Of course, while I was in the vicinity I visited Bath's Victoria Art Gallery. It's all changed a bit, and although that really boils down to entering the main room via the little side-gallery, it feels surprisingly different. Not claustrophobic exactly but very much less open to the world. I've signed up to their new year-long exhibition pass because I'm likely to go to most of the shows but I don't really like the new system - it gives it a not-for-all feel, something a bit too exclusive, whereas before anyone might have wandered in and discovered something new and exciting. The main collection is still free and some smaller exhibitions in the side room will be too, I'm sure, but while you might make your way in off the street on a whim, I'm not sure how often that whim would involve you actively choosing to go upstairs. Perhaps I've got it wrong and there will still be plenty of open-access shows. If not, though, I reluctantly understand. The pendulum swings and nobody can run an art gallery without sufficient funds.
There were three artists showing this last week, of whom the best known was Henry Moore. He's a bit like Lowry - no, no, wait a minute, I'm not talking similar style - in that most people might think they know what his work is like, and I wasn't sure, being the idle viewer that I so often am, that I'd do much more than stroll round and move on. I know he's a Great Artist, but I've never paid him attention or been 'drawn' to his work. However, I really took to some of the drawings. There was a selection of prints from his Reclining Figure album, one of which took my fancy because the (inevitably) sculptural woman looks as if she is another species that truly belongs in the landscape, as if it's her natural environment and she's at home there:
There were three artists showing this last week, of whom the best known was Henry Moore. He's a bit like Lowry - no, no, wait a minute, I'm not talking similar style - in that most people might think they know what his work is like, and I wasn't sure, being the idle viewer that I so often am, that I'd do much more than stroll round and move on. I know he's a Great Artist, but I've never paid him attention or been 'drawn' to his work. However, I really took to some of the drawings. There was a selection of prints from his Reclining Figure album, one of which took my fancy because the (inevitably) sculptural woman looks as if she is another species that truly belongs in the landscape, as if it's her natural environment and she's at home there:
And another of which reminded me so much of Giorgio de Chirico:
There were some fascinating sketches of shell forms, bones, and the connection between them and his sculptures - I came away liking Henry Moore more and perhaps with a little more insight, so that can't be a bad thing. As for such sculptures as were there, I found myself thinking all the time of Michael Ayrton. I got quite involved in following up his work (I do that) whilst writing an essay for art A-level, including an abortive trip while in London for the day to where one particular piece used to be (in Postman's Park), only to discover upon getting home that the City of London had moved it more or less round the corner. Bah! Better preparation needed, obviously.
There was a handful of photos of Henry Moore working, and given my general lack of interest in him I was surprised and a little spooked by how very familiar he looked - until I remembered the lifelike model of him in a portrait sulpture exhibition at the Holburne last year!
One show down, two to go.
There was a handful of photos of Henry Moore working, and given my general lack of interest in him I was surprised and a little spooked by how very familiar he looked - until I remembered the lifelike model of him in a portrait sulpture exhibition at the Holburne last year!
One show down, two to go.
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