I arose quite early on my first full day in London. I had first breakfast at home with cereal and tea. I hadn’t really made plans for my day-to-day in London, just an idea of the places I wanted to spend some time. Part of the reason I chose the neighborhood was proximity to the Regent’s Canal. The canal walk is paved and 9 miles long. I strolled a couple or three miles of it over my stay. I was particularly interested in seeing the narrow boats, as David and I were planning on a narrow boat journey out of Falkirk, Scotland, in June.
Not quite as much art as I expected along the canal, but I loved this bit.The entrance to Clifton Nursery.
After a couple of hours of walking on canal, I ended up at this lovely cafe in Clifton Gardens Nursery. The cafe had a brunchy menu and delicious coffee, and was a nice place to have second breakfasts and read for a spell before heading to the National Gallery.
Cafe life.
It was still relatively early in the day, so I got to the National Gallery right at opening time. It was glorious to be there with few people crowded in front of the paintings. I apologize for the photo dump with no (or few) artists’ names or other info. If you really want them, I can provide, just write me a message. But I will say why I particularly chose these paintings to put in my travelogue.
Look at her stance! Just imperial as fuck. Enlarge to see the jewels and those serpents surrounding her. Salome averts her eyes, John the Baptist’s head is very decapitated-looking.I love the modernity of the face on the right, plus her side-eye. The spiked wheel indicates perhaps a saint’s death. Most of all, I love the fly.This artists’ choice to make a painting that looks like sculptures feels very modern and meta to me. Delilah taking a snip of Samson’s tresses.El Greco’s expressionism just blows my mind! Jesus pitching a fit, but not showing much anger, is priceless. The unconcerned woman on the right, also. Lovely punchy colors in an otherwise dull palette. More sculptural painting. I love the faux marble background to the plain granite “sculptures.”See: humans in the process of becoming stone!So, so modern – but 19th Century. Artist: Wilhelm Hammershoi.Here come the crowds, like thunder.Maybe my favorite Judith.That face. That face. Loved the forthright gaze and the festive hat.This is a weird scene and I like it.Also weird. Plus rhino.Yes, those are her eyes. But she also has eyes, so.This “main action out of the frame” concept seems very modern to me.Two Susannahs, but the top one seems rather brazen….I mean, that glance is a little “come hither, old men.”Salvator Rosa “Witches at their Incantations” – my favorite painting of the day, since there was no Bosch.Creepy detail.
There is a Part Two featuring a menagerie of creatures in the paintings, mostly dogs but also some dragons and other monsters, including cats. I missed a lot of galleries, but knowing I was heading to the Portrait Gallery as well, I needed to reserve some steam.
Debkakes in the UK 2025 