Day Visit to Dulwich Picture Gallery

In preparation for the visit to the Berthe Morisot exhibition ‘Shaping Impressionism’ Jenny Newman organised an afternoon for all participants to hear two supporting presentations: Julian Halsby spoke about Berthe’s life and her relationships with other impressionists and Jenny’s talk was specifically related to the exhibition. We were all set up and ready for our visit.

Forty -nine art lovers, A.S and U3A members, left early on a coach for London on the morning of 27th June. On arrival we split into two groups – one to visit the Morisot Exhibition before lunch and then have a guided visit to the Dulwich Gallery permanent collection later and vice-versa.

The guide’s tour of the Permanent Collection was excellent, she told us that during the closure over the pandemic the gallery had been redecorated and reorganised. I believe she talked mainly about the Linham bequest which included works by Gainsborough, Rubens Poussin and Canaletto. I spotted an Anthony van Dyk painting (1633) related to Sherborne. It was ‘Venetia, Lady Digby on her Deathbed’, apparently her husband Sir Kenelm Digby, who had married her in secret as his family did not approve, was so devastated when she suddenly died eight years later that he called van Dyck to paint the beauty of her corpse which he did on the second day after her passing.

The Morisot Exhibition was extremely well curated and consisted of early and later paintings and chalk and pastel sketches which were often displayed alongside the work of artists who had influenced or inspired her. There were many touching feminine subjects displayed. I was fascinated by Berthe Morisot’s relationship to Edouard Manet who became her brother-in-law after her marriage to Eugene Manet.

It was an uneventful journey home and we all had plenty to think about. Many thanks to all who contributed to making this a stimulating and enjoyable visit with The Sherborne Arts Society.

Jane Findley