Exit Through The Giftshop - Postcards at an exhibition....

Well it has been more than six months since I explored my many postcards from exhibitions and galleries, so let's dive in again...

1) THE PRISON COURTYARD (1890) - Vincent van Gogh

I was immediately struck by this absorbing painting when I saw the VAN GOGH AND BRITAIN exhibition at Tate London in 2019.  Van Gogh based his painting on a Doré engraving but whereas the original of prisoners in the cramped exercise yard at Newgate Prison was dark and dingy, van Gogh's painting lightens the tone considerably but with a sickly green-yellow paint that makes me think the skies are about to open and drench the inmates.

Van Gogh painted this in the last year of his life while still hospitalised in Saint-Rémy asylum and the endless circular trudging of the depressed prisoners surely echoes his mental condition; the ghostly stare of the Vincent look-a-like, the only one looking at the viewer, haunts you when you consider what happened later in 1890.

2) THE SISTINE CHAPEL (1508-1512 / 1536-1541) - Michelangelo

This was bought at the Vatican in 2017 after a pricey but marvellous tour of the Vatican palace - including the little-seen Niccoline Chapel with it's Fra Angelico frescos - which ended in our small tour group getting about 15 minutes in an empty Sistine Chapel.

It was a strange experience, as it is whenever you are finally confronted with anything huge and iconic that you have only seen before in manageable forms like books or films; here it was even more surreal to be actually inside the art. The ceiling and side walls were too far away to fully engage with but the Day of Judgement fresco was just magnificent because you could get so close to it by the altar.  A memorable day...

3) CAVALCATA DEL MAGI (detail) (1459=1461) - Benozzo Gozzoli

This was bought on our first visit to Florence when we visited the imposing Palazzo Medici-Riccardi; inside the Palazzo is the small Magi Chapel which houses the remarkable Gozzoli fresco on all four walls. showing the lavish process of the three wise men to visit Christ, along with various members of the all-powerful Medici family, their noblemen and King John VIII (seen here), the last Byzantine Emperor.

Like the Sistine Chapel, here you are in the middle of the art which surrounds you but due to it's much smaller size, you can appreciate it all the more.  Gozzoli was a pupil of Fra Angelico and helped him with several of the San Marco cell frescos and, indeed, the previously mentioned Niccoline Chapel in The Vatican.  Because of it's intimacy it is easier to become fascinated by the masterly detailing on the clothes and livery, the rolling landscape, the draughtsmanship of the animals and the many faces on display, although here it looks like all the pages had the same model!

4) DAVID (detail) (1501-4) - Michelangelo

I of course bought this in Florence at the Galleria dell'Accademia where Michelangelo's David stands in solitary majesty in a stark setting.  At the gift shop, they have multiple postcards of David from every angle - you either go tasteful or out there, I was definitely Out There.

David was originally placed outside in the Piazza della Signoria beside the Palazzo Vecchio where he stayed for 369 years until moved to the Galleria in 1873.  David done be serving some serious arse, surely the most famous in art history?  Michelangelo certainly had a loving hand...

5) THE BATLLÓ MAJESTY (1150?) - Anonymous

I bought this at my only visit to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona which we tried to do it all in one day which was a bit of an error - by the end of it you are slightly jaded by the constant shout of "Yes I know everyone was doing this but Catalonia did it too!" - and there is so much of it as well.

To be honest the only rooms I really liked were the last few with it's charming impressionist-style paintings but the early medieval rooms are impressive just for the sheer volume of items in there - this crucifix really caught my eye with it's vivid colourful cross and the doleful Jesus dressed in a multi-coloured robe - this 'Majesty' clothes style, as opposed to other more realistic representations. was to signify Christ's triumph over death.  Me? I just like the disco Jesus.

Exit Through The Giftshop - Postcards at an exhibition....

More bootiful booty from museum and exhibition gift shops...

1) FARM AT WATENDLATH (1921) - Dora Carrington

I bought this at Tate Britain which have Carrington's lovely painting in it's collection.  It is now 23 years since the last major exhibition by the most elusive of Bloomsbury-related painters so Tate Britain really needs to pull it's collective finger out.

I love how Carrington has the Cumbrian landscape, rearing up like a whale, echoed by the brick walls which surround the farm house which is dwarfed by the countryside.  The woman and child, who form a loose visual triangle with the house and the washing hanging on the line, seem frozen in awe of their surroundings.

2) ROSES SUR FOND NOIR (1932) - André Derain

This was bought at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris where Derain's striking still life is in the permanent collection.

