I’ve started listening to the excellent BBC Radio 4 series, ‘Moving Pictures’. During each episode, experts talk about one artwork, in detail, for thirty minutes. They also provide you with a link to a high resolution image of the artwork for you to look at whilst they describe it.
I had a thought though; how many of the 24 artworks featured in the series could I visit in London, to stand in front of, whilst listening to the programme at the same time. Here’s my list:
At the National Gallery
An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump by Joseph Wright of Derby
View image
A Woman Bathing in a Stream by Rembrandt
View image
Mystic Nativity by Sandro Botticelli
View image
Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian
View image
The Adoration of the Kings by Jan Gossaert
View image
Men of the Docks by George Bellows
View image
At the Victoria and Albert Museum
The War of Troy tapestry
View image
Hanging by Ann West
View image
At the Courtauld Gallery
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent van Gogh
View image
A Bar at the Folies-Bergère by Édouard Manet
View image
At the British Library
The Sherborne Missal
View image
See you there!
Lots of the major galleries give free talks and tours in front artworks. I’ve had a quick search of the National Gallery website here, and the Tate here.
Even looking at a painting for ten minutes is impressive these days with our ever decreasing attention span (hang on, where’s my phone?). The New York Times online asks you to ’look at one piece of art for 10 minute, uninterrupted’. Go on, give it a go, (you might need to sign up for a free account first, and make a cup of tea).