Mad Kate

The Gothic Nightmares exhibition in London (Tate Britain) was pretty good. After a bit of an edgy start, M and I had a good day together on his birthday on Wednesday, first at the Tate Britain, then Gaby's (a v. good Greek/turkish deli. just off Leicester square) for falafel. Second time in a week, as I went there with Luce on Saturday at the end of our day together, also for falafel.

(Disturbing digestive goings on on Thursday. My stomach was making noises like an extremely aged, nearly defunct central heating system all day. Too much chick pea?)


Here is the beginning of my day with L on Sat. - I only took this one pic. of Luce taking her picture.

It occurred to me (too late) that I should have taken pics of her every time she took one.... I could have done a blog about her doing her blog.

Would that have been silly, or just a little bit sad?

And we should really have taken a pic. of the huge pieces (3) of cake
which arrived with our "tea and cake for 2"
at the National Portrait Gallery. We didn't. We did eat them though (mostly...).





We (Luce and I) also went to the Americans in Paris exhibition at the National Gallery.

So I've had a most cultural week.


Whistler's Mother was there (as seen on the left)
(but not Mrs. Bradshaw*).




Lots of elegant and languid women and men with beards and sharp suits.

Some lovely paintings of mothers with children

- including this one by Mary Cassatt. What do you think this woman is doing?



Blogging, maybe?




The Gothic Nightmares exhibition was a very interesting and stark contrast. Full of spirits, supernatural creatures, beasts and monsters - also the odd ghost (though not Miss Wilmott's ghost*). Lots of heaving bosoms, wildly staring eyes, dangerous women. As typified by this painting of "Mad Kate", by Fuseli.
Hmmm.

One painter there had represented the Spanish Inquisition as a woman. (It could have been Fuseli again - maybe he had "issues".)
Typical really.
Especially considering how many women were victims of that mad, power-crazed and male institution.

Anyway, despite M feeling totally miserable about his birthday for a range of reasons, (including the fact that he is now closer to 50 than to 40) (welcome to the club)
- it was a good and relaxing day (even by his own admission).
(Phew)

Things can only get better.

Thats not true, obviously.
But they might.

As its been a week of art, Dillo|(s) No. 18 are some sketches of dillos. A birthday card for M. from a previous, long-distant year.





(* if this means nothing to you, click here)