ArtSpam Favourites: February 2022

The National Gallery has recently has a re-hang. I went at the beginning of February and it’s the first time I’d been this year and I was most confused. I texted a friend saying “it’s like I’m playing hide and seek with all the pictures!” because that’s exactly what it was. I was also most pleased to see new loans on display and new paintings that I hadn’t seen before. But most importantly was Gainsborough’s ‘The Blue Boy’ which hadn’t been seen in the United Kingdom for nearly 100 years. It was a landmark moment. And the people had been flocking to see it. 

I then went to see The World of Stonehenge at The British Museum. Very interesting insights to how the Stone Age and Europe were all interconnected in and around this particular monument. True, there are stone circles all over Britain, Ireland, Scotland, and certain parts of Europe. Seeing as the Stone age happened over a span of 3.4 million years and ended around 4000-2000 BCE at the dawn of the bronze age. It was quite the exhibition. I did also make my way to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge with a friend; now I would’ve taken photos of the artefacts there too… but there’s only so many times I can look at crockery and think “imagine if we lived on a fault line…”. Also, much to my disappointment the paintings gallery on the upper floors were shut. It was heart breaking. But on the plus side I have an excuse to go back there with my friend again. But we must wait until the Hockney exhibition is over… or maybe I’ll just go to see the Hockney Exhibition. I like Hockney. But that’s probably for next month. We’re here to talk about this month’s art scene. So, without further ado here are this month’s top 10 #ArtSpam Favourites.

1. ‘Mrs Siddons’ 1785 Thomas Gainsborough, ‘The Blue Boy’ Exhibition. National Gallery, London.

2. . ‘The Enchanted Castle’ 1664 Claude, General Collection. National Gallery, London

3. ’The Blue Boy’ 1770 Thomas Gainsborough, ‘The Blue Boy’ Exhibition. National Gallery, London.

4. ’Globes showing the Earth and Heavens’ William Janszoon Blaeu circa. 1600, General Collection. Science Museum, London

5. ‘Orpheus’ 1628 Roelandt Saverly, General Collection. National Gallery London

6. ‘Divine Twins’ Bronze Hoard circa 1200-1000 BC, ‘The World of Stonehenge’ Exhibition. The British Museum, London.

7. ‘Gold Armlets’ circa. 2100-1900 BC, ‘The World of Stonehenge’ Exhibition. The British Museum, London.

8. The Madonna of Humility circa 1390 Lippo di Dalmassio, General Collection. National Gallery, London

9. ‘Gold Cape’ circa 1900 – 1600 BC, ‘The World of Stonehenge’ Exhibition. The British Museum, London.

10. ‘Sheet Gold Neck Collars’ circa 5000 BCE, ‘The World of Stonehenge’ Exhibition. The British Museum, London.