Category Archives: Art

Beyond Caravaggio, National Gallery

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‘Beyond Caravaggio’ is the first major exhibition in the UK to explore the influence of Caravaggio on the art of his contemporaries and followers. I went along last week for a sneak preview of the show.

Beyond Caravaggio

After the unveiling of Caravaggio’s first public commission in 1600, artists from across Europe flocked to Rome to see his work. Seduced by the pictorial and narrative power of his paintings, many went on to imitate their naturalism and dramatic lighting effects.

Paintings by Caravaggio and his followers were highly sought after in the decades following his untimely death at the age of just 39. By the mid-17th century, however, the Caravaggesque style had fallen out of favour and it would take almost three hundred years for Caravaggio’s reputation to be restored and for his artistic accomplishments to be fully recognised.

Beyond Caravaggio

Bringing together exceptional works by Caravaggio and the Italian, French, Flemish, Dutch, and Spanish artists he inspired, ‘Beyond Caravaggio’ examines the international artistic phenomenon known as Caravaggism.

The exhibition continues until 15 January 2017, book tickets here.

Uncovering the Secrets of Suttons & Robertsons

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I’ve never really known exactly what a pawnbroker is. Often dark and dingy, occupying a strange little corner shop, they can be mysterious places that most people walk past without a backwards glance. Suttons & Robertsons couldn’t be more of a contrast to my naïve assumption.

Suttons & Robertsons is London’s oldest, active, pawnbroking business and is among the largest in the UK. This highly revered company has had a long history offering loans to cash-poor, asset-rich customers in their branches across London and Manchester.

Suttons & Robertsons

I visited the Victoria store to learn more about the historic company and see some of the amazing objects that are currently pledged or on sale. The smart shop is like a museum of curiosities, with cabinets of stunning jewellery, watches, handbags, antiques and artwork. The knowledgeable staff explained the journey of the items in store… When a customer comes in with an item, ranging from a diamond brooch to a private yacht, they speak to an expert who values the item and offers them a loan price. The customer has 6 months to buy it back while Suttons & Robertsons keep the item safe. After this period if the customer no longer want it, the item goes on sale in one of the stores. If it is sold for more than the price previously given the customer receives the additional money as well.

Suttons & Robertsons

At Suttons & Robertsons they see it all, from celebrity treasures to historic heirlooms, and I loved seeing the current collection of items. I was particularly enamoured with Margot Fonteyn’s ballet shoes, which now live permanently in the Victoria Store and was also amazed to hear about the 1966 F.A Cup winner’s medal which made it into the past collection.

Suttons & RobertsonsSuttons & RobertsonsSuttons & Robertsons

I began thinking how perfect this store could be for Christmas shopping or for picking out a gift for a couple getting married. Every item is unique and special, a one-of-a-kind object with it’s own story and history. In the Fleet Street branch city boys go in to ogle at the beautiful vintage watches, while in Victoria the array of jewellery and silverware certainly stole my heart. I began picking out my dream stocking of gifts, a beautiful amethyst ring and a set of vintage silver tea caddies.

So it seems there is so much more to pawnbroking than I initially thought, especially at Suttons & Robertsons. Whether you are visiting to pawn a possession or shop for unique jewel, this luxurious emporium has got you covered.

More information about Suttons & Robertsons here.

THOROUGHLY MODERN MAN: Maps and the 20th Century

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Maps and the 20th Century at the British Library is an educational and aesthetic wonder – the history of the century is told so eloquently and convincingly through its maps.

maps

Here we have maps as paintings and paintings as maps, maps that tell the future and mourn the past, maps that charm: the post-traumatic 1918 map of Fairyland, and maps that might offend: all that hubristic pink in the possessions of the British Empire.

The maps of conflict are among the most extraordinary: a 1914 map showing countries as animals biting and clawing at one another, or a minutely detailed Soviet map of poor little Brighton hinting at some nefarious intention.

Scale is obviously key in mapping and there is such poetry in the minor becoming major and vice versa: a little globe not of the earth but the moon, or Jeremy Wood’s GPS autobiography, a spidery white line documenting all his movements around London over the past sixteen years.

Exhibition continues until 1 March 2017, more information here.

Written by Chris Kenny.