Alex is an artist and art historian, and as well as being involved with the Kettle’s Yard Gallery in Cambridge, she spends one day a week at the Wallace Collection in London. She’s a wonderfully entertaining presenter and shared some of her ‘inside’ knowledge with us through stories of scandal, romance and wealth – giving us a taste of how the collection came together from the mid-1700s through to the 1880s.
As well as learning about the history of Hertford House, we enjoyed seeing a slideshow of just a sample of the collection. In paintings as diverse as The Laughing Cavalier (by Frans Hals) and Madame de Pompadour (by Francois Boucher), Alex explained why they were collected, and talked about the significance of the paintings and the artists themselves. Many of us now have a much greater appreciation of why (for example) Madame de Pompadour hung two of Boucher’s paintings featuring Apollo on either side of the bed she shared with Louis XV!
If you haven’t yet visited the Wallace Collection, then hopefully you’ll now feel inspired to do so.
And moving from 18th and 19th century art in France, to the fascinating and glorious city of Barcelona, at November’s Hospitality Morning at Quebec House, Mireia Fontbernat will take us on a trip through the city’s history, its architecture and people. Please do check the CWC's website for details to join us on the 11th!
Posted by Barbara Richards
