Without being in anyway an expert I have liked Degas's work since I was a teen-ager so I am sorry that the Royal Academy's current exhibition was a slight disappointment. There were far too many of his working sketches which, whilst they no doubt have their interest for experts, are less so for non-artists. Obviously, working in the rehearsal rooms amongst the constant to-ing and fro-ing of the dancers he had to work fast to capture the moment but even so the end result is hurried and only of technical interest, so to speak. However, I do admire the fact that, whilst he did paint some 'pretty-pretty' pictures of the ballet dancers on stage in all their finery, he also painted plenty more of them 'at work', so to speak, in the rehearsal room. I have written before on the almost unbelievable physical demands made on ballet dancers and to see these sketches and pictures of 'les girls' massaging their feet, stretching their backs, easing their shoulders and so forth is to witness rather private and almost intimate moments in their lives. There were some finished pictures but not enough, although I do recognise the difficulty - and expense - of bringing a vast number of his paintings together.
However, all was made well by just one exhibit, this time a sculpture not a painting - The Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.
Sometimes I have been 'gobsmacked' at the incredible prices rich people pay for works of art but I have to tell you that were I a multi-zillionaire I would give almost anything to own this piece. I walked through the rest of the exhibition fairly rapidly but at the sight of her I came to a dead halt and spent ages walking round and round in order to see her from every angle - in fact, the view of her back stretched into an arc by her arms is breath-taking, you can almost feel the muscle tension. Also the intensity of the expression on her child-like face is beguiling beyond belief. I love her! I want her! If you are a multi-zillionaire I want you to buy her for me - I mean, it's the least you can do for me, I reckon, in return for all these dazzling blog-posts I write for you!!
Before crossing Piccadilly to the Royal Acadamy we had lunch at The Wolseley which was terrific. It really is the very best sort of London 'eaterie' with an elegant Edwardian feel to the place, lots of buzz and chatter, excellent service and above all superb food. I had one of my favourites - calves liver, thin cut, pink in the middle - absolutely scrummy. Only one slight disappointment when we were there, at a table to our right was David Frost and to our left was Stephen Fry and do you know, neither of them asked me for my autograph! Typical of jealous, theatrical 'luvvies' - just because my stage reputation is fast outpacing theirs! Sorry, didn't quite catch that . . .
Well "that" David was me speaking aloud the words, "wishful child molester."
Hard to believe you heard me from here!
Posted by: JK | Wednesday, 09 November 2011 at 11:27
My ears are everywhere, JK, and you are obviously no art-lover!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 09 November 2011 at 13:20
Don't worry about Frosty. He is getting on a bit and his eyesight and memory are not what they used to be. As for Fry, he has been tweeting like a canary that he saw you, and now he's kicking himself that he didn't have the bottle to introduce himself.
Posted by: Whyaxye | Wednesday, 09 November 2011 at 20:16
Well, if he'd a brought a bottle - especially in that place at those prices - he would have been very welcome!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 09 November 2011 at 20:30
Frost and Fry - sounds like a double act.
Sometimes I have been 'gobsmacked' at the incredible prices rich people pay for food (:
Posted by: A K Haart | Wednesday, 09 November 2011 at 21:36
Yes, I know what you mean, AK, but just once or twice a year it's great to push the boat out, even just a little way whilst the Bank Manager isn't looking!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 09 November 2011 at 21:50
Well, your little Degas dancing girlie is lovely.
I am, as we speak, organising a raffle on your behalf.
I'm sure we'll raise enough to put in a very tempting offer.
Stand by.
Posted by: Andra | Thursday, 10 November 2011 at 00:03
Can't wait, Andra!
Posted by: David Duff | Thursday, 10 November 2011 at 09:01
"I love her! I want her!"
Eek. Are these words one should use even about a statue of a fourteen-year-old girl, in these latter days?
I fear for your safety, old boy.
Posted by: Andrew Duffin | Thursday, 10 November 2011 at 12:20
Andrew, behave yourself, you're getting as bad as JK up above!
Posted by: David Duff | Thursday, 10 November 2011 at 13:49