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In July
we took a few weeks vacation back to Britain and also enjoyed a few days in the
Netherlands. As we moved around from one city to the next visiting friends and
family, whenever I was able to I took the opportunity to visit the local art
museums and galleries. Over the next few days and weeks I’m going to write about each one… Here’s the first.
Aberdeen
Art Gallery
When back
in my home town of Aberdeen (Scotland), I visited the art museum; a nostalgic
trip down memory lane for me. I remember regularly visiting this gallery
throughout my childhood and teenage years. Without doubt it’s the place that I was first exposed to art and I suspect I
have my mother to thank for that. One memory that sticks in my head from those
childhood years, is my mother drawing us close to a painting and commenting
that it was so well painted you could almost touch it. Then shockingly she
reached out and actually touched the canvas, before moment later being yelled
at by the guard!
This was the painting, you'll notice it now hangs behind glass. My mother will be disappointed! :-)
The
museum holds so many memories like this for me, as well as countless memorable
paintings, (or at least paintings that resonate with me). They have a fine
eclectic selection of works with one painting from most of the major artists
you can think of (well within reason). They also have a nice selection of
Scottish and British artists, including of course, a number of paintings by my
favorite Scottish artist 'Joan Eardley'.
Brother and Sister by J Eardley
You might
enjoy this post from last time I was in Britain and I visited her old studio? http://www.anguswilsonstudio.blogspot.com/2011/06/visiting-watchie.html
Samuel Peploe
The
reason for visiting the gallery was a visiting Peploe show. The artist was one
of the famed ‘Scottish colorists’, and many would say the strongest and the best. I'm
particularly fond of his early and mid-career paintings, and they had good
examples within three large exhibition rooms. They also exhibited central glass
cabinets, with a variety of interesting items, such as one of his palettes*, sketch
books, some of his brushes and a selection of items that he used for his still
lifes e.g. a small plaster statue, a Chinese vase etc.
(*I have always gotten a kick out of seeing famous artists
palettes, but I’m never quite sure why?)
In his
early career, he painted with strong loose brush strokes thick with paint and
there’s a wonderful confident
elegance to his brushwork and the thick luster to the paint. The colors in
these are pretty monochromatic and predominantly muted. But they’re beautiful to look at and a testament to his ability with
paint.
During
his mid-career, he spent time with John Fergusson in Paris and rubbed shoulders
with the likes of Monet and Picasso. This Parisian influence breathed life into
his ‘drab’ palette, adding an impressionist colorist scheme. You can also
see an advancement of more developed and dynamic compositions. During this
period his brushwork also tightens, which I feel is a shame; but the additions
of color and composition make for interesting and really beautiful work.
In the
final phase of his lifes work I feel he pulled back a little on palette, the
colors became more muted in their ranges; perhaps what some may describe as ‘pastel-like’ in tone. The brushwork though
still loose is increasingly measured (& careful). Many prefer this final
period, but for me some of the life or energy has been lost. The once loose
brush strokes and strong color schemes have has been replaced with something
overly considered and careful; a skilled painter measuring his trade, but
perhaps lacking in passion?
The only
item I may have liked to add to this exhibition would have been the addition of
a few works by other Scottish colorists to hang alongside Peploes paintings. This
I feel would have fleshed out and framed his life, illustrating his
friendships/peers and influences? Though most would agree he was the leader and
strongest painter of the Scottish colorist, he is still firmly linked to them,
and therefore hard to divorce from the movement.
The exhibition was however one of the highlights of my trip.
There was a wonderful
selection of his work, it was well lit, and well presented.
