Cartwright Hall, in Lister Park, was purpose-built as Bradford's civic art gallery in 1904, thanks to a gift of £40,000 from the local mill owner Samuel Lister.
As I showed yesterday, the extensive park has a variety of areas and attractions. The garden to the front of the Hall is planted with bedding plants in the formal, old-fashioned way, by Bradford Parks department. They were just refilling the beds as I walked through.
The gallery has temporary exhibitions but also shows a selection of the city's permanent art collection. The art works on display do change from time to time. This is one of my favourites: Arab Weaver (1886) by Armand Point (1861-1932).
It's hard to pin down exactly why I like it. It's a huge canvas, depicting a peaceful, cosy, domestic scene, nothing wild about it. I love the vibrant colours in it, the soaring arches, the connectedness of the young people pictured contrasting with the intent focus of the weaver (their father, I suppose). I don't mind if it is 'romanticised'!
It is not always easy to say exactly why a certain work of art appeals to us on a deep personal level. For me, for instance, Anselm Feuerbach's Iphigenie does that for me - also a very "romantic" painting, hosted in Stuttgart's State Gallery.
ReplyDeleteI’m very impressed when considering all fabrics were manufactured by Hand – before the industrial revolution. Now I cherish hand crafted items Because they represent a persons, creativity, sweat, time, efforts, life shared, and whatever medium.
ReplyDeleteThe building looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful painting--so much to see!
ReplyDeleteAnd the light in it is beautiful.
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