A Fabulous Exhibition at the Tate Britain

British Orientalist Painting is the title of the current exhibit at the Tate Britain. This exhibit is of great significance for two reasons. One is the incredible art on view there. Some of Fredric Leighton's best work, as well as other mid to late 19th century British artists who toured and painted the Middle East at that time. The second reason is the insight into the lives of the people living there at the time as viewed by these artists and their wives. A very timely exhibit as the prominent position the Middle East currently plays in today's headlines.

Anyone who is a fan of the Pre-Raphelites will be thrilled with the assortment of watercolors, sketches and oils. The vivid colors reflect their influence in much of this art. The exhibition focuses on five major themes: portraits, genre, religious, domestic and landscape. The exhibition also ties the political scene at the time to the art portraying it. A whole room showing a rolling time line of the historic events gives the viewer an in depth look what was happening at the time. It also makes one reflect on how similar the problems are today over 100 years later. The more things change the more they are the same.

Hurry...don't miss this great collection. As of today there are only 12 days left!

A Step Back in Time

We're back! And once again we're touring around the UK to see the most interesting spots....

Laycock Village & Abbey -- Dryham Park

There aren't too many places where you can experience an entire preserved town complete with abbey manor house, community church, pubs, B&Bs, and shops, some of which date back to the 13th century. It's the England we all dream about from the novels and films we have read and seen. Lacock in Wiltshire is such a town. You can eat in quaint little pubs with antique furniture, stroll down streets lined with flowers spilling over window boxes and hanging baskets, and wander through English gardens and herb gardens on the grounds of the beautiful Abbey/ Manor House which is Lacock Abbey.

Lacock Abbey was founded in 1232 as nunnery. In 1539, Sir William Sharrington transformed it into a family home. The beautiful medieval cloisters were preserved and a 3 story Italian Renaissance style tower was added. You may find the large pot familiar, as the abbey was used as the interior of "Hogwarts" and for for many interior scenes in Harry Potter films. Most recently it was also the setting for "The Other Boleyn Girl".

One of Sharrington's descendants is William Henry Fox Talbot, the photographic pioneer and inventor of the negative process. The window where he had taken the first photographic negative is available for viewing as well as a little museum dedicated to him.

Not far from Lacock, is another spectacular 17th century mansion, garden and deer park called Dyrham Park. This home was designed for William Blathwayt, Secretary of War for William III. The house is filled with many Dutch decorative arts including Delftware, paintings and furniture.

Combining these two make for a great day out and a spirited trip to the centuries past.