From abstract art to portraits of pooches, Contributing Editor (and resident culture vulture) Margaret Hussey rounds up some of Spring’s best art exhibitions hitting the capital in 2023 – plus a fashion must for your diary.
Beauty Queen
Said to be the inspiration for John Tenniel’s illustrations in Alice in Wonderland, The Ugly Duchess, as she became known, is one of art’s most arresting images.
Painted by Flemish-born Quinten Massys in about 1513, it was originally called An Old Woman and is part of a new exhibition at the National Gallery. It looks at the painting’s original historical context as well as examining attitudes towards women, their youth and appearance. We think there is a real beauty in this Duchess.
The Ugly Duchess: Beauty and Satire in the Renaissance is at the National Gallery until June 11 2023. Entry is free. For more visit nationalgallery.org.uk
Rossetti Shown
Painting, design, poetry, photography – the Rossettis could pretty much turn their hands to anything. A major exhibition at Tate Britain looks at the legacy of Dante Gabriel, Christina and Elizabeth and their radical approach to life, love and art.
Dante Gabriel and Christina were the children of an Italian revolutionary in exile. Growing up in London they began their artistic careers as teenagers. Elizabeth joined them as Dante Gabriel’s muse and later wife.
With 150 paintings and drawings, it shows that the trailblazers also had a huge influence on clothing, design and furniture.
The Rossettis is at Tate Britain from April 6 to September 24. Tickets £22. For more visit tate.org.uk
Higher Love
Bringing together the works of Hilma af Klint and Piet Mondrian is a genius move by Tate Modern. Although they never met, the Swedish and Dutch painters shared a lot in common.
Af Klint’s works are often cited as the first abstract paintings in Western art. And while Mondrian is best known for his iconic grids, he actually started as a landscape painter – this exhibition will be a chance to see rarely exhibited paintings of his flowers.
They were also both believers in spirituality and philosophy and af Klint was a medium. She believed some of her large-scale, otherworldly pieces were commissioned by higher powers.
Hilma af Klint and Piet Mondrian, Forms Of Life is at Tate Modern from April 20 to September 3. Tickets £20. For more visit tate.org.uk
Paws for thought
With paintings, sculptures, drawings and even taxidermy, this new exhibition at the Wallace Collection looks at our long-standing relationship with dogs.
There are more than 50 works from some of our favourite artists including Hockney, Gainsborough and Lucien Freud. Running alongside it until June 25 there is also The Queen and Her Corgis, looking at the unique connection Elizabeth II had with her four-legged friends.
Portraits of Dogs: From Gainsborough to Hockney is at the Wallace Collection from March 29 to October 15. Tickets £14. The Queen And Her Corgis runs until June 25. Entry is free. For more visit wallacecollection.org
Suits You
Coming to the V&A this year and a definite date for your diary is Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto. It’s the first UK exhibition dedicated to the work of French couturière ‘Coco’ Chanel and will chart everything from the opening of her first millinery boutique in Paris in 1910 to her final collection in 1971.
With over 180 looks, seen together for the first time, as well as jewellery, accessories, cosmetics and perfumes, it will show how she changed the way women dressed and how her influence lives on.
Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto is at the Victoria and Albert Museum from September 16 to 25 February 2024. For more visit vam.ac.uk
Images: with permission from PRs
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