Flagstone and 2 Girls

This is a snap of the memorial stone in the Oude Kerk in Delft

And here are two girls we found hanging about in Amsterdam.

Pictures courtesy of the Rijksmuseum; flagstone courtesy of Vermeer's mother-in-law.

Alas Vermeer

Interesting 'Secret Life of the Artist' by Andrew Graham-Dixon on the Beeb recently  which uses paintings, locations and public records in the Netherlands to lay bare the life of Vermeer. I had always surmised that he was the cliched enigma wrapped in a mystery despite books, films, exhibitions and extensive commentaries; part of the attraction, of course.

    "Andrew Graham-Dixon, travelling to Vermeer's hometown of Delft and a dramatic Dutch landscape of huge skies and windmills, embarks on a detective trail to uncover the life of a genius in hiding.Renowned for painting calm and beautiful interiors, the real life of Vermeer was marred by crime and violence. His life was a bid to escape the privations of his family and yet even a glamorous marriage and artistic success failed to save him from the fate he dreaded more than any other."

When I discovered Vermeer I became intrigued by the use, and the effort, of a painting within a painting.

So there you have it, allegedly, the Last Vermeer, painted while his mother in law screamed at him to sell a few pictures for gods sake if only to repay the money he had possibly stolen from her and pay the baker.

And after Vermeer?
See the photo by John Naughton  at the link.
Very fine snap, a real cracker.

Concert Parties

Watched the start of the Big Noise concert. Thirsty Work was interviewing the Head? of El Sistema (Scotland);
'El' Sistema, yes we have a lot to thank the Greeks for. There was also a wifey from Raploch with a kid in the band. The 'Head' had  a chin that could cut through 6inch steel obviously on the way up the greasy arts pole in Scotland, maybe I do her a dis-service. The wifey was 4 square solid with an open face and a hesitant air. Not used to speaking out on The Box I'm  sure, but I felt that she was being straight with enthusiasm for the band and the effect on her child. Thirsty did a good job, not patronising, well not too much anyway. Then they played Purcell's Abdelazer. It was a life affirming blast. We were told that kids as young 6 were performing. They weren't just performing they were living and having fun and making music in addition to whatever else they felt. Review here

    As Richard Holloway, chair of Sistema Scotland, acknowledges:
     "This will only mean something if it's peppering the whole country."

Rather, what this means is that a community has been able to come together for a cultural event which their members have taken a worthy and proud part. Who knows but hopefully some may be infected with the bug to do things. Music, community, economic activity and government  for themselves.  Heaven forfend!

Which led me to think about  The Concert by Vermeer. It was stolen - Details of the picture and note of its theft here -

No sign of it since. Was it taken for ransom? No clearly established genuine demands? Was it used by Crims in US for collateral for drug deals? Was it a feather bed, get out of jail card, which has not been used so far. Were the IRA involved? Has it been destroyed? Lots of interesting ideas and hypotheses but very little information.

I have a conceit.  Although the idea of a Flemming Villain wrapped in ecstasy, stroking a cat as he contemplates this work of art has long been debunked, what would you do if you suddenly found your birthday present wrapped in the sodding painting. Claim the insurance or try and flog it down Islington?

What if you stuck it in a chaepo frame, nailed it to the wall above the imitation coal fire and complained loudly to family and friends that the 50 sovs you paid for it down the Old Kent Rd was a diabolical liberty and you can swear that the thing was painted over a copy of the Chinese Girl with the eyes that follow you round the room in strong sunlight which is why you keep the curtains closed!

Vermeer's Women

Regular readers may be aware of my attachment to a certain young woman. On Tuesday we were celebrating the birthday of a woman of a certain age by a visit to the FitzBillie to see paintings in the Vermeer's Women Exhibition. It's on until the 15 Jan. so get it while it's good and hot.
Herself pointed out the pictures of Gerard ter Borch. The picture of a woman at her toilet contains a satin dress painted with such skill and delicacy that, even 350 years later, it knocks your socks off. Never enough time in the day or in life!

As they say - "Fine words butter no parsnips".

Art Theft

Times may be hard but not that hard. I have just read Sandie Nairne’s book of the same name.

It concerns the theft and recovery of 2 paintings from the Turner Bequest.
The thieves were apprehended, as they say, and banged up in chokey. The paintings were not recovered for some time and then only after excruciating and complex negotiations.
Some gambolling thoughts.
Sandie Nairne must have the patience of a recently canonised stoic.
Geoffrey Robinson, whom god should preserve, is to be blessed on the basis of the tale and his part in it.
A Mr Robert Hiscox, insurer of this parish, played a blinder by whipping into line a motley crew of underwriters, understrappers and underlings. (Note to Self:- find out what he did and we will do it to the bankers?!)
We are assured that all was done honestly, decently, truthfully and we have no reason to doubt that. We should, indeed, be extremely grateful to all the good guys and gals. A truly wonderful part of our art heritage was gorne and is now, prodigal like, with us once more. I have to declare an interest at this point and say that I have been known to gaze at J.M. W’s. product (for several hours at a time but only in the privacy of certain galleries that shall remain nameless.)
All this good work has to be set against the possibility that a part of the money paid legally and justifiably for information to facilitate the return of the paintings will end up in the hands of criminals. Not necessarily eccentric toffs but drug dealers, gun runners, people traffickers, and money launderers.
Never simple is it?
Meanwhile if anyone is interested in acquiring a reproduction by some continental underachiever contact me at BPArt through the usual channels. It’s a bit dusty and has been clogging up the attic at The Towers for about 20 years now. Not very well composed, one of the 3 figures is sitting with his back to the audience. The Dutch dauber has tried to liven it with a few birds and paintings within the painting but it doesn’t do much for me. We used to have it in the downstairs loo but Lady BP said it exacerbated her constipation. I know what she means. No reasonable offer refused.

Tom Hunter

The Essay on Radio 3 had a 15 minute slot from Tom Hunter who lives and works in Hackney.
If that link is removed link to his website and the photo below!

Woman Reading Possession Order

A Prodigious Talent 2

A trip to London and a visit to Hampstead Heath gave me the chance to go and see the “Fancy Woman”.

Shock! Horror! Phwat are you talking about? Have you not plighted your troth, whatever that might be, to the goodladywife, your partner of some(mumbles indistinctly) years!

Of course! However, I am only human and I am very taken with the works of a certain Mr. J Vermeer, one of which is permanently on display at Kenwood House, when it is not being stolen by various gobshites.

There she is and I try to see her as often as possible.

Not the gurl with the pearl

or the the gurl with the red hat (and no kn..…. stop it at once!)

A master of light. Would that there were more! Ojala!