The Great Art Debate

[TANGODANCER]

Saturday afternoon scheduled for Museu de Bellas Artes in Sevilla. A new one on me. Strong collection of 17th Century Sevillian Art - especially Murillo, Zurbaran and Valdes Leal.

Next Wednesday afternoon for the Picasso Birthplace Museum, Malaga. Visited this 18 moths ago, but looking forward to a second.

In between - Cordoba, whose old town is a work of art in itself.

Fair bit of moving around Will. Train or car or what?

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2012/ ... mlets-sale" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/o ... 97200.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So the council-selling-its-treasures debate moves away from the hypothetical again.

I'm not sure what I make of this. It certainly isn't much-loved by its local community - indeed, it's not even there!

Henry Moore sold the sculpture to the old London County Council in the Sixties for £6,000 [supposedly 10% of its market value then - PB] on the strict condition that it was displayed in an underprivileged area.

But after a series of graffiti attacks when it was placed at the Stifford Estate in Tower Hamlets, it was quietly moved to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park open-air gallery in Wakefield in 1997.

So what the exclusively elitist criticism conveniently ignores is that this 'strict condition' is already been broken pretty comprehensively.

This is news to me:

The Moore is the latest in a growing list of sales of public artworks by councils. Last year, Bolton Council sold seven works of art, including two etchings by Picasso and a painting by John Everett Millais

Perhaps William won't mourn the loss of the Millais for long...

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

For what it's worth, I think they should sell it.

The market is very bouyant for Moore at the moment and it's not like there's a scarcity of these things on public view.

And besides, this one is the worst example of what Brian Sewell was on about when he wrote:

"If we were puzzled by Moore’s favouring inflated forms, swollen bellies and gross limbs, the grotesque contrast of gigantic bodies with tiny heads and tinier features that could so easily be the pinching and poking of pastry cooks, we kept our misgivings to ourselves”

[Prufrock]

Yeah, but Brian Sewell is a c*nt.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Yeah, but Brian Sewell is a c*nt.

Wrong. He's brilliant.

A treat for you: http://www.briansewell.co.uk/brian-sewe ... board.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Prufrock]

He's still a c*nt, but that is brill.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

What's he done to upset you?

[Prufrock]

I've tried to find a link, but I can't. He was on a 'Grumpy Old Men' style thing and he did a big rant about the north and how it was all shit and uncivilised and every single person from where was awful. I'm sure he was trying to play a persona, and no-one is that ridiculous a person, but it came across very flat and he sounded like an arsehole. The c*nt.

[bobo the clown]

Yeah, but Brian Sewell is a c*nt.

Wrong. He's brilliant.

A treat for you: http://www.briansewell.co.uk/brian-sewe ... board.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He's aa pompous, preening git.

[Always hopeful]

Yeah, but Brian Sewell is a c*nt.

Wrong. He's brilliant.

A treat for you: http://www.briansewell.co.uk/brian-sewe ... board.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He's aa pompous, preening git.

He's the definition of a horticulturist.

[William the White]

For what it's worth, I think they should sell it.

The market is very bouyant for Moore at the moment and it's not like there's a scarcity of these things on public view.

And besides, this one is the worst example of what Brian Sewell was on about when he wrote:

"If we were puzzled by Moore’s favouring inflated forms, swollen bellies and gross limbs, the grotesque contrast of gigantic bodies with tiny heads and tinier features that could so easily be the pinching and poking of pastry cooks, we kept our misgivings to ourselves”

It's beautiful, graceful and moving. I think it should stay in the Sculpture Park.

I disagree with Sewell. Though i don't think 'puzzle' is a bad thing!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I see Rothko's in the news again. One of his paintings Royal Red and Blue breaking Sotheby's auction record at £47.3m

I really ought to get my theoretical cat painting - I could make a mint.
In fact here's one she did earlier...



Lost Leopard Spot's Cat No1

[William the White]

Saturday afternoon scheduled for Museu de Bellas Artes in Sevilla. A new one on me. Strong collection of 17th Century Sevillian Art - especially Murillo, Zurbaran and Valdes Leal.

Next Wednesday afternoon for the Picasso Birthplace Museum, Malaga. Visited this 18 moths ago, but looking forward to a second.

In between - Cordoba, whose old town is a work of art in itself.

Fair bit of moving around Will. Train or car or what?

train from Malaga to Sevilla. Same from Sevilla to Cordoba. Then, once more, this time the high speed AVE, from Cordoba to Malaga. (This one hit 301 kph and completed the journey in 53 mins )

Sevilla is a really exciting city, Cordoba my favourite city in the world, and Malaga compellingly grim. The Moorish architecture the most exciting thing in art terms - at the Alcazar in Sevilla and the Mezquita in Cordoba.

Sevilla Cathedral as menacing as ever and the Roman Catholic desecration of the Cordoba Mosque by building a stupid Gothic cake of a Cathedral in the middle of it is an act of triumphalist vandalism for which the perpetrators should toast in hell.

The Bellas Artes was ok... Murillo wasn't all that good, I reckon, but Zurbaran and Valdes Leal did interesting stuff. The Picasso in Malaga is a little humdrum, I feel. There are some engaging works, but it often feels repetitive rather than inspired when curated like this.

The food and drink was fantastic, and sometimes felt like a work of Art - especially at El Caballo Rojo in Cordoba. http://www.elcaballorojo.com/home2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[William the White]

Saturday afternoon scheduled for Museu de Bellas Artes in Sevilla. A new one on me. Strong collection of 17th Century Sevillian Art - especially Murillo, Zurbaran and Valdes Leal.

