Hello
It is Australia Day on Tuesday.
Long-term readers of the blog might remember this early portrait of Her Majesty in her wattle dress and brooch, worn during her first visit to Australia in the 1950s.
A small copy of the portrait appeared on an inspiration board at the lovely exhibition of gowns by Australian designer Collette Dinnigan, currently showing at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.
The Irish Lass and I had a very nice time, drooling over the delicate and delicious garments. I will show a tiny sample:
The inspiration boards were amazing - these are just shots of small sections..
Collette Dinnigan was the first Australian to launch a ready-to-wear collection in Paris, in 1995.
Of course, no visit to Sydney is complete without calling in to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where beckoned current blockbuster: 'The Greats: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland'
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| Sir Henry Raeburn 'The Skating Minister' (attrib.) |
It was just like meeting an old friend to see this famous work, beautifully and delicately painted. And much smaller than I had imagined.
(As people say when they meet the Mona Lisa).
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| Sandro Botticelli 'The Virgin adoring the sleeping Christ child' c. 1485. |
Beyond beautiful, a fabulous Botticelli. What more can I say?
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| Diego Velazquez 'An Old Woman Cooking Eggs' 1618 |
Spanish master Velazquez, only 18 or 19 when he made this tour de force of realism. Fabulous portraiture and incredible little still-life scenes.
John Constable - I forgot to note the title, but it is one of his wonderful large detailed landscape paintings of Dedham Vale, the area around his home. I have a great affection for Constable, and once led Mr C on a crazy journey driving in circles around this area attempting to get down near the river and Flatford Mill, which can be seen in this work. We eventually made it, in the pouring rain, and I blissfully walked around taking photos and feeling part of Constable's world.
A tiny detail - a gypsy woman and child..
The River Stour and Flatford Mill.
And a few photos of the area, as seen by the Red Cardinals in 2009:
But I digress...
I did enjoy this large work by Frederic Edwin Church, a leader of the Hudson River School: 'Niagara Falls, from the American side', if only because we saw it with our dear daughter, who lives not so very far away from here.
Fabulous handling of the thundering water and mist, and almost better than reality!
Somehow this white-washed bird made it home with me...
and a dark green glass vase, a thrift find (hello Newtown and Alexandria)
Fish plate is enjoying Queensland - I rescued it for $5
A little bunch of silk blooms found in Katoomba and a pink rose effort by the Red Cardinal Garden of Extreme Neglect...
At least cactus don't complain if you go away for a couple of weeks...
And before I go, since when was the Pantone Colour of the Year two colours?
2016 is the answer, Rose Quartz and Serenity are the colours.
Of course, Rose Quartz alone would be quite sufficient in my world...
I should be right on trend for The Wedding later in the year.
Have a great week.
XXXX
Beautiful Trish. Thank you so much for sharing such gorgeousness and fabulous works of art. I like the little treasures that followed you home.
ReplyDeleteThank you Michelle, funny how something always follows me home :)
DeleteWhat an amazing post. Love the mood boards and the clothes exhibition looked fabulous. I think I would have loved that. Thank you for the painting tour too
ReplyDeleteWelcome to my blog. The mood boards were gorgeous - I would love to try to make one myself. Glad you enjoyed.
DeleteThe painting of the 'Skating Mininister' was my favorite, beautiful. I also loved that wonderful collection of dresses and you took some wonderful treasures as a memory back home.
ReplyDeleteThe Skater has been a popular painting for many years. It is a real treasure of Scotland. The Collette Dinnigan exhibition was beautifully curated, and very enjoyable too.
Deletehello dear Rosemary
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely trip to Sydney.
I so enjoyed seeing the photos of the masters.. what amazing artists they were.
The fashions, very different. Lots of ideas for you !
The pink-my Rose Cottage has been painted pink for 4 years now.. i love it. The en suite bathroom in my apartment and one wall in my bathroom are the blue.. the blue, with white surrounds is lovely.
snap. I have the same vase with the bird on top..exactly the same.. i have put white christmas lights inside, it gives a nice effect.
