Oh Siena….

We decided that as we’d committed to going up to London for Jodhi’s birthday party we should do a few other things.  So we went first to Tony Beaver’s open house to see his new work and ended up buying a little potato painting for JM and a small papier mâché head sculpture.  The small cheerful one I bought will sit well in a corner.  V wanted to buy another painting of a bowl but I pointed out we already had 4 at least.  

The drive up was murderous, nearly three hours with the A3/M25 interchange still a curdled mess so it took a while to detox from that.  We then drove pretty smoothly to the National Theatre on the South Bank, the best daytime low cost parking in London, where we parked up, grabbing  some streetfood as we crossed the river to see the Siena exhibition. 

This is the story of an explosion and innovation in painting style in Siena in the early 14th Century.  It was magical and everything was covered with gold.!  Apart from this head from a crucifix, the main crucifix was bombed and destroyed in the war.  I love his calm thoughtful face. there was a secret prayer written in it by the painter that was found in the destruction.  

Then we had a quick drink at the NT before going up to Jodhi’s fiftieth birthday.  She’d done a lovely spread and Vik was asked to speak.  We didn’t leave until 11 and so weren’t home until nearly one.  Tired! 

Additions are bling Virgin Mary, Tony’s bowls and Vik giving his impromptu speech