Returning from our recent trip to see Picasso’s Guernica in Madrid, we were inspired to source a bronze bull for our forthcoming Winter 2010/11 catalogue. We have found this fine example which is crafted ‘after’ French sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye (1796-1875), most famous for his work as an animalier, and whose larger pieces can be seen in the gardens of the Tuileries in Paris.
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Mr Parry our local builder and smallholder, has kindly loaned us his flock of sheep to keep down the grass and nettles in the field; However we were not expecting him to abandon his old tractor on the other side of the river. This photograph was taken earlier today.
Parked outside The Crown public house earlier today was a beautiful example of a Jaguar XK140 (manufactured between 1954 and 1957). Follow this link to read an interesting article from The Independent published in 1998: http://tinyurl.com/36n54pk
We intentionally steer clear of controversial or political topics on our blog but whilst in Madrid we were bemused by the continued widespread attraction of the corrida (bullfight). We spent the last few days of our visit in Chinchón to the south east of Madrid and the town square had been transformed (as it has been for decades) into a bullring.
On our recent trip to Spain, the first Parador we stayed at was in Alcalá de Henares, (35km north east of Madrid) whose historical centre is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. As well as a first class restaurant in a converted church, we found this excellent pasteleria/confiteria in the town square, where we enjoyed tea most afternoons.
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One of the joys of visiting a gallery for the first time, is the thrill one gets from coming across an artist one has never heard of. Swiss artist/sculptor Jean Tinguely (1925-1991) is one such artist; His mechanical art machines sparkle with wit and vitality and instantly appealed to us.
On our visit to Madrid earlier this week, we found The Museo National Centro de Arte Reina Sofia to be a total revelation. We knew that the celebrated and nearby Prado housed Las Meninas by Velázquez as well as an important collection by Goya, but had no idea that the Reina Sofia was home to (as well as Picasso’s Guernica) a 32 foot high, painted and fabricated aluminum Brushstroke sculpture by Roy Lichtenstein.
We wrote a few weeks back about a moorhen nest in our field and the 7 eggs that the hen was hatching. We have stayed away from the nest as not to scare the mother but had a sneak at it earlier today; To our surprise, we could see chicks in the nest.
I can walk around graveyards for ages looking at the textures and colours of ancient headstones. These are some examples taken earlier this week in the village.
Saturday morning of the England versus Bangladesh test match at Lords and no play due to rain. MCC members look out from the Long Room and await the umpires pitch inspection. On a big test day (Australia or South Africa), the art-lined room is packed with members eager for a view of proceedings from directly behind the bowler’s arm; There is nothing quite like it.
