If you come to Chichester on an expedition, please, please let me come with you to the gallery & then you can come & have tea & cake at mine afterwards (I’m a five minute walk from Pallant Gallery) ☺️
So wonderful, in every part. Adored (all) the paintings, and found the essay fascinating. Despite (still) reading many children's books (my sister, who has never really understood this, gave me Katherine Rundell's "Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise"), I have never read The Velveteen Rabbit. My upbringing was a bit odd, I could read anything, even adult books before I was old enough, also Victorian and Edwardian children's fiction, but very little "modern" stuff until I got to boarding school where I read e.g. the Narnia books. But still woefully underread in anything normal people consider canon. Now I will have to read TVR. That excerpt reminded me of le Petit Prince, and the fox's instructions about what "to tame" means. I think I read it originally in French, at school (I only have schoolgirl French), but this is the bit in translation:
“I am looking for friends. What does that mean -- tame?"
"It is an act too often neglected," said the fox. "It means to establish ties."
"To establish ties?"
"Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world....”
The tablecloth as altar cloth, yes! What a stunning painting. When one of my nephews married, his bride-to-be (who is lovely)asked me to be one of the readers at the wedding. My piece: that quote from the Velveteen Rabbit. I practiced for days so I would steel myself to read it, and still choked up. ❤️
Well done for managing to get through it! It's one of the books I could never manage to read aloud to my children without having to take a break to compose myself.
I love the way the background fades into the shadows, making me imagine the rest of what is happening in the room, which could be at any point in history. Wonderful.
I had to like every single comment on this thread to show my appreciation — I too love the Sunday art posts and am properly awed by painters of glass and mirrors [young art sensation Anna Weyant has some striking still lifes with reflective surfaces that dazzle]. We just dropped our youngest son Gabriel off at uni in a city 3 hours away from Toronto. It’s going to take me a bit to recover — being real does hurt indeed! ❤️🩹
I knew nothing about this chap, nor that he even existed until I read your post. What an astonishing artist; on first glance I thought it was a photo! Thank you for sharing and illuminating my life a little more by sharing this article. I'm off to look him up and ogle further:)
I’ve never seen this picture before - but upon first viewing today, I sprang tears. Thank you India, for our fortnightly art class - it brings me so much joy.
Beautiful , very reminiscent of Mats Rydstern (b 1952) and who is well worth checking out if you like this style . We do and have two Rydstern’s , he is represented here by The Lime Tree Gallery in Bristol ( used to be in Long Melford ) .
I love both William and Ben Nicholson's work. While the gold jug is by no means my favourite — the lustre bowl and peas is so beautiful in its apparent simplicity — I envy the Queen (it is that Duchess of Cornwall?) being able to revel in the brushwork whenever she wants.
Thank you so much for that post. What a beautiful painting. I’m in awe of such artistic skill. I had never heard of him and shall now look up his other works.
Love love love Sunday posts. I’m away for a few days and saved them all up so I could binge them in my hotel bed with a cup of tea xxx
Absolutely charming, thank you
The remarkable beauty of the painting PLUS a quote from the Velveteen Rabbit. Food for the soul. Thank you. xxx
The Pallant Gallery is only two miles from my home. I must go. Thank you India.
Oh you MUST!
What a treat of an article. I’m thoroughly enjoying my fortnightly art class . Thank you so much.
That's very nice to hear, thank you!
If you come to Chichester on an expedition, please, please let me come with you to the gallery & then you can come & have tea & cake at mine afterwards (I’m a five minute walk from Pallant Gallery) ☺️
It's a deal.
So wonderful, in every part. Adored (all) the paintings, and found the essay fascinating. Despite (still) reading many children's books (my sister, who has never really understood this, gave me Katherine Rundell's "Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise"), I have never read The Velveteen Rabbit. My upbringing was a bit odd, I could read anything, even adult books before I was old enough, also Victorian and Edwardian children's fiction, but very little "modern" stuff until I got to boarding school where I read e.g. the Narnia books. But still woefully underread in anything normal people consider canon. Now I will have to read TVR. That excerpt reminded me of le Petit Prince, and the fox's instructions about what "to tame" means. I think I read it originally in French, at school (I only have schoolgirl French), but this is the bit in translation:
“I am looking for friends. What does that mean -- tame?"
"It is an act too often neglected," said the fox. "It means to establish ties."
"To establish ties?"
"Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world....”
Oh God, The Little Prince. I practically memorised it as a child. That bit is magnificent, thank you for reminding me of it.
The tablecloth as altar cloth, yes! What a stunning painting. When one of my nephews married, his bride-to-be (who is lovely)asked me to be one of the readers at the wedding. My piece: that quote from the Velveteen Rabbit. I practiced for days so I would steel myself to read it, and still choked up. ❤️
Well done for managing to get through it! It's one of the books I could never manage to read aloud to my children without having to take a break to compose myself.
I love the way the background fades into the shadows, making me imagine the rest of what is happening in the room, which could be at any point in history. Wonderful.
Yes! Absolutely, I think that too now you've said it so thank you.
I had to like every single comment on this thread to show my appreciation — I too love the Sunday art posts and am properly awed by painters of glass and mirrors [young art sensation Anna Weyant has some striking still lifes with reflective surfaces that dazzle]. We just dropped our youngest son Gabriel off at uni in a city 3 hours away from Toronto. It’s going to take me a bit to recover — being real does hurt indeed! ❤️🩹
Will look up Anna Weyant, thank you. And huge sympathies for Gabriel at uni. It takes a while to get over.
I knew nothing about this chap, nor that he even existed until I read your post. What an astonishing artist; on first glance I thought it was a photo! Thank you for sharing and illuminating my life a little more by sharing this article. I'm off to look him up and ogle further:)
You're so welcome. I had no idea he even existed until that exhibition at the RA.
What a wonderful read. The humble peas... For more secret, delicious exquisiteness, can I suggest a Google of Miss Simpson’s Boots…
I love Miss Simpson's Boots. So MYSTERIOUS and evocative.
Thank you for that!
I’ve never seen this picture before - but upon first viewing today, I sprang tears. Thank you India, for our fortnightly art class - it brings me so much joy.
Delighted to hear it, thank you!
Beautiful , very reminiscent of Mats Rydstern (b 1952) and who is well worth checking out if you like this style . We do and have two Rydstern’s , he is represented here by The Lime Tree Gallery in Bristol ( used to be in Long Melford ) .
Oh wonderful - did not know him and have bookmarked - thank you!
I love both William and Ben Nicholson's work. While the gold jug is by no means my favourite — the lustre bowl and peas is so beautiful in its apparent simplicity — I envy the Queen (it is that Duchess of Cornwall?) being able to revel in the brushwork whenever she wants.
I know, how lovely to potter past it on your way to the loo.
Thank you so much for that post. What a beautiful painting. I’m in awe of such artistic skill. I had never heard of him and shall now look up his other works.
You are so welcome!