Charles I at the Royal Academy

[CrystalTipsandAlista1r]

We went yesterday - has anyone else been? I'd be interested to know what they thought of it.

[notnearlythereyet]

Depends what art you like. My partner thought it was excellent. I saw it as a show of priviledge and power. Much preferred seeing the modern art piece 'Suspended' in a church two minutes down the road from RA

[lucydogz]

interesting- I ,too, found much of the swagger stuff that Charles obviously liked (Rubens and van Dyke) unattractive. Also The Triumph of Caesar. I did feel that I had gained an insight into the mind of the collector though.
But I loved the Northern Renaissance pictures - didn't you? The Holbeins in particular, but also the joint portrait of Erasmus and his friend. The antethesis of priveledge and power I thought. Apparently Charles didn't like them (he'd inherited them) and would swap them for the flashier stuff.
Also, the Gentileschi, for the Queens House were very different. And what odd subjects - Lot's Daughters and Potiphar's Wife! I'd love to know what the subjects of the other four were.
And, last of all, didn't you think the 'Toilet of Venus' by Reni, in that room, was a very strange picture? She looked like a corpse being reanimated.

[Cosmosgrowinmygarden]

Watching. Very interested in other people's opinions. Going on Friday - Charles I at the RA in the morning and then Charles II at the Queens Gallery in the afternoon. Really looking forward to both!

[lucydogz]

looking forward to hear what you think of it (particularly the Reni)