Art and Elegance

Note: The Vermeer painting showing the woman playing a guitar-like instrument is thought to be of his daughter. When Paul McCartney saw it, he said that knew the chord she was playing.

We "ticked another couple of boxes," as the Brits say, during our stay when we visited the Wallace Collection and Kenwood House, two places that had long been on our wish list for viewing.  Both of these elegant houses are free to visit and tour.

My photos of the Wallace Collection did not really turn out well, but aside from a few noteworthy pieces of art, including Frans Hals' "The Laughing Cavalier," a Rembrandt, and a couple of Canalettos the highlight of the museum is its Louis XIV furniture. Our guide remarked, "If you want to see the architecture of Versailles, go to Versailles, but if you want to see the furniture of Versaille, come here." 

The furniture including marquetry pieces, such as the cabinet pictured below, which have faded over time, and were actually much brighter back in the 17th and 18th century. So if we find it a bit garish now, imagine what it would have looked like if the colors were more intense!

The guide explained that in the days of candlelight, the furniture would lose its luster in the darkened rooms, so they need saturated hues, which would warm when viewed by flickering candles.

I was most surprised by the guide's account of Fragonard's "The Swing," a piece that is prized by the museum, in spite of its scandalous subject. The story is that the original owner asked another artist to do the painting, but he demurred when he found out what he patron wanted--he requested that the artwork depict him and his mistress, and he wanted a cleric to be pushing the swing! The commission went to Fragonard instead, but even he refused to paint a clergyman into the picture. As it is, a gentleman pushes the young woman and as she swings, she throws off her shoe as a wanton gesture. The man seated below her is peeking up her skirt. Too bad they didn't have #MeToo back then!

We also made a trip out to Hampstead Heath and walked over the heath to Kenwood House, which was built for the king's printer in 1616, and remodeled by Robert Adam in the 18th century.

The ceiling, designed by Adam, is often called "the most beautiful ceiling in Britain."