"It’s
come round to that time of year again," says Astrid Michelow,
"when the lights in Regent Street
are twinkling, the weather is freezing and the anticipation of the
greatest show on earth, Christmas, is just round the corner. London is
supercharged, ready to take on the challenge and provide an endless
supply of entertainment, gastronomic delights and tantalising shopping.
As if all of this were not enough we now have a raft of ice skating
rinks to add to the many attractions on offer...
(Left)
Two
Dancers - Degas. The Degas - Sickert - Lautrec Exhibition at the Tate
Britain.
(Middle)
China exhibition
at the Royal Academy. (Right)
"Beaton": Day
Dress,
jacket and parasol in lace and tulle - worn for the Cecil Beaton Shoot
designed to wear to
the Garden Party held in the Bagatelle.
With
its usual flair the city of London has transformed some of its grandest
and most beautiful settings to accommodate an exhilarating ice skating
experience. The Tower of London,
Hampton Court Palace, The Natural History Museum, Kew Gardens, and
Somerset House each promise a unique experience where you can spin
around under the stars and under the glow of many festive
decorations.
And
once you are in the festive mood, why not visit Trafalgar Square to see
the impressive Christmas Tree which is lit in the Norwegian - style with
a myriad of white lights, then pop into a performance of the ballet The
Nutcracker at The Coliseum, St. Matins Lane West End, or indulge with a
panto, Aladdin at the Old Vic. Finish off at the Royal Albert Hall,
where you can enjoy a splendid evening of classic carols by candlelight,
gospel and choral music provided by the London Chorus, Trinity Boys
Choir and the London Orchestra.
China
exhibition of The Three Emperors 1662-1795
at the Royal Academy.
(Above)
Bowl painted with
orchids. Yongzheng period 1723-1735
If
the Christmas theme is not a particular preference, you
can spend some quality time at the galleries seeing for instance the
important and landmark China exhibition of The Three Emperors 1662-1795
at the Royal Academy. This
splendid exhibition features Imperial Treasures of the Qing dynasty and
is drawn largely from the remarkable collections of the Palace Museum
Beijing (otherwise known as The Forbidden City).
The exhibition displays
some 400 works and includes paintings, and painted scrolls, porcelain,
jades and bronzes, lacquer ware, precious robes, palace furnishings,
scientific instruments, ceremonial armour and weapons from this period.
(Left)
From
Twelve Beauties at Leisure. Late Kangxi Period between 1709-1723.
Anonymous Court Artist.
Exhibition at the Royal Academy, London.
(Centre)
Portrait of the Kangxi Emperor in Court Dress - Late Kangxi Period
1662-1722. Anonymous Court Artist.
"The three
Emperors - 1662-1795." Exhibition at the Royal Academy, London.
(Right) Detail
from Twelve Beauties at Leisure.
Only
one word can attempt to sum up this exhibition – it
is awe inspiring, not only in the beauty and craftsmanship which it so
ably displays, but in the range of objects and paintings which
illustrate the many varied activities, projects and accomplishments associated with these three emperors. From
our perspective it is interesting to note that in both ancient and
modern China auspicious emblems expressing wishes for a long life are
everywhere to be found. Flowers and fruits, chrysanthemums, peach and
plum blossoms and gourds - all embody hope for the future - ends April
2006.
Another
must see, is the Rubens, A Master in the Making at the National Gallery.
As its name implies this exhibition focuses on his development as an
artist – from his early stilted attempts at battle scenes to the
flowering of his genius and his accession to become the dominant
international painter of his time - ends Jan 15th.
(Above)
THMS Calcutta - Tissot at the Degas - Sickert - Lautrec Exhibition at
the Tate Britain.
At the Tate Britain a joy awaits you where you can see an exquisite and
special exhibition of Degas, Sicker and Toulouse Lautrec.
(Right)
Little Dancer - Degas.
The
works of these great artists together with others of their friends and
contemporaries of nineteenth and early twentieth century, explores the
vibrant and creative relationship that existed between British and
French artists of this period and tells their story.
It
is this intricate web of artistic influences and friendships that it is
said underpinned the development of modern art in London and
Paris.
(Left)
Miss Cicely
Alexander - Whistler.
Britain
during the 1870’s
was in her hey day and London had become the world’s greatest
metropolis. The spectacle of this
contemporary city attracted writers and painters from all over the
world, but it was the French artists who first expressed and developed
the excitement of modernity. Ends Jan 15th 2006.
I
always say, if in London do as the Londoners do - go to the
theatre.
See
some wonderful shows. Mary Poppins has had rave revues, as has Billy Elliot, Chicago
and Guys and Dolls. On the more serious side -The Hypochondriac played
by Henry Goodman (remember him from his South African days) is doing a
command performance of this Moliere comedy which has recently been
ingeniously revised by Richard Bean. It is currently playing to
delighted audiences until the 7th Jan. 2006.
