Spring Break Series I: London and Its Finer Points

Spring Break started for us on the 17th of March.

The group trekked to London as this was a program excursion. Starting off break in this structured way was actually quite helpful. And as a result, I gained a pretty nuanced understanding of London's finer artistic points.

Our London excursion was packed with museum visits; both structured and independent. The National Gallery was our first artistic destination. Its uniquely Western European collections are not only grand and sometimes overwhelming; they are at the same time graceful and rich.

Artists that permanently grace the gallery's walls include masters van Gogh, da Vinci, Uccello, Raphael and Monet. Monet's Water Lilies remains a particularly fascinating piece in my mind. Although it doesn't amount to much online, in person the piece speaks quite loudly.

It was then off to the Tate Britain for us all. I'll point out that the Tate Britain and National Gallery differ in profound ways. The Tate, contra the National Gallery, is a larger gallery. As well, one will find that the Tate feels a bit more established despite the fact that the National Gallery is older. So too, the Tate features several well developed collections that aren't found elsewhere--collections that include work by Pre-Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais and Poet/Painter/Intellectual William Blake. Interspersed within the Tate Britain is a small collection of modern work that includes paintings from the Post-Impressionist Camden Town Group.

The Tate Modern, although not on the schedule for the group, became a central part on my London experience.

The Tate Modern is Britain's national museum of international modern art and is, with the Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives, and Tate Online, part of the collective now known simply as "Tate."



And it houses quite a fine collection of Modern work. Dadaist Duchamp is currently allotted a large gallery within the Modern as is Manray. Joan Miró is well represented as well (as his gorgeous Message From a Friend is prominently displayed within a section devoted to his work).

So much for the London art scene. Friday's post will cover London's religious climate and visits I made to several cathedrals.


Be well.


JS