I could look at that Cuyp all day! One of my favorite paintings to get lost in with that similar distant vista is Thomas Cole's The Arcadian or Pastoral State, these were my imaginings as a child reading and longing for something other than our suburban tract existence. The grass is always green on the other side of the pond... ;)
Say, if you had to pick one museum to visit in London, which would it be? (Minus the Tate Modern, I was just there...) I've got a free afternoon in March when I arrive for the London Book Fair...
I love the Cole! They exhibited the whole series of the states of civilisation at the National Gallery once and it was sublime. I'd probably go for the National Gallery, there's just so much brilliant stuff to see. But a close second is the Wallace Collection. It's a truly wonderful place to see some great art
Hi Jenna. Thanks for picking me up on this! Actually, I was going to write more about this but the piece was already getting too long... The good news is that the calf was fine. The bad news is that I incorrectly reported it to be dead when it was probably just dozing (the opposite of the famous Monty Python dead parrot sketch). My father was not well pleased by the news, and although he was relieved when he found out I was wrong (he'd immediately gone to check), he let me know of his annoyance at my misinformation.
It's many years since I've been to either the National Gallery or the Louvre. In both cases it was before the really massive crowds and the jostling around the most 'famous' pictures. I think I favour the National for having less of that. In the Louvre I used to make for Da Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks before Dan Brown made it impossible to get anywhere near; and the Raft was a must see - for some reason I never remembered its size and then was breathless all over again at the size of the canvas. Latterly I was more likely to be pottering around Père Lachaise than any of the galleries, though even there is not the quiet haven it used to be.
Hi June, the crowds in the Louvre are an issue, especially as the day progresses. A quieter place in London is the Wallace Collection, which I think is fabulous.
I was just in London and did not go to the National Gallery! I am kicking myself after reading this essay. I love the line- "Conflict and comparison are a way of life." - how true.
Thank you for your comment and I hope you will get another chance to go to London and the National Gallery. I can also recommend the Wallace Collection. By the way, did you visit any gardens in London?
I would be sent on my bike to collect the milk from the dairy of a morning, hurtling down the hill, a creaking return balancing tin churns on each handlebar having watched the herdsman dip them in those vast, vats of white, and the smell of the place, the cows lined up munching, their udders attached with suckers, it all comes back to me. Also, the rural myth that he (the herdsman) once bald, was peed on by a cow while milking, and grew miraculously overnight a full head of hair.
I've been having this conversation with Chloe, about veering away from the how, in case, god forbid, I should be seen to tacitly align with any praise, but she and I came to the conclusion that saying "I work really really hard at it" is actually helpful, so there it is. Thanks, Jeff, I work really really hard at making the distance between the writer in me and the typist in me as short and direct as possible. I see things, I write them. I've complete faith, based on experience, that the closer I am to the voices and images, the closer you will be, too, and that the words know better than I do. In farming terms (seeing as we began on the subject) my brother calls it "field to fork" that distance, and how he strives to make it as short and direct as possible. That's my aim every time, even as I write this. Field to fork.
As a country boy and would-be foodie, I love that phrase and it seems to be apt for the writing process. I also understand that what seems like effortless ease is the result of hard work. It's like the ballet, which I love. The dancers seem to float across the stage, but that only comes after years of tremendous application of their talent. This makes the beautiful outcome all the more admirable to me.
Loved this exchange between you two. My own version of Eleanor's "work really really hard at making the distance between the writer in me and the typist in me as short and direct as possible," not identical but I think in a similar spirit, is that I work at not being a typist at all. Except for the commonest business exchanges, I don't just toss the words off in disregard of the occasion. I don't turn off the writer in me and offer the best I can within the bounds of the occasion. BTW (new topic) during my youthful business career, expanding into Europe, we formed a joint venture with a British company based in London and a French company based in Paris. The principals of these two companies, both swell guys, couldn't stand each other. We would meet with them separately.
I really enjoyed this! I love the first painting - but although the cows look comfortable there is something odd about the humans in the painting - especially those mini-adult figures. Compared with the golden calf painting, it is lacking in movement. The Israelites in that painting are having a good “knees up” aren’t they. We will be in London in the summer and I have made a note of the Wallace Collection. I have never been there. Our son loves the Tate Modern.
