Francisco de Goya y Lucientes 1746 - 1828 is one of my favourite artists but I still did not expect to be so moved and delighted. His characters seem real, full of character, I feel as if they are living. This painting portrays the serious illness which nearly killed Goya in his forties and left him totally deaf.
All medical students should study this painting.
Next stop is the National Gallery. We are jumping to the 20th century to see my companion's favourite artist.
Alberto Giacometti (1901 -1966) was an Swiss Italian sculptor, painter, draughtsman and printmaker. He was born into an artistic family and was interested in art from an early age. He did not suffer the misfortune of Goya, who lost many children with only one adored son making it to adulthood. Nevertheless Alberto had his problems. He seems to have been dogged by lack of self confidence.
Examining this masterpiece of his Mother, 1950, it is hard to understand why he felt like this.
Next we brave the rain and all pervading dampness and head to the ICA. (Institute for Contemporary Arts) on The Mall. We are going to Side On by Prem Sahib. Read about Prem here
He brings us bang up to date and is a lot of fun. I love the jackets and hoodies.
Upstairs we are invited to walk on his 'floor'. I notice skid marks and other evidence of human feet. I ask if I can clean it with a wet wipe but I am told Prem did not specify about that so maybe I shouldn't.
My companion wishes the floor would swallow her up.
The ICA is also a nice quiet lunch spot in Central London.
After lunch we head for The Courtauld Institute where my companion did both undergraduate and postgraduate study. We step back in time to mid 20th century and have yet another great art experience.
Soaring Flight: Peter Lanyon's Gliding Paintings are really interesting. I do not understand gliding but do love these paintings. Though abstract they conjure up coastal views and aviation easily and the colours make me feel cheerful and warm.
Peter was born in 1918, the same year as my mother in law and was a Cornish painter of landscapes leaning heavily towards abstraction. He died in his forties following a gliding accident. I wonder what he could have achieved in later life.
Time for a beer!
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