For any Slow Travellers in the UK who are interested in Italian art, I would recommend the excellent exhibition at the Queen's Gallery (Buckingham Palace) of paintings and drawings from the Royal Collection. It features a large proportion of the Italian paintings in the collection and a fascinating selection from the thousands of drawings. I think that most of the paintings are usually on display at one or other of the palaces: Hampton Court, Windsor, etc., but the point of this exhibition is to bring them all together and to allow us to have a good look at them.

If this exhibition were anywhere else it would be described as a blockbuster and people would be trampling over each other to see the pictures. However, yesterday (Sunday) we were able to enjoy the exhibition in a very relaxed and civilised way with a comfortable number of other visitors.

I'm sorry to mention this late in the day. The exhibition has been on since March, but we only get round to going yesterday. Luckily, it does continue until 20th January.

Thanks, Hugh - I'd forgotten about this one. The exhibition website is here, and there's a link to the e-Gallery, with a lot more information about the most significant paintings in the show, including zoomable images.

Jonathan

Hello,
Thanks for the reminder from me too Hugh and for the link Jonathan.

Did you book your tickets before you went Hugh ?

We are spending the New Year in London and would like to go then but the website is down for booking tickets and I can't face being in a 2 hour queue on the telephone.

I fought valiantly for the British Museum but eventually was defeated and we are now going in Feb to see the "Lost Army"!

Thinking about it,a little too late,and on the wrong thread the Jan gtg must be on a Friday so we wouldn't be able to take more leave so soon after the Christmas/New Year break.
I am sure we will all meet up one day.Jonathan I do hope you don't think we are avoiding you.
Wendy

quote:

Did you book your tickets before you went Hugh ?

There was no queue at all when we arrived shortly after opening time (about 10.10) last Sunday. It filled up a bit by mid-day, but then quietened down over lunchtime. As I said before it was a great pleasure to be able enjoy the art in such surroundings.

Sorry if you won't be able to make the GTG, Wendy.

Hello Hugh and thank you.
I should have read your posting more diligently,sorry.
We love the Queen's gallery, the ambience is as you say very suitable for such magnificent exhibits.
The last exhibition we saw there was the Russian one and although it was heavily promoted the only part of the gallery that was ovebearingly busy was the shop so no problem at all.
I don't understand why the "Italian" exhibition has not been more popular, maybe there is too much else going on, or maybe because it has had a longer run than usual?

We visited the Edinburgh Royal Gallery last Hogmanay which is another glorious space. It seemed particularly suited to the Canalettos that were on show.
Wendy