Yes, there is something odd about those figures, isn't there? He seems to have been a good portrait, so technique presumably wasn't the issue. The Poussin is full of life, as you say. If you have time, do watch the video about the Poussin exhibition in London. It taught me a lot about how he learned to paint movement so well
Thank you, Troy. That was a pleasant surprise. Vonnegut has a lot of devoted fans, and he seems to draw a crowd wherever he pops up! I was just lucky to have had the experience of meeting him (even if it didn't feel quite like that at the time).
Wonderful story of art, London and Paris and of course cows! Through it all Devon shines as the brightest star! No wonder. It’s a beautiful spot on earth.
Hola , Me Ha Gustado Esa Comparación De Arte Y Ciudades Y Buena Literatura. Como Veo Que Te Gustan Las Vacas , Voy A Compartir Una Exposición Del Gran Pintor Valenciano Joaquín Sorolla Y Sus Hermosos "Bueyes" , En La Playa De La Malvarrosa , En Mí Ciudad Valencia , Creo Que Te Gustara. Un Saludo. https://www.fundacionbancaja.es/exposicion/sorolla-a-traves-de-la-luz/
Ah , comparing and judging: a tale today with art (stunning)--and even Laurence Sterne who I read at age 17 in college, and a not so small moral, I would think. Read it!
Thanks Kimia. A pleasant surprise at the start of the year. It's fun to have more readers, but I l'll have to work hard to keep their attention. There's so much good stuff to read on the platform.
I could look at that Cuyp all day! One of my favorite paintings to get lost in with that similar distant vista is Thomas Cole's The Arcadian or Pastoral State, these were my imaginings as a child reading and longing for something other than our suburban tract existence. The grass is always green on the other side of the pond... ;)
Say, if you had to pick one museum to visit in London, which would it be? (Minus the Tate Modern, I was just there...) I've got a free afternoon in March when I arrive for the London Book Fair...
I love the Cole! They exhibited the whole series of the states of civilisation at the National Gallery once and it was sublime. I'd probably go for the National Gallery, there's just so much brilliant stuff to see. But a close second is the Wallace Collection. It's a truly wonderful place to see some great art
Oh it must have been, I love all of those!
I'll probably head to the National then, I've never been.... 👍
Did the calf birth successfully or not? Why were you an unreliable witness?!? A whole story is missing here! lol
Hi Jenna. Thanks for picking me up on this! Actually, I was going to write more about this but the piece was already getting too long... The good news is that the calf was fine. The bad news is that I incorrectly reported it to be dead when it was probably just dozing (the opposite of the famous Monty Python dead parrot sketch). My father was not well pleased by the news, and although he was relieved when he found out I was wrong (he'd immediately gone to check), he let me know of his annoyance at my misinformation.
Whew! I was afraid you’d reported it to be alive and were then blamed for the death.
Thanks! You're right, that would have been bad all round, especially for the poor calf and mother.
I love cows too ❤️
My thoughts exactly!
It's many years since I've been to either the National Gallery or the Louvre. In both cases it was before the really massive crowds and the jostling around the most 'famous' pictures. I think I favour the National for having less of that. In the Louvre I used to make for Da Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks before Dan Brown made it impossible to get anywhere near; and the Raft was a must see - for some reason I never remembered its size and then was breathless all over again at the size of the canvas. Latterly I was more likely to be pottering around Père Lachaise than any of the galleries, though even there is not the quiet haven it used to be.
Hi June, the crowds in the Louvre are an issue, especially as the day progresses. A quieter place in London is the Wallace Collection, which I think is fabulous.
I have made a note of the Wallace Collection! I find crowded art galleries very off-putting.
I was just in London and did not go to the National Gallery! I am kicking myself after reading this essay. I love the line- "Conflict and comparison are a way of life." - how true.
Thank you for your comment and I hope you will get another chance to go to London and the National Gallery. I can also recommend the Wallace Collection. By the way, did you visit any gardens in London?
I have to echo, Jenna’s comment: what about the calf!? A very engaging piece, Jeffrey. :)
Thank you, Michael. The calf was fine. My announcement of its demise proved to be just so much fake news, fortunately 😊
I would be sent on my bike to collect the milk from the dairy of a morning, hurtling down the hill, a creaking return balancing tin churns on each handlebar having watched the herdsman dip them in those vast, vats of white, and the smell of the place, the cows lined up munching, their udders attached with suckers, it all comes back to me. Also, the rural myth that he (the herdsman) once bald, was peed on by a cow while milking, and grew miraculously overnight a full head of hair.