Glad you got the egret back safely..looks lovely.
Thanks for sharing your Sydney trip.. how i would love to be able to do it.
god bless
Val xxxx
Hello Val, it sounds like you have the Pantene colours for 2016 all organised at your place...perfect with white surrounds.
DeleteSnap - you have the bird vase too. Twins, I say :)
I was worried about the long legs on that bird, in the back of the car with all our stuff. He was in bubble wrap but I still kept checking all the time. God bless to you too Val. xxx
Dear Patricia - is the Irish lass your new DiL to be? It looks as if you both share some common interests.
ReplyDeleteI love that inspiration board showing the Queen - a delicious combination of chartreuse yellows, so uplifting.
I remember seeing that painting of The Skating Minister in Edinburgh, once seen never forgotten.
Did you know that Constable always put a small touch of red in all of his paintings?
It looks as if our dearest friend Val♡ thinks that you are me!
Yes indeed Rosemary, the Irish lass will be our new DiL. We are thinking about silk and lace these days...
DeleteSo fun to think we have both viewed the Skating Minister - at opposite ends of the earth. Yes, I knew about Constable's red touches, in fact I quite often reference it when doing tours of our local Jacaranda painting, which has a similar dramatic touch of red in the umbrella.
Ah, I was quite chuffed to think I had been mistaken for you :))
Great to see your photos of Flatford! I love that fish plate that you found on your travels, a great souvenir. Happy Australia Day for Tuesday, hope that it is a good one for you! xx
ReplyDeleteHave you been to Constable country? I rather think you have, Amy. Fish plate was lost and dusty in a corner of a vast antique market, unpriced. Took care of that asap, and made an offer. Two parties on offer for Australia Day - I wonder if I'll keep up with it. We always have a street party outside our house. Great fun. xx
DeleteNo, I haven't been there. Someday! xx
DeleteThank you dear Patricia for taking us on another of your trips around the galleries - to accompany you is pure joy!
ReplyDeleteWhen I read your first Sydney post I hoped you had visited the Art Gallery of NSW and would show us in detail!
Amazing to see the original pieces and I know what this means to you - such a thrill.
I did Art History too so galleries are always on my "must visit" to do list!
We are sweltering over here - high temperatures with very high humidity!
Love
Shane
I am glad you liked the AGNSW photos - it was a stunning exhibition. Art Historians unite!
DeleteHigh temps? That is unusual for over there - keep cool! love P.
Gosh, you do manage to pack a lot into your trips, Patricia! I'm no follower of fashion, but those dresses were lovely and I really enjoyed your images of the great masters of art.
ReplyDeleteWe do try to make the most of our times away - and always come home overtired! Now I have a cold - serves me right. Glad you enjoyed my exhibition pics - so much fun now they don't worry about our phone cameras.
DeleteHi Patricia, happy Australia Day! I loved seeing more of your trip to Sydney. Everything you did looks interesting but I would absolutely love to see that exhibit of dresses. Wow! Just fascinating and beautiful to see. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you would enjoy the beautiful Dinnigan dresses Jennifer. It is all pure silk, lace, beading - evening wear and lingerie. Luxury!!
