Dear LPG, 

When was the last time that you visited an art gallery?    A couple of my family members came to visit not long before the whole Covid-19 episode started, and they particularly enjoy art galleries.  

During their stay, they wanted to do the big three in London, and I felt the need to go along as the representative of the host country.  As we wandered around the exhibits, they said very little to each other as they spent what seemed like ages gazing silently at each of the paintings on show.  I found the whole thing quite a challenge because, once I had seen a picture, I was ready to move on quite quickly though I might hang around long enough to read the information about it. 

They would each stop for what seemed like ages at each exhibit while I felt a bit like a fish out of water.   Neither of them talked very much to each other or to me, while they stopped and looked at each one for ages. I too stopped and wondered what held their gaze in each frame.  I admit that I spent most of my time wondering what made it so important to view them for so long while the conversation once we had left the building went right over my head for the most part.   A brief explanation about the circumstances that provoked the picture and about the artist once read, left me well and truly ready to move on but the dutiful host in me did a lot of staring through the pictures, and at the walls.

I did ask a few questions but, not wanting to appear as ignorant as I really was, I felt the need to be a little better informed and, with two art galleries already visited while I felt like a bit of a tag-along, I decided that my time at the National Portrait Gallery needed to leave me looking just a little bit more interested in what they so wanted to do, and consequently I took a look at the internet.

I found myself going through my computer in search of some information which might help me to feel more included during the final visit.  I think what I found helped a little, and even though this pastime still passes me by, I hope that the links I found might help anyone else who has difficulty appreciating the painted canvas.

AP, Sydenham 

AP offers her research just in case any reader needs it…

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