Gasp. Wonderful! I have to ask: did you write that just now, or was it something you had prepared earlier, as it were?
Just now! Your piece reminded me.
Wow, your ability to write so beautifully and so quickly astounds me (I am not easily astounded, as a rule).
I've been having this conversation with Chloe, about veering away from the how, in case, god forbid, I should be seen to tacitly align with any praise, but she and I came to the conclusion that saying "I work really really hard at it" is actually helpful, so there it is. Thanks, Jeff, I work really really hard at making the distance between the writer in me and the typist in me as short and direct as possible. I see things, I write them. I've complete faith, based on experience, that the closer I am to the voices and images, the closer you will be, too, and that the words know better than I do. In farming terms (seeing as we began on the subject) my brother calls it "field to fork" that distance, and how he strives to make it as short and direct as possible. That's my aim every time, even as I write this. Field to fork.
As a country boy and would-be foodie, I love that phrase and it seems to be apt for the writing process. I also understand that what seems like effortless ease is the result of hard work. It's like the ballet, which I love. The dancers seem to float across the stage, but that only comes after years of tremendous application of their talent. This makes the beautiful outcome all the more admirable to me.
Loved this exchange between you two. My own version of Eleanor's "work really really hard at making the distance between the writer in me and the typist in me as short and direct as possible," not identical but I think in a similar spirit, is that I work at not being a typist at all. Except for the commonest business exchanges, I don't just toss the words off in disregard of the occasion. I don't turn off the writer in me and offer the best I can within the bounds of the occasion. BTW (new topic) during my youthful business career, expanding into Europe, we formed a joint venture with a British company based in London and a French company based in Paris. The principals of these two companies, both swell guys, couldn't stand each other. We would meet with them separately.
I really enjoyed this! I love the first painting - but although the cows look comfortable there is something odd about the humans in the painting - especially those mini-adult figures. Compared with the golden calf painting, it is lacking in movement. The Israelites in that painting are having a good “knees up” aren’t they. We will be in London in the summer and I have made a note of the Wallace Collection. I have never been there. Our son loves the Tate Modern.
Yes, there is something odd about those figures, isn't there? He seems to have been a good portrait, so technique presumably wasn't the issue. The Poussin is full of life, as you say. If you have time, do watch the video about the Poussin exhibition in London. It taught me a lot about how he learned to paint movement so well
P.S. Congrats on hitting "Substack Reads" this week! 👍
Thank you, Troy. That was a pleasant surprise. Vonnegut has a lot of devoted fans, and he seems to draw a crowd wherever he pops up! I was just lucky to have had the experience of meeting him (even if it didn't feel quite like that at the time).
Wonderful story of art, London and Paris and of course cows! Through it all Devon shines as the brightest star! No wonder. It’s a beautiful spot on earth.
Thanks! Devon is indeed a very beautiful place!
Hola , Me Ha Gustado Esa Comparación De Arte Y Ciudades Y Buena Literatura. Como Veo Que Te Gustan Las Vacas , Voy A Compartir Una Exposición Del Gran Pintor Valenciano Joaquín Sorolla Y Sus Hermosos "Bueyes" , En La Playa De La Malvarrosa , En Mí Ciudad Valencia , Creo Que Te Gustara. Un Saludo. https://www.fundacionbancaja.es/exposicion/sorolla-a-traves-de-la-luz/
Gracias! Me encanta Sorolla. Vi una exposición suya en londres hace unos años. Un pinto estupendo.
Ah , comparing and judging: a tale today with art (stunning)--and even Laurence Sterne who I read at age 17 in college, and a not so small moral, I would think. Read it!
Thank you for sharing, Mary! It means a lot.
Thank you Maureen. I feel lucky to have had a rural upbringing. Though I have mostly spent my adult life living in very large cities, as it happens.
Thanks Kimia. A pleasant surprise at the start of the year. It's fun to have more readers, but I l'll have to work hard to keep their attention. There's so much good stuff to read on the platform.
🙏