Fireweed Among the Magnolias: UK trip: Jen in London

Jason had the brilliant (see how British I am speaking? ;) idea that I should go to London on my own for a few days while he was on business in Sweden. Mostly to go to art museums. It was amazing! I was able to get around just fine - helps that everywhere you turn in London there is a public worker to ask questions to. Closest to our hotel was the British Library - all sorts of cool stuff you can't take photos of: Magna Carta, super old bibles, Gutenberg Bible. I had to include this picture of some of the stacks of books. You had to apply to go into the actual library ie. with a reason, etc. So I didn't do that. The house in the next pic reminded me so much of Lockwood&Co that I had to take a pic and send it to the kids at home. Of course I quickly realized just how many homes in London have roadside stairs to the basement...

Kings Crossing Station

I did not actually see any wizards or magic, but it was still super fun to be at Platform 9 3/4!

First night walking back to my hotel after finding an amazing local book store, I love how quintessential London this is. Old church, newish building built right up to it, red phone boxes in front.

Highlights of my art adventures

The Virgin and Child with Saints, abt 1490, Ambrogio Bergognone

This painting really spoke to me. The focus really is on the women, Christ is there, but is not the focus of the painting. It started me thinking about the history of religion and art and I realized maybe the Catholics were trying to identify the feminine divine. Originally the church had truth about women and who they could become. Maybe when that was lost the saints and worship of Mary was a form of recognizing this?

Rachel Ruysch, Flowers in a Vase, abt 1685

I have seen lots of Flemish still lives but on this trip I fell in love with the floral ones. Maybe because I had as much time as I wanted to spend absorbing the detail. It is amazing to me and I went back again and again. I have never seen a painting exhibited by a woman artist this old but more importantly this artist includes imperfection in her paintings. Insects eating leaves, weeds, imperfect blossoms. I love how reflective this painting is of life. I bought a copy but it is so dark, the copy does not do justice to the painting at all.