This Thursday was our coach trip to Cambridge, and the last day of our Winter Programme. Les regaled us with sweets en route (thanks, Les!) After being set down at the Fitzwilliam Museum people soon dispersed to find coffee - in the Fitzwilliam Café, Fitzbillie's (great coffee there!) or elsewhere. Thereafter, many took in the culture of the museum, went shopping, wandered round the beautiful Botanical Gardens, met up with friends - or all of the above. Painting outdoors starts next week. |
The Madonnas and Miracles exhibition gave us an interesting insight into how religion and, in particular, religious symbols affected the lives of ordinary people at home in the Italian Renaissance. Making Waves (seascapes through drawing and watercolours since the 16th century) might be a little disappointing from today's perspective, as the drawings were mostly small and often rather dull and grey. But when you consider they did not at that time have the advantage of our superb papers, watercolours and photography, you had to marvel at how they captured the detail of ships, stormy seas and raging battles of war. |