art
August Sander and his Germans
The National Museum in Cardiff is currently showing a generous selection of the portraits of August Sander, possibly the best-known large series of photographs produced in the first half of the twentieth century. It’s hard to explain how it feels to walk slowly along the gallery of figures Sander captured. Admiration at the brilliance of […]
Sophy Rickett’s missing women
At the centre of ‘The curious moaning of Kenfig Burrows’, Sophy Rickett’s collection of photographs in the Glynn Vivian Art Galley, is Cupid, a seventeenth century oil painting from the Gallery’s foundation collection. It’s safe to say that this work hasn’t been seen by the public for many decades. It’s attributed to an obscure Italian […]
Thereza Dillwyn Llewelyn, selenophotographer
If you visit the Penllergare Valley Woods, as we did last week, you can’t leave without developing a strong respect for the estate’s chief creator, John Dillwyn Llewelyn. Photographic pioneer, astronomer, botanist, orchid collector, landscapist, inventor – he used his wealth, leisure and connections, after inheriting the estate as a boy from his grandfather in […]
Sebon glan, sebon budr
Daeth newyddion da o Lyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru‘r wythnos yma: bod y Llyfrgell wedi prynu un o’r ddau fersiwn gwreiddiol o’r llun dyfrlliw enwog Salem gan Sydney Curnow Vosper, cyn arwerthiant yng Nghaerdydd. Mae’n hollol briodol bod llun a ddisgrifir yn aml fel ‘eicon’ o gelf Gymreig yn cael cartref parhaol mewn sefydliad diwylliannol cenedlaethol. Fel […]
Edgar Degas does some more ironing
A while ago I drew attention to the pictures Edgar Degas made of women ironing. I tried to show how this unusual theme brought out the best in him as a painter. This week, in Avignon, I came across another fine example that I hadn’t seen before. It’s on display in the Musée Angladon. This […]
The memory of Sir Thomas Picton
One of the many noxious elements making up the miasma of Brexiter thinking is exceptionalism. The idea that Britain is naturally superior to other countries, and that it is strong enough to stand alone against every foe, has deep roots – much deeper than the Battle of Britain, so often trundled out by politicians. If […]
Richard Wilson on Cadair Idris
Last week I made my annual pilgrimage to Cadair Idris, which my father-in-law introduced me to as the best mountain walk in Wales, sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s. As usual I started from Minffordd. After reaching Llyn Cau I circled clockwise round Craig Cau, Pen-y-gadair and Mynydd Moel. Early cloud lifted from […]
William Blake on the moon
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin may have reached the surface of the moon fifty years ago this week. But William Blake beat them to it, by 176 years. What’s more, he had no use for the sophisticated technologies of the Apollo 11 mission. All he needed was a long ladder. It’s easy for us, in […]
Black boys
On the way to give a talk in Killay Library in Swansea last week I passed a pub I remembered seeing before. It struck me as odd the first time. Not because of its building or location, but because of its name – The Black Boy. Years ago such a name might not have raised […]
‘Very infuriating, never quite right’: Kyffin Williams yr awdur
Diolch o galon i Ymddiriedolaeth Kyffin Williams am y gwahoddiad i draddodi Darlith Flynyddol Kyffin Williams eleni. Rydw i’n ymwybodol o’r darlithoedd rhagorol gan gyfres hir o siaradwyr eraill ar Kyffin. Maen nhw wedi treulio blynyddoedd yn ymchwilio ac yn meddwl am gelf a bywyd Kyffin. Ni allaf honni fy mod yn un o hoelion […]