Lunch Time Passtimes

Wallace Collection on Manchester Square. Photo from wiki commons

Last Friday I experienced what it will be like to be retired. It was called 'Lunch Hour Lectures' at the Wallace Collection. A friend and I had a free afternoon, so we met up at the small little hut known as the Wallace family home in the West End. Their place isn't that bad, nor is their collection of art, antiques, and furniture too shabby. As we entered, we were invited to a free 'Lunch Hour Lecture' in the temporary exhibition space currently holding 'Poussin to Seurat: French Drawings from the National Gallery of Scotland.' It was a small but beautiful show with carefully selected drawings from some of the finest artists of the 17th-19th century. The lecture taught us about the various uses of drawings by both Academy and non-Academy artists, including sketching from observation vs catalog, painting preparation, replications, etc. It was interesting to learn how drawing was used as a sort of photocopy technique. The talk only lasted about 30 minutes, just enough time to keep the audience of retirees and local art connoisseurs on their lunch break interested. What a wonderful way to pass an early afternoon! Coodos to the Wallace Collection, and to England's Art Council for making the remarkable decision to keep public museums free to the public despite major budget cuts. It ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to visit the wonderful collections this country has to offer, and the art world can ease up on its elitism. Just a little.