Not just the National Gallery

[Sean Quinn]

In a first for the group, Boyne Valley Plein Eire, visited the National Gallery on Saturday, Jan 11, 2014.  Overall,   a total of 15 were in attendance.   While some members, painted in the locality,   most of us went on the gallery visit, and took in the Turner watercolours, the gallery in general as well as the Irish section.   There was much interchange of ideas and comment  among members as we toured the gallery, and   we even waited until 3pm when  The Meeting on the Turret Staircase was unlocked and temporarily displayed.  It was agreed that on the day, the most  interesting painting in the entire gallery,  was this portrait by Colin Davidson  of literary figure, Michael Longley - a brillant mixture of finesse and bravura performance. 

[Norah Blount]

The portrait by Colin Davidson is only in the gallery until 9th of Feb so worth a visit if anyone is in Dublin 

[Sean Quinn]

I loved the Vermeer, and was astonished that they had such a brillant specimen in the gallery.   As famously,  there are very few in  the world.   It was even more interesting when  the letter on the floor in the painting was pointed out to me.   Obviously not just discarded, but flung down in anger, we decided. So she takes up her quill in a "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"   mode.   I'm sure there must be a relevant message in that painting on the wall behind her, as nothing happens by accident in those intriguing works of art.

[Norah Blount]

This is the link for the artist whose name I could not remember today, he uses Atelier Interactive acrylics and his name is Fraser Scarfe - an excerpt from U-tube -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPoAx7Iu5OQ

[Norah Blount]

Thank you Sean for hosting such an interesting day.  That portrait is one to re-visit ? My 2nd  favourite was the Vermeer and the many witty comments by the group ! I have just been googling Ryan Air - you know we could get to the National Gallery in London for a day for a return fair of about 70 Euro and probably cheaper - next time ?