DeleteSo much of interest in this post, Patricia. The very first picture caught my eye, I think it's absolutely beautiful. I do love looking at wonderful dresses. But I have always had a very soft spot for wattle which is the first flower I remember noticing as a child (we lived in Sydney) I loved sitting and staring at it. Those paintings are great. I could probably go and see them in Scotland next time I go :) I have always liked the skating one. someone sent me a Christmas card of it a few years ago and I liked the picture so much I kept it! A friend in Chicago told me about F Church. She stopped at his house driving back from the East Coast and I have since seen some of his paintings. If I ever go to the area I'd love to see his house which looks very interesting. http://www.olana.org/ I once did an art course in Willy Lott's cottage, what I remember is how damp it was inside! I was always cold... that was ages ago so perhaps they've made it a bit more comfortable now :)
ReplyDeleteI love this comment! I too have always like the skater, and it is always a great experience to see these works in reality, far better than any reproduction can be. And I am so excited that you went to an art course in Willy Lott's cottage - the setting there is beautiful. All the buildings were firmly locked up the day we visited :( Although I have been aware of Church, this is the first of his paintings I has actually seen; thank you for the link. Maybe one day we might get to go there too - I have a secret plan to go to Canada via Chicago next time....
DeleteThe dress exhibit looks amazing, and the displays so dramatic! How lucky to see this and the art exhibit as well. Beautiful paintings, especially like the Skating Minister. Doesn't he look serene and content gliding across the pond. I think I'd like to join him :)
ReplyDeleteFunny how the little treasures followed you home. Very nice finds!
"The Garden of Extreme Neglect" made me chuckle. Despite the neglect, the rose still looks lovely.
Enjoy your week, and Happy Australia Day! (still Tuesday here!)
Wendy
Collette Dinnigan was beautifully curated, with mirror floors and lots of mood lighting. It suited the mostly special occasion gowns. Yes, the skater makes you want to go find a pond asap :) I was pleased that we have a few more roses today - the garden must have forgiven us.
DeleteLove those inspiration boards, especially the one with the purple colors, so pretty. That first picture of the Queen with the green colors is elegant and lovely. I have seen some of Sandro Botticelli's paintings before, and this one is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThere's one of the Lorikeets that you see all the time! I showed a picture of the lorikeets to the girls and told them you see these birds often in your front yard, and they were amazed.
love, ~Sheri
I loved the boards too, and couldn't stop taking photos of them. I'd love to try to make one of my own. Botticelli's paintings are lovely, but this is the first time I have come across this one. So beautiful. The lorikeets have come back to us this week, despite having been left unfed for a few weeks. They are very forgiving! xx
DeleteLove the gowns! That's quite a lovely museum too. If you take the pink, Tricia, I'll happily settle for the blue. They are both pretty!
ReplyDeleteGood idea - I'll go with the Rose Quartz, leave Serenity to you. Sorted! The gowns reminded me of Valentino, on a smaller scale. We had a fabulous Valentino exhibition here in 2010.
DeleteI have never seen that beautiful picture of the young Queen before - it's lovely. And what a wonderful time you must have had at the Colette Dinnigan exhibition - her dresses must be exquisite when seen close up. And as for the Art exhibition - must have been wonderful, especially as it bought up memories:)>
ReplyDeleteThe 'Wattle' portrait of the Queen was painted in 1954 by Sir William Dargie, and is usually on display in Parliament House in Canberra, where I saw it in 2014. When I was growing up, copies of the portrait were commonly displayed throughout Australia in public buildings and schools. The Dinnigan dresses are so luxurious, liquid silk and beautiful embellishments...sigh!
DeleteHow exciting to be doing some wedding planning!! So fun. ;). I love seeing all the beautiful gowns. I'm with you on the colors of the year - Rose quartz wins out to me too.
ReplyDeleteLove the beautiful artwork. What amazing galleries of such lovely pieces. I love the Niagara Falls one as it reminds me of our trip a few years ago (although through the Canadian side).
Thanks so much for sharing Trish! Blessings on your weekend Sweetie. Xoxo
Yay for Rose quartz! We also visited Niagara Falls from the Canadian side - it was 4th July, and over 104 deg. - I nearly jumped in to cool off.... xx
DeleteLovely inspiration boards. How fascinating that must have been! And some of those dreaases are too beautiful. I personally like both colours, the pink and the blue. Very subtle!
ReplyDeleteI loved those boards! I'd love to try to make one, but suspect I'd just make a mess. The two colours together could look very nice at a wedding!
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