aaaaaaand ....we've seen some art ;)

In addition to the hisotric sites, we've been to countless museums. I'm amazed at the number of artworks that we have seen since arriving in England. We've studied and lived with many of them for years; finally we can see them with our own eyes!

So here are some web-images, none of which are mine, of works we've seen, in British museums!! :)

The National Portrait Gallery

Portraits by Master John
Portrait of Catharine of Aragon (first wife of Henry VIII)



Portrait of Mary Tudor, aka "Bloody Mary", and one of my favorite portraits of all time!



The National Gallery, London
Incredible Musuem. However, many of their hallmark works were on loan, but we plan to see them our next trip in.

"The execution of Lady Jane Grey" by Paul Delaroche



"The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist" by Leonardo da Vinci (Madonna on the Rocks was out for happy hour)



Diego Velazquez "Venus at her mirror"



The Tate Britian

Sir John Everett Millais, "Ophelia"
(A breathtaking work that entranced everyone in the room, and one of Leslie's favorite works!)



The Tate Modern

Incredible! While in London, the Tate Modern had one of my favorite painters on display. It was the first time Mark Rothko's Seagrams works were seen together in one room. They didn't look like much at the beginning, but after our eyes adjusted to the dim lighting we marvelled at the rich layers and subtleties. I was particularly impressed by the built up darks, and especially his black which he used in both glossy and matte. His way of toggling between the two created deep dark passages that chill the bones. The effect is impossible to reproduce photographically so I won't even try! So no black paintings on this blog :) However, my caryatid drawing was hughly influenced after seeing them.

Here are some warm Rothko's.