London Retrospective 3: Kenwood House

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London diary: Sunday 9 March

Continuing the recap of my recent London sojourn, I revisit some much loved works at another favourite haunt: Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath. 

Apologies for the reflections on the paintings by William Larkin (Images 1-6) which, despite my best efforts, were almost impossible to avoid. 

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My companion Bev Murray and I overheard one of the guides telling a visitor that The Guitar Player by Johannes Vermeer (Image 7 below) is Sir Paul McCartney’s favourite painting. Apparently he lives nearby and calls in especially to see it. 

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Pictured above:

1-6: Portraits by Jacobean artist William Larkin.

7 The Guitar Player, 1672, Johannes Vermeer

8 Portrait of the Artist, 1669, Rembrandt van Rijn

9 Portrait of a Lady, 1680, Ferdinand Bol

(Photo credit Image 1: Bev Murray)

William Larkin at Kenwood House

Whenever I come to London, I never fail to make a pilgrimage to the paintings by William Larkin (early 1580s-1619), part of the Suffolk Collection on the first floor of Kenwood House in Hampstead. On my first visit to Kenwood, soon after my arrival here, the upper floor was closed due to insufficient volunteer guides to man the space. (This has often been the case on my past visits, or, as with yesterday, the works were only on view for a few hours). Kenwood houses the largest collection of this extraordinary, shamefully underrated painter’s work. 

An English court painter from the Jacobean period that immediately proceeded the Elizabethan era, Larkin was long referred to as the ‘Curtain Master’. Beyond this, comparatively little is known of his life. In my opinion, a monograph and a retrospective of his work are way overdue. 

Pictured above:

1: Lady Isabel Rich, née Cope, c. 1614-18;

2: Lady Diana Cecil, c. 1614-18

3: Probably Elizabeth Cary, née Stanfield, c. 1614-18;

4: Catherine Knevet, c.1615;

5: Anne Cecil, Countess of Stamford c.1615;

6: Elizabeth Drury, Countess of Exeter, c.1615;

7: L-R Richard Sackville, c.1613 and Edward Sackville c.1613; 

8-10: Installation views.

All works are oil on canvas.

London and a visit to Kenwood House

Being back in London feels like being home. It's been wonderful reuniting with old friends with whom I share so many memories and revisiting old haunts, including the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery, the National Film Theatre, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Leighton House, the Dover Bookshop, London Graphics Centre (an amazing art supply shop in Covent Garden) and many other places. Visiting both Tate Galleries has included long walks along the Thames, still majestic, still enduring. It's as if I have never been away (even though I have, for far too long). 

On October 10 my Australian friend Leigh Hobbs and I made our pilgrimage to Kenwood House to visit the William Larkin portraits that we both admire so much - it was a very special day. The photos shown here don't do them justice (not that reproductions ever do). Because of staff shortages, they can only be viewed between certain hours. Those hours can change on a daily basis, so calling Kenwood in advance is advised. 

We still haven't toasted our good fortune with great champagne (see previous blog entry)  but now that my partner Shane has arrived in London, the three of us have a date to do just that at the Savoy Hotel on Thursday evening.

Images from top:

Pilgrim's Progress: DK and Leigh outside Kenwood House (photographs 1 and 3 by Leigh Hobbs)

Leigh 

Leigh and DK 

Diana Cecil, Countess of Oxford (1614) by William Larkin

Isabella Rich (1614) by William Larkin

Dorothy Cary, later Viscountess Rochford (1614-18) by William Larkin 

Leigh, lost in admiration among the Larkins

Leigh, Contre-jour

While I'm away...

Before I head off to London on Friday, here is an advance notice of the group exhibition Exchange, which includes the two works directly below. Exchange is curated by Amanda van Gils.

 Blue Triangle Winged Woman, 2010, linocut, 32 x 32 cm, ed. 30

Photographs by Tim Gresham

Ulysses Butterfly Winged Woman, 2010, linocut, 32 x 32  cm, ed. 30 

For full details, click onto the poster.

Facebook members can click HERE for updates; to follow the show on Twitter, click HERE.

The group exhibition Familiar Unfamiliar at c3 contemporary art space opened yesterday evening and runs until 16 October. The exhibition celebrates the 45^th anniversary of the Print Council of Australia and was guest curated by Rona Green. It will tour to Tweed River Art Gallery, NSW in 2012 and Swan Hill Regional Gallery, Vic in 2013. To revisit the work I made for this show, see Blog Post Friday July 21.

I will also be participating in the group exhibition In Suspense at Hand Held Gallery, which will run from 3 – 30 November. I have made two new zines, including Girls in High Places #1: Rope Trick
(pictured below).

For full details and a preview of both works, visit Moth Woman Press HERE.

In the meantime, this is something I have to look forward to in London. I'll be meeting up with an Australian friend who loves the William Larkin paintings at Kenwood House just as much as I do. He has just sent me this Larkin reproduction, along with the message that if we both make it there with everything that's been going on lately (including the threat of further strikes at Qantas) "...we must toast our good fortune with some GREAT champagne." Right on, Leigh.

Richard Sackville, Earl of Dorset

by William Larkin