With Vincent van Gogh’s birthday this month (30/3/53), the release of At Eternity’s Gate starring Willem Dafoe as Vincent (29/3/19) and the Tate Britain exhibiting 45 works by Vincent in Van Gogh and Britain (27/3/19 – 11/8/19) I think it’s safe to say this is a Van Gogh month! His works and legacy have shaped the modern art world, and in just over a decade he created around 2,100 pieces of art, including around 860 oil paintings, most of which he painted in the last two years of his short life. Not many people know that Vincent spent some time in England. The Tate’s exhibition reveals how he was inspired by Britain and how he inspired British artists, including Walter Sickert and Francis Ba
On 23rd April 2014 a painting was recovered in the attic of a house in Toulouse France. It was soon identified as being the original work of Caravaggio, a second version of Judith and Holofernes. Some suggest that it may not be by Caravaggio but by Louis Finson, painter and art dealer who played an essential role in spreading throughout Europe the style of Caravaggio and Caravaggism in particular. He often copied works by the master. It is almost certain that Finson copied Judith decapitating Holofernes, his interpretation of Caravaggio’s painting. Finson was a great admirer of Caravaggio and was a diligent copyist of his works. So who knows? Is this an original Caravaggio or the copied p
This Month I was flattered to be asked to sit for Worthing Portrait Artist of The Year at St Paul’s, Worthing. I’m looking forward to it but it will certainly be a different experience being on the other side of the easel! I’m intrigued to see the artists’ different styles and the finished paintings, however. Painting a portrait and capturing the essence and character of the sitter is notoriously difficult and I wish the artists all the best in their endeavours. I was also delighted to be asked by BBC 1 South East to talk about Vincent van Gogh and his short time spent in Spencer Square, Ramsgate (aired BBC1, 12th February, South East Today). I’m also excited about the Vincent in London E
