The Portrait

Mr Darke Sees the Light, Stephen Angel.

Inspired by Philip Mould (Art in Isolation) I thought you might be interested in this picture.

The use of colour and scale leads me into an enigmatic landscape but I wrote about it in 2018. I have a cousin, a man more practical than a patron of the arts, who exclaimed – “what’s that supposed to be; the bombing of Dresden?” For me it is a quilt of greens and yellows, a satisfying composition with a tribute to Georgia O’Keefe thrown in (top left). So instead let’s walk into a watercolour.

The Portrait, John Yardley.

Conveniently it’s also in the kitchen. Inconveniently it is behind glass – so there are some dodgy reflections. The eponymous portrait might be by John Singer Sargent, what do you think?

Mrs. Carl Meyer and Her Children, John Singer Sargent, Tate Britain.

The other three pictures are probably of quality, at least somebody thought so, fixing a light over the one on the right. The room too is flooded with light, comfortable without being ostentatious or fussy. A chess board, piano, an elegant sofa and a modern rug all catch the eye. The furniture, beautifully depicted with spindly legs older than sofa and rug, complete a pleasing mixture of the centuries; but what lies beyond?

My eye is drawn to the door into another room with a fireplace and sketchy pictures. Perhaps there’s a record player, a drinks’ tray and some books. I have another Yardley. I think it casts some light on this delightful picture.

Gosh, it would have been fun to have Homan Potterton talk about some of the pictures here in front of an iPhone with Robert behind the ‘phone and me and Bertie getting in the way. He didn’t collect much 20th century stuff himself but he knew how to look at a picture. He also knew how to deliver some knock-out lines. I miss him and another art loving friend, both of whom died about a year ago.