Next Wednesday afternoon for the Picasso Birthplace Museum, Malaga. Visited this 18 moths ago, but looking forward to a second.

In between - Cordoba, whose old town is a work of art in itself.

Get a job !!

But... where would I find the time?

[TANGODANCER]

Sevilla is a really exciting city, Cordoba my favourite city in the world, and Malaga compellingly grim. The Moorish architecture the most exciting thing in art terms - at the Alcazar in Sevilla and the Mezquita in Cordoba.

Sevilla Cathedral as menacing as ever and the Roman Catholic desecration of the Cordoba Mosque by building a stupid Gothic cake of a Cathedral in the middle of it is an act of triumphalist vandalism for which the perpetrators should toast in hell.

I've never found Malaga grim Will, in fact they have half a Roman amphitheatre still intact and the Alcazaba is interesting. It's a busy, bustling city and great to walk around. Wife loves the El Corte Ingles there. Seville is amazing, though I don't agree about the Cathedal being menacing; it's a staggering place and the carved and gilded high altar is absolutely stunning. Never done Cordoba but for Moorish architecture Granada does the lot. Ronda and the El Tajo gorge is another magnificent place to see with the old Arab baths still in place. Glad you had a good trip.

[William the White]

Sevilla is a really exciting city, Cordoba my favourite city in the world, and Malaga compellingly grim. The Moorish architecture the most exciting thing in art terms - at the Alcazar in Sevilla and the Mezquita in Cordoba.

Sevilla Cathedral as menacing as ever and the Roman Catholic desecration of the Cordoba Mosque by building a stupid Gothic cake of a Cathedral in the middle of it is an act of triumphalist vandalism for which the perpetrators should toast in hell.

I've never found Malaga grim Will, in fact they have half a Roman amphitheatre still intact and the Alcazaba is interesting. It's a busy, bustling city and great to walk around. Wife loves the El Corte Ingles there. Seville is amazing, though I don't agree about the Cathedal being menacing; it's a staggering place and the carved and gilded high altar is absolutely stunning. Never done Cordoba but for Moorish architecture Granada does the lot. Ronda and the El Tajo gorge is another magnificent place to see with the old Arab baths still in place. Glad you had a good trip.

It is, indeed, staggering and stunning... Doesn't stop it being menacing though...

You should go to Cordoba first chance you get... Wonderful...

[TANGODANCER]

Sevilla is a really exciting city, Cordoba my favourite city in the world, and Malaga compellingly grim. The Moorish architecture the most exciting thing in art terms - at the Alcazar in Sevilla and the Mezquita in Cordoba.

Sevilla Cathedral as menacing as ever and the Roman Catholic desecration of the Cordoba Mosque by building a stupid Gothic cake of a Cathedral in the middle of it is an act of triumphalist vandalism for which the perpetrators should toast in hell.

I've never found Malaga grim Will, in fact they have half a Roman amphitheatre still intact and the Alcazaba is interesting. It's a busy, bustling city and great to walk around. Wife loves the El Corte Ingles there. Seville is amazing, though I don't agree about the Cathedal being menacing; it's a staggering place and the carved and gilded high altar is absolutely stunning. Never done Cordoba but for Moorish architecture Granada does the lot. Ronda and the El Tajo gorge is another magnificent place to see with the old Arab baths still in place. Glad you had a good trip.

It is, indeed, staggering and stunning... Doesn't stop it being menacing though...

You should go to Cordoba first chance you get... Wonderful...

If I should be so lucky I may get there yet Will. Meantime, I'd be really interested in what way you find Seville Cathedral menacing?

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

For what it's worth, I think they should sell it.

The market is very bouyant for Moore at the moment and it's not like there's a scarcity of these things on public view.

And besides, this one is the worst example of what Brian Sewell was on about when he wrote:

"If we were puzzled by Moore’s favouring inflated forms, swollen bellies and gross limbs, the grotesque contrast of gigantic bodies with tiny heads and tinier features that could so easily be the pinching and poking of pastry cooks, we kept our misgivings to ourselves”

It's beautiful, graceful and moving. I think it should stay in the Sculpture Park.

I disagree with Sewell. Though i don't think 'puzzle' is a bad thing!

I don't like those early Moores. I don't see the grace you speak of (which is there in his later work).

But what good is it doing the residents of Tower Hamlets while it's in Yorkshire?

[William the White]

For what it's worth, I think they should sell it.

The market is very bouyant for Moore at the moment and it's not like there's a scarcity of these things on public view.

And besides, this one is the worst example of what Brian Sewell was on about when he wrote:

"If we were puzzled by Moore’s favouring inflated forms, swollen bellies and gross limbs, the grotesque contrast of gigantic bodies with tiny heads and tinier features that could so easily be the pinching and poking of pastry cooks, we kept our misgivings to ourselves”

It's beautiful, graceful and moving. I think it should stay in the Sculpture Park.

I disagree with Sewell. Though i don't think 'puzzle' is a bad thing!

I don't like those early Moores. I don't see the grace you speak of (which is there in his later work).

But what good is it doing the residents of Tower Hamlets while it's in Yorkshire?

It's cutting down their insurance bill, anti-vandalism patrol, and costs for getting the graffiti removed.

It should stay in the Sculpture Park because it looks great there... And tens of thousands of visitors will see it each year.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

It's cutting down their insurance bill, anti-vandalism patrol, and costs for getting the graffiti removed.

It should stay in the Sculpture Park because it looks great there... And tens of thousands of visitors will see it each year.

It would probably look good in lots of places (if you like it).

But it's not owned by any national collection.

Why should a deprived area lend a prized asset to a middle class recreation facility in perpetuity?