When
you come to the end of the year
it is customary to look back at some of the more memorable highlights of
the passing year and revisit them for the sheer joy of it.
One such event was the display of Queen Elizabeth the Queen
Mother’s ‘White Wardrobe’ at Buckingham Palace this summer. Timed
to coincide with the opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace for
the summer season, this special exhibition drew the crowds and was
greatly appreciated.
This
timeless and exquisite wardrobe was
designed by the famous Sir Norman Hartnell, whose delicate and impeccably
elegant creations were to become the hallmark of Queen Elizabeth’s
style for the rest of her life.
Queen
Mother’s exquisite ‘White Wardrobe’ designed for the State
visit to France made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in July
1938.
(Above)
Queen Elizabeth in the garden at Buckingham Palace, July 1939,
photographed by
Cecil
Beaton V&A Images/Victoria and Albert
Museum.
(Below
right)
Detail of Crinoline Evening Gown 1960s, showing the continuing
influence of the crinoline in Hartnell’s designs for Queen Elizabeth
worn to the State Banquet at the Elysée Palace ©
is The Royal Collection
© 2005, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
This
was a time of political turmoil
and
the State Visit was intended to reinvigorate the entente
cordial and to reinforce the Anglo-French solidarity against
Hitler’s Germany. But
five days before the date of departure, Queen Elizabeth’s mother, the
Countess of Strathmore, died and the visit was postponed for three
weeks.
Hartnell
had to remake the Queen’s wardrobe
in its entirety and create something appropriate to the period of Family
Mourning. Black was not considered to be a practical choice for the
height of summer or for the mood of the time, Hartnell suggested white
and this met with the Queen’s approval.
But
it was Cecil Beaton who captured the moment
and the Hartnell look was immortalised in his famous series of
photographs. Beaton recalls in his diaries that the commission from the
Queen to photograph her at Buckingham palace took him by surprise
“...the Queen made a daring innovation…. my work was still
considered revolutionary and unconventional” As a consequence his
romantic portraits of Queen Elizabeth in Hartnell’s glamorous dresses
of tulles, satin, lace and silk projected an image of a confident and
happy Royal Family which helped to uplift the nation during a time of
war and strife.
During
the summer when the
Palace is not being used in its official capacity, visitors can enjoy a
day out at Buckingham Palace .This includes a tour through the State
Rooms, which are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures
from the Royal Collection Then a walk through the splendid Royal Garden
described as a ‘walled oasis in the middle of London’, replete with
birds, wild flowers and splendid views.
I
visited the Queen's Gallery which
was showing an outstanding exhibition of Dutch Paintings as well as
Treasures from the Royal Collection – a display of over 400 works
including furniture, ceramics, silver and gold, pieces by Faberge and
paintings. Your royal day out is certainly something to remember.
And
now for something completely different
- Persephone's, a quaint little bookshop tucked away in Lambs
Conduit near Russell Square.
This
is not your usual tourist venue, but once you have been alerted to the
delights which it holds, you may well find yourself returning to it
forever more.
Persephone
Books is a bookshop with a difference. It finds obscure or forgotten
works by women writers and gives them life. Owned by Nicola Beauman,
(who also acts as publisher), Persephone prints mainly neglected fiction
and non- fiction by women, for women and about women. The titles she
says have been chosen to appeal to busy women who rarely have the time
to spend in ever larger and impersonal bookshops. They would like to
have access to books that are neither too literary, nor too commercial,
but are eminently readable, thought provoking and impossible to forget.
Her
titles include novels, short stories, diaries and cookery books. They
are all carefully and individually designed with a clear typeface, a
dove-grey jacket, a fabric endpaper and matching bookmark.
Nicola
has chosen books that are timeless, where the writing is fresh and
psychologically accurate, but at the same time both funny and moving –
a formula difficult to beat.
We
were there to celebrate
the launch of a
housework manual for wives, first published in 1949 on
How to Run Your Home Without Help by Kay Smallshaw. Far from
being dry and boring, it turned out to be funny and a fascinating
historical account from a vanished world. Middle class housewives on
reduced incomes after the Second World War found themselves without
servants for the first time. Many of the staff had of course, been
killed in the war, so Kay Smallshaw a former editor of Good Housekeeping
wrote an advice manual for these women. ‘Women’s place’ it was
understood was for the next couple of decades be in the home.
However,
by the 1970’s housework
was often considered unremitting drudgery, was down graded and relegated
to the dust heap. Nevertheless Smallshaw’s conclusions still carry a
firm and powerful message “Running a home may seem unspectacular and
ordinary, she wrote, but making a success of it, so that the home is a
happy one for all who live in it, is creative work to rank with the
best.
Persephone
Books can be found at 49 Lambs Conduit St. WCIN 3NB London. Nearest Tube
Station is Russell Square or Holborn.
Photography of Persephone Books by Leslie
Michelow
Special
thanks Public Relations and Marketing,
the Royal Collection – 020 7839 1377
The
Royal Collection © 2005, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