I am not the biggest fan of still life paintings but I was struck by the lovely use of light in Derain's painting; he was one of the painters who embraced the 'Fauvist' style in the early years of the 20th Century and his use of colour here is still vibrant, particularly against the black background.

3) LE VERROU (1777) - Jean-Honoré Fragonard

We went to a Fragonard exhibition at the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris but I found it all a bit underwhelming to be honest.  By far the best painting there was one of his most famous, "Le Verrou" or "The Lock" which usually is seen in The Louvre.

It was certainly the image of the exhibition as it featured on the poster and all the merchandise so I simply had to buy a postcard to get out!  It is certainly a striking painting, full of intrigue and passion: is the man locking the door to stop others getting in or the woman getting out?  Is it violent or romantic?  You decide... It would make a perfect poster design for LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES which was published only five years after Fragonard finished his painting.

4) RAMON CASAS I PERE ROMEU EN UN TÁNDEM (1897) - Ramon Casas

One of the jewels of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Casas' large painting was originally created for the Barcelona cafe Els Quatre Gats, which was a focal point for the artists of the Catalan 'modernisme', a copy now hangs there.  The original in the museum however has been cut down by a third in the intervening years

Casas is seen at the front of the tandem pedalling into the future while the restaurateur Romeu looks out at the viewer grinning widely with the Barcelona skyline behind them. Romeu was financially backed by Casas and two other leading Catalan artists Santiago Rusinol and Miguel Utrillo.  I love Casas' spare design, almost as if he knew it would one day adorn merchandise!

5) The PARAKEET AND THE MERMAID (1952) - Henri Matisse

I bought this at the wonderful Tate Modern exhibition of Matisse's glorious cut-outs in 2014.  The  large work, measuring over 11' x 25', drew you into it's waving, magical world; a world of waving fronds surrounding the parakeet and the floating mermaid.  Suffering from failing health, Matisse still wanted to express his artistic vision so he turned to cut-outs.

Matisse painted paper with coloured gouache then cut out his individual shapes which would then be arranged by assistants until he was happy with the harmony of colours then glued them onto the white backing paper, so simple yet so vividly effective.  It's wonderful that only two years before his death, Matisse was still creating art and continuing his love affair with colour.  Another work of art I want to dive into!

Exit Through The Giftshop - Postcards at an exhibition....

More postcards from exhibitions and galleries...

1) IL PROFETA ABACUC 'IO ZUCCONE' (1425) - Donatello

Donatello's statue is packed with character and humanity, I love the excellent way he has carved the swags and falls of the prophet's robes, supposedly this was Donatello's favourite sculpture. 

I bought this at the Museo Dell 'Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence where Zuccone (Bald-head!) resides.

2) LA MANDRA (1898-1900) - Ramon Casas

Bought from the Museu Nacional d'Art De Catalunya where room after room suggests to one that Catalonian artists followed rather than instigating movements down the years, one reaches the late 19th Century rooms with a sigh of relief to come across the great works of Barcelona artist Ramon Casas.

Yes they are again following the French impressionists but they have a charm and a quality that make them memorable - here a woman lazes on a bed in a quiet room, doing anything than what she probably should be doing...  This was painted just as Casas was becoming a proponent of the Spanish Modernista movement, this included being a part owner in the famous bar Els Quatre Gats with his friend Pe Romeu which became a hub from Barcelona's artist community.

3) LES PASSANTS (The Passerbys) (1906-7) - Raoul Dufy

Yes, London art galleries and museums... whenever you finally decide to have an exhibition of Dufy I will be there.

This glorious painting is in the Courtauld collection and whenever I visit, I love to spend some time entering into the lovely world of LES PASSANTS.  It's Fauvist colours and spare setting is a world I would love to live in... can I be in red please and own the green dog?

4) DAVID TRIBUNE (1501-4) - Michelangelo

I bought this in Florence at the Galleria dell'Accademia where Michelangelo's epic David stands in solitary majesty in a stark setting.

DAVID was originally placed in the Piazza della Signoria beside the magnificent Palazzo Vecchio.  It stayed there for 369 years until it was moved to it's present location in 1873.  Like all great art, it still manages to amaze when seen in the stone despite all one's previous sightings in books, films and adverts.

5) WOODEN CRUCIFIX (detail) (circa 1412) - Fillipo Brunelleschi

A detail from Brunelleschi's wooden sculpture which you can see in Florence's Church of Santa Maria Novella - see the full length postcard in my earlier "Giftshop" blog here.

According to the biographer/artist Vasari, this was Filipo Brunelleschi's response to a crucifix he disliked that Donatello had made in the church of Santa Croce. It's simple but glorious.