Mattel Civitali

Another monument to the talented in Lucca is this great work.

Mauritshuis, home of the pearl earing and a wonderful place to see.

Like The Wallace Collection, the Mauritshuis in the Hague has a very special atmosphere, rather more intimate than cosy, paintings are presented beautifully, not too dark, not too many in one spoonful, well chosen together and we often had the room empty of other visitors.

It was lovely to see 'education in action' before the "Girl With The Pearl Earing" and I was able to get a clear shot of it soon after.

The Mauritshuis was the highlight of our visit to Holland and it will be interesting to compare it to our impending visit to Italy. I will report back here.

PS But not much sculpture inside!

Willow Man Bird Attack

Willow man first appeared near the M5 Motorway many years ago (2001) when that bit of Somerset was just a very flat rather windswept field. We used to admire it as we shot past going North or South at 'around' 70 mph. Made from willow on a steel frame it was remade after an arson fire by the Artist Sculptress Serena de la Hey. At 40 foot high (12 Metres) it must have been fun to make.

I considered doing a horse in Dorset inspired by this work and using glass fibre but the local planners gave it the thumbs down: there is a wind turbine there now!

Willow man is seen here from the other side (non motorway) a little worse for wear again. Birds attack the poor chap for nesting material!

Art in Cornwall, A Summer in February

One of the sources of building material for the Thames Embankment came from Lamorna Cove in Cornwall. So next time you come to London and see this sculpture of Queen Boadicea by Thomas Thornecroft next to Big Ben, think of the stones below the embankment you stand on and remember this beautiful little cove in Cornwall.

We had not gone just to look at the sea and granite but also because this part of Cornwall has good light which attracts painters and other artists. Lamorna is very close to The Newlyn Arts School and museum, The Tate Gallery St. Ives and The Hepworth Gallery. The February weather was almost up to summer standards with shirtless boys playing cricket on the beach in the warm sunshine but these worthy establishments stayed firmly shut for the season much to my disapointment.

We watched the recently released "Summer in February" filmed locally which tells the tragic story of A J Munnings PRA and his first wife. Such beautiful weather there in February!

 Can you spot St. Micheal's Mount?

The Minack Theatre did us proud though. John Brolly did a splendid rendering of Prospero in The Tempest in a Tea Cup. Miranda was played by a large teaspoon, ooh la-la, and despite the chill in the sea air we were entertained brilliantly.

John Brolly        http://storytellerjohnbrolly.webs.com/

The Minack Theatre            http://www.minack.com/

Tate St. Ives     http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives

Newlyn Art school        http://www.newlynartschool.co.uk/

Newlyn Art Museum    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newlyn_Art_Gallery

Re-examining Rodin

Rodin was in every sentence in our first year of lectures. He was Alan's hero, he could do no wrong, he made no mistakes. We were told to hold our breath and wonder.

The RA had an exhibition back in 2009 where he took world centre stage. Room after room of nakedness, thick ankles, mould lines and lookalike warts tempted us to gradually accelerate through the exhibition chambers. Yes it was a great exhibition, like no other. I am re-examining Rodin. I wonder how I will view him?

    

Frosty Bronze Princess

"I thought you might like to see how mystical she looks on a frosty morning."
My client sent me these great photos of his Arthurian Princess with these words in an email which I was delighted to receive.

Seasons of sculpture

Here is a very early work. It reminds me of summer. 

And this to remind us of what may come this winter.

Autumn, Hey Look At Me.

(Spring will be added when my new website becomes live.)

A Garden Treasure in the Henry Moore Foundation

I came across this quite by accident and wonder if Chicago would be interested in it? Chris mentioned that he hoped some Art would come to him. Seriously though, this is in the garden at Perry Green, home of the Henry Moore Foundation with the following description:

 Bronzefrau Nr 3 recalls Moore's iconic reclining female forms - the figure is life-sized, cast in bronze and placed on a pedestal in the open-air. Yet here, the body is contorted and even mutilated. Schütte abandons Moore's optimistic humanism, presenting the human condition as both nostalgic and dystopian.

As a work of "Art" it is well executed, the concept - frightening and the pedestal looks rather uncomfortable.

This is a wonderful organisation for Sculptors and interested followers of Sculpture should not pass it by.

http://www.henry-moore.org

Installation of Princess Helizabel (Arthurian)

Someone asked about installation of bronzes. This looks simple but actually not so easy at all.

Ideal Beauty

Did I really write this seven years ago? How time flies.
http://dorsetsculpture.blogspot.co.uk/2007/01/my-art.html

Berlin Again, Helmut Otto Exhibition

We made a short visit to Berlin in Germany to see an exhibition of a renowned water colourist Helmut Otto in the Galerie Forun Berlin, Kollwitzstrassa 54. His paintings will no doubt appear on Artprice in due course as there were some significant sales. His attention to composition and colour balance has yet to be bettered. The range of subject matter was a delight and the expression of atmosphere in each work was extraordinarily effective. I wish I could afford him!

These pictures of the gallery do not give it justice but it was a delight and the presentation of the paintings could not have been better.

Enroute we stayed in Brugge, thankfully short on tourists, and a joy to see in the September sunshine. This work caught my eye, interesting signature.

(Driving to Berlin seems a daunting prospect but strangely enough it was very easy and a great deal greener than if we had flown by air. Speeds on Motorways/ Autoroutes/Autobahns had to be seen to be believed. 130 kph is quite fast by English standards but in places Germany does not seem to have speed limits, quite 'hairy' if you are not used to it.)

Arthurian Princess

HRH arrived home recently. My latest bronze work is now installed in my client's garden. The mould was considered one of the most difficult ever done by the foundry and the amount of skilled work to bring her to this was very considerable. It was fun to do.

The goblet's contents may have the answer to her enigmatic smile and her right hand the inner tensions.

Paul Otto

Paul has been staying with us and showing me how easy it is to sculpt in marble! I only had a small piece which he has quickly turned into a seal, amazing. Paul lives and works in Berlin in Germany, sculpting in a whole variety of stone and other materials. I look forward to posting some of his work here in the future when he sends me some photos.

Berlin

No prizes for guessing where I got to the other day. 

Zeus at the

Pergamon

five Museums in three days!

Just wonderful "Biscuit or Parian ware"

Recognise the pose, yep that awful one!

hands, hands, hands

 and feet too

touching pose

I really found this moving, believable, perhaps as I have been to sea recently!

 Couldn't resist this one picture!

These chaps from Dijon on loan were a lucky find, just amazing!

Wonderfully..........

Optional fig leaf!

Another Leda and the swan for you Chris!

 So much to see difficult to target it all' but here are some of the best.

on my way home with some pictures of Pan too!