Outings and stuff....
Yesterday was a busy day as I went to the Dulwich Picture Gallery to meet with kathyh and visit the Berthe Morisot: Shaping Impressionism exhibition they have on at the moment. She was a French artist and painted throughout her life (1841-1895), although as a woman she was quite restricted in how she had to conduct herself when painting - particularly when she wanted to paint away from her home. The exhibition focused on her life and inspiration as an artist (as one of the French Impressionists), and so included works which may have influenced her choices when creating her art, along with artists she was compared to at the time. Under the cut for a few things that we thought were rather lovely..
An example of how she would have to plan her time outside is evident in these two paintings. The first one with two models picking flowers in the early morning (In the Bois de Boulogne 1878). She would often ask her husband (Eugène Manet, brother of the painter Èdouard Manet) to accompany her to avoid attracting crowds. This painting was described at the time by the art critic Charles Ephrussi that 'she worked in a palette of crushed flower petals' and I think her colour palette is lovely and serene.
Later the same day with the same models, this time on a small boat when models and artist could be undisturbed (Summer's Day 1878)
I particularly liked that there was the actual fan in this painting available to view. The painting is (Au Bal or At The Ball 1875)
The fan belonged to Berthe Morisot and shows a scene or outdoor courtship (a fête galante) a genre invented by the 18th-century artist Watteau
A portrait of her husband - Eugène Manet on the Isle of Wight 1885 - painted during their honeymoon when they stayed at West Cowes in a cottage. I particularly like the view out of the window with the bright sunshine.
She had one child when she was 37 and her daughter Julie was often a subject for her sketches and paintings. Formal paintings like this one of Julie aged four with a servant listening to her telling a story (The Fable 1883)
I was particularly taken with the quick pastel sketches. This one was when Julie was 10 years old in 1889 using a limited range of colours (pink, white and grey on brown paper).
This sketch of Young Girl with Basket 1891. It's very difficult to get pastel to appear transparent like the veil on the hat.
Friends and family also appeared in her work including her sister Edma (Young Woman Watering a Shrub 1876)
This one is her twenty-year-old niece Paule Gobillard - the two of them would have been painting in Morisot's reception room which she used as a studio. She mentored her niece and was able to get permission for her to copy from paintings in the Louvre (Paule Gobillard Painting 1887). I really like how she's given the impression that she has movement in her hands with the quick brush strokes. Very clever (excuse the wonky photo - it was busy at the gallery!)
It was a good exhibition - and we stayed for just over an hour before heading to our favourite Greek restaurant. We had a very delicious meal and a natter for nearly three hours before I headed home and kathyh headed off to meet her husband to attend a concert in London!
When I got back I had a quick catch-up with Mr Cee before we set off with the Nordic walking group and wandered around a local National Trust woodland for just over three miles. I slept well last night!
Today has been my usual online course All The Trimmings. Today we covered menswear - ties, cravats, tie pins, watches and cufflinks. We also looked at why a man's suit usually has a buttonhole in the lapel. This is a hangover from when you would go shooting and so you would fold up your labels to keep you warm. There would be a corresponding button on the back of the opposite lapel to fasten them shut up to your neck. Now of course that is used for a flower (a buttonhole) on special occasions. It was (as usual) very interesting.
Later I have Pilates but this afternoon will be spent planting up some hanging baskets for the garden and some other chores. So I have time for questions:
17 - World Baking Day: Do you bake or are you more of a fan of watching others baking, for example, watching the Great British Bake Off or other shows of that type? If you do bake, what are some of your favourite things to bake?
I do! I bake most of our bread (occasionally I'm lazy and buy some) and I do love a freshly baked homemade cake. I also enjoy watching Bake Off, and I've been known to tune into other baking shows.
18 - International Museum Day: When was the last time you visited a museum? Which one was it, and what was your favourite exhibit?
Yesterday if galleries count. If we are saying a more general museum I went to the Wallace Collection to see the exhibition on dogs back at the end of March.
An example of how she would have to plan her time outside is evident in these two paintings. The first one with two models picking flowers in the early morning (In the Bois de Boulogne 1878). She would often ask her husband (Eugène Manet, brother of the painter Èdouard Manet) to accompany her to avoid attracting crowds. This painting was described at the time by the art critic Charles Ephrussi that 'she worked in a palette of crushed flower petals' and I think her colour palette is lovely and serene.
Later the same day with the same models, this time on a small boat when models and artist could be undisturbed (Summer's Day 1878)
I particularly liked that there was the actual fan in this painting available to view. The painting is (Au Bal or At The Ball 1875)
The fan belonged to Berthe Morisot and shows a scene or outdoor courtship (a fête galante) a genre invented by the 18th-century artist Watteau
A portrait of her husband - Eugène Manet on the Isle of Wight 1885 - painted during their honeymoon when they stayed at West Cowes in a cottage. I particularly like the view out of the window with the bright sunshine.
She had one child when she was 37 and her daughter Julie was often a subject for her sketches and paintings. Formal paintings like this one of Julie aged four with a servant listening to her telling a story (The Fable 1883)
I was particularly taken with the quick pastel sketches. This one was when Julie was 10 years old in 1889 using a limited range of colours (pink, white and grey on brown paper).
This sketch of Young Girl with Basket 1891. It's very difficult to get pastel to appear transparent like the veil on the hat.
Friends and family also appeared in her work including her sister Edma (Young Woman Watering a Shrub 1876)
This one is her twenty-year-old niece Paule Gobillard - the two of them would have been painting in Morisot's reception room which she used as a studio. She mentored her niece and was able to get permission for her to copy from paintings in the Louvre (Paule Gobillard Painting 1887). I really like how she's given the impression that she has movement in her hands with the quick brush strokes. Very clever (excuse the wonky photo - it was busy at the gallery!)
It was a good exhibition - and we stayed for just over an hour before heading to our favourite Greek restaurant. We had a very delicious meal and a natter for nearly three hours before I headed home and kathyh headed off to meet her husband to attend a concert in London!
When I got back I had a quick catch-up with Mr Cee before we set off with the Nordic walking group and wandered around a local National Trust woodland for just over three miles. I slept well last night!
Today has been my usual online course All The Trimmings. Today we covered menswear - ties, cravats, tie pins, watches and cufflinks. We also looked at why a man's suit usually has a buttonhole in the lapel. This is a hangover from when you would go shooting and so you would fold up your labels to keep you warm. There would be a corresponding button on the back of the opposite lapel to fasten them shut up to your neck. Now of course that is used for a flower (a buttonhole) on special occasions. It was (as usual) very interesting.
Later I have Pilates but this afternoon will be spent planting up some hanging baskets for the garden and some other chores. So I have time for questions:
17 - World Baking Day: Do you bake or are you more of a fan of watching others baking, for example, watching the Great British Bake Off or other shows of that type? If you do bake, what are some of your favourite things to bake?
I do! I bake most of our bread (occasionally I'm lazy and buy some) and I do love a freshly baked homemade cake. I also enjoy watching Bake Off, and I've been known to tune into other baking shows.
18 - International Museum Day: When was the last time you visited a museum? Which one was it, and what was your favourite exhibit?
Yesterday if galleries count. If we are saying a more general museum I went to the Wallace Collection to see the exhibition on dogs back at the end of March.