Eric Ravilious

Today I met jinglyjan at the Dulwich Picture Gallery for the Eric Ravilious exhibition.  It's had fantastic reviews and as it nears the end of its run (31st Aug) I knew the numbers of visitors were going up and up.  It was still a shock though to see so many people in this beautiful contemplative space.  We queued for approx 20 minutes to buy tickets, then another 40 or so to get into the exhibition.  However, the exhibition goers were a calm and happy crowd and I think everyone saw everything they wanted to. 

Waiting at West Dulwich station to go home was quite funny - nearly all travellers clutching their Ravilious catalogue and talking about the exhibition!  I have to say, though, that had changed by the time I got to Clapham Junction - there it seemed most people were carting enormous backpacks, on their way to this weekend's Boomtown Festival just outside Winchester.

Eric Ravilious, in case you don't know his work, was a wonderful 20th century artist - large watercolours, woodcuts, designs for ceramics, etc.  He was taught at the Royal College by Paul Nash.  He became a war artist in 1939 and was lost in a plane in the Arctic in 1942.

After the exhibition, Jan and I had a long lunch and catch-up at an Italian place in Dulwich Village.  A really enjoyable day.

Hope yours was good too  xx