Wallace Collection
Today, I was back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies, for the rescheduled tour of the Wallace Collection, yay! And what's more, Helen came to town.. complete with suggestions for the Hurtigruten cruise I've booked for later in the year, and which she's been on.. ;-) She's going on a different one next month.
I took buses - the first was slightly delayed, but I still managed to get there in time. Almost. Her train was delayed, but she'd come early enough to get there first of anyone, it seems! Wow, it was a hot one though.. and as we stood outside initially, to talk about the ornate fountain, we could hear singing - seems there was a music festival nearby. Runs till tomorrow. Now, as to the fountain (which I didn't photograph) - I didn't photograph everything, having been here twice before with Meetups. And indeed, I remember Laurence himself talking about that fountain during another tour, of the area..
Of course, it's hard not to find anything to photograph:
We agreed that the bust of Louis XIV made him look rather arrogant. Well, for someone who was king almost all of his life, I suppose that's understandable..
You know, I actually do love to have a painting explained to me - I used to love Sister Wendy's programmes, where she would pick one to analyse. And Laurence, similarly, focused on a few, going into great depth on the artists' use of perspective, and what the various elements of the picture might mean. Such as this one:
I mean, most people would probably get that the old man playing the lyre represents old age, and is juxtaposed with the cherubs, representing youth. But I really appreciated an explanation as to whom the dancing figures are..
Thing about it is, you also find yourself snapping photos of the plush decor (would give a person design ideas. If that person had a space to design..)
This was actually a room with many curiosities. We ended up playing a game of Guess the Object:
(Answers at the bottom.)
I discovered that I found this painting much more interesting from a different perspective:
Louis XIV does keep popping up:
And so to the armoury:
Jousting armour. You can actually see the rest for his lance!
Now, as I went around, I learned - from the interactive quiz available - that this was made as a gift for a Mughal emperor! Have to say, it's a very nice gift:
At the top of the stairs, they have these paintings representing morning and evening:
..and a profusion of chandeliers shows off the profusion of paintings:
Except in the Long Gallery:
And as Laurence said, the "Laughing Cavalier" is one of, if not the, most famous paintings here:
We stopped to gaze at the housewife listening to goings-on:
More chandeliers:
And of course, this, on a writing desk, represents Silence:
We finished with The Swing, and another in-depth analysis from Laurence, explaining how we can see her husband behind the swing, and her lover in front.. and that's just the start of it!
Without doubt the most in-depth tour of the collection I've had - thanks Laurence! (BTW, he was told off, near the end, for wearing his backpack on his back, and told to have it by his side - not only did he not get told about this until the end, but he wasn't the only one wearing a backpack.. I think that staff member was about the only one bothered about these things..)
And so to the pub. He'd had another in mind, but when we passed The Globe, it was suggested that we stop there - certainly, we were tired of traipsing through the heat. With the downstairs quite busy, we headed upstairs, and I had my usual steak and ale pie - even on such a hot day, it was oh, so good.. and our server remembered me from the last time! She remarked it'd been a long time - not that long, I was there last month.. Anyway, the chat was excellent - it was a shame it had to end. After which Helen and I headed to Waterloo - she would later catch a train there, and I a bus. We headed to pretty much the first pub we came to in the station, the Well & Boot.. whose food offering wasn't terrific, I noticed, but then we weren't hungry, just had drinks. But oh, they had the most fantastic aircon.. Great to see her again, hopefully it won't be too long before the next time.
Tomorrow, I'm finally getting to see Tutankhamen: The Immersive Exhibition, which I had previously booked and had to cancel. Now, this time, it's hosted by a group called Fun Activities to Do in London on a Weekend. But gee, they bought tickets already, and are charging extra.. so I just booked myself again. And as I booked before, I'm even getting a couple of quid off!
The next two days, I'm thinking film - on Monday, what's coming up is The Last Journey, about a couple of Swedish tv personalities who take the father of one of them on what is probably going to be his last trip, a road trip to France, which he's always loved. Showing in the Garden Cinema.
After that, I have something of a tie on my film list, with three films on the same rating - what appeals most is The Way Way Back, a coming-of-age comedy about the summer of a teenage boy. Now, I'm not usually into coming-of-age films, but this does actually look funny - Toni Collette plays his mother, Steve Carell the manager of the theme park where they're holidaying, who becomes his mentor. Excellent actors, and it doesn't look twee. I did fully intend to see it when it came out, but just never got around to it. It's now in the Prince Charles, part of their Coming-of-Age Summer season. I haven't booked for either of these films yet, as they're not selling out - and while, if I do go to this, of course I'll want to eat in Bella Italia Cranbourn Street again, well, I don't think I'll have any trouble getting a table on a Tuesday!
Very excited about Wednesday - TAC is playing a blinder, with tickets for the Gala de Danza at Central Hall Westminster! This is billed as an extravaganza of music, dance, and art. Happily, how they're doing it is providing a code, which you then use to book your own ticket - as expensive as you like, you still get it for nothing but the admin fee! Eating beforehand at The Red Lion.
Thursday is looking like film again - delving into the group of three films, I think The Ballad of Wallis Island looks like the one: another comedy, in which an eccentric lottery winner, living alone on a small offshore island, hires his favourite artists to play a private concert for him. (If only..!) Thing is, the artists used to be a couple, and have since broken up, which adds to the fun - she's played by Carey Mulligan. I suppose I had to get around to it eventually - of course, all these films are subject to change, if ratings change, or I get a better offer. Still showing in Picturehouse Central.
Next two days are something of a Meetup extravaganza. On Friday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Miss Myrtle's Garden, at the Bush Theatre. Eating beforehand at Shikumen Chinese restaurant.
Then next Saturday afternoon, I'm attending their summer social, at The Oxford Market.
That should be finished in time to head over to the BFI, where The Hideout is seeing Videodrome, a body horror by David Cronenberg, that evening. Stars James Woods and Debbie Harry. Love a bit of Cronenberg.
On the 29th - the only day this month they could make it - I'm meeting Ivan and James (and possibly Martin) for our monthly social, and we've decided to try The Phoenix again.
And on the 30th, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group (London Baroque Music Lovers are also going, but I had to pick one - mind you, the same guy is organising) for the opening night of Handel's opera Semele, in the Royal Opera House. Eating at Cote Covent Garden beforehand.
Strange objects: a container for pot pourri, and an inkwell
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