Post card from Chichester: Pallant House Gallery
This was my first visit to Pallant House Gallery; it won’t be my last!
Anne and I visited Chichester just before Christmas, to attend a funeral, and we had very little time to spare. But, on our last evening, at dinner, we fell into conversation with a charming lady who was dining alone at the next table. She insisted we make time, before heading back to Devon, to visit the Pallant House Gallery, and, in particular, to visit the Bomberg exhibition.
Where is Pallant House Gallery?
You will find the gallery tucked away down a side street just off the main pedestrian area of Chichester. It’s also only a short distance from the railway station – very convenient!
Apart from Mondays, it’s open from 10am (11am on Sundays and bank holidays) until 5pm (8pm on Thursdays).
There’s a cafe and restaurant, and numerous free-to-view areas as well as the various special exhibitions for which there is an entrance charge.
David Bomberg
2017 marks the 60th anniversary of his death and Bomberg was a much-neglected artist until recently.
His Jewish heritage and his contribution to pre-war British modernism was a path in history to lead him to being a war artist in both world wars.
His association with Whitechapel Art Gallery exposed him to radical changes in modern art over many years.
The Bomberg Exhibition
This exhibition runs in Chichester until 4 February 2018. The paintings and drawings all come from a single private collection and are housed in a number of adjoining rooms. As you walk from one room to he next, you see his life’s work, clearly illustrating how he developed as an artist.
Oil on canvas: Portrait of John Rodker (c.1931)
Commencing with early Cubist drawings, there are over 70 paintings from all periods of his artistic life.
Bomberg’s approach to portraiture
Oil on canvas: Kitty (1929)
Bomberg’s approach to portraiture shows the huge leaning to the expressionist attitude popular during his life time.
I particularly liked the one of John Rodker, and his portrayal of his sister Kitty.
Both are oil on canvas.
And then the landscapes …
His landscapes of Jerusalem and Spain are also magnificent.
Oil on canvas: Jerusalem City and Mount of Ascension (1929)
Oil on canvas: Cathedral, Toledo (1929)
The Bomberg Exhibition after 4 February
If you cannot get to Chichester ahead of 4 February, this exhibition is transferring to the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle. That Bomberg Exhibition will run from 17 February until 18 May.
This post is one of my POSTCARD series, sharing all things ART with you when I go travelling.
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