is very easy once
you understand art history. Art started with twodimensional cave paintings, then two-dimensional
church paintings. Renaissance boys got perspective
and started paintings jugs. Enlightenment gave us
well lit jugs with side-orders of fruit. Romantics
depicted the landscape cave dwellers could see if
they’d looked, understood perspective and lighting”.
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Looking for ideas for your group studies? Susan
Radford in the U3A Resource Centre- open Monday
to Thursday, has an very extensive list of artists,
schools, sculpture and workshops, hard to match
and free to borrow, only return postage is involved.
[email protected] or call 020 8315 0199
If you are seeking ideas for your planning, I can offer
a Syllabus and worksheets. Designed for beginners
or advanced members, it covers art from the
Byzantines to the present, researching schools of
painting, later looking at specialities of painters’
work, developments, influences, legacies, etc.
Easily arranged for all groups and adaptable for all
levels of knowledge.
No cost is involved.
[email protected] or call 01584 878418
Following on offering my ideas for studying art in
your groups, I can present ideas on Powerpoint what I call ‘how to read a picture’. A variety of
topics is available, call me for details. Only travel
costs are involved and I do add lighter comments to
all my presentations – it’s not all heavy going!
A beautifully lit winter scene by Velazquez
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