This is a giclée print from a watercolour, pastel and charcoal drawing by Chris Ofili, Study For Ovid-Windfall. In 2012 Ofili painted a huge backdrop for the Royal Opera House production of Diana & Actaeon, a collaboration between the National Gallery and the Royal Ballet and a celebration of Titian’s paintings of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Ofili immersed himself in Ovid’s shapeshifting tales of transformation. His image of windfall/waterfall/shower of gold came twice for framing. Continue reading “Ofili Cum Ovid”
Category: Frames
Goodnight Moon
Once upon a time three bears came to The Rowley Gallery to find a picture frame. They were from a story called Goodnight Moon. They just wanted to go to sleep but they couldn’t relax until they were safely tucked up inside a snug, warm, sunshine frame. Continue reading “Goodnight Moon”
Freud In The Frame
We were asked to frame a boxed set of 10 photographs – Freud At Work by David Dawson – mounted and glazed in simple oak frames. Continue reading “Freud In The Frame”
The Trees Of Aldgate
They seem to be mostly larch. This intricate timber frame construction is made from 17 cubic metres of larch. It stands on a traffic island by St Botolph’s church at the start of the A11, the road from London to Norwich, and it marks the place where the Aldgate once stood. Continue reading “The Trees Of Aldgate”
Utopia
Christopher Corr sent us these photographs from America. They show a wonderful collection of mostly wooden vernacular buildings at the Hancock Shaker Village in Massachusetts. The Shakers began building a community here in the 1780s and continued up until the 1960s. They considered this their utopia and named it The City of Peace. Many of their buildings are still preserved here. Some have been lost and some have been re-erected here from other Shaker settlements. Continue reading “Utopia”
Penwith Peninsula
Whilst writing the previous post about Cornwall I remembered this set of Richard Long photos, the first thing I ever framed for myself. See the beautifully joined corners, marvel at those hand-cut windows, but note that I neglected to put any fixings on the back to hang it, so for 25 years or more it’s just been standing around. The photographs and text were printed by Coracle Press as a concertina booklet, and although I often visited their tongue & groove lined gallery in Camberwell, I think I bought it at Arnolfini in Bristol. It was titled A Day’s Walk Past The Standing Stones Of Penwith Peninsula. Kai took one look at it and immediately decided that was to be my challenge, to walk those nine stones in one day! I’m not so sure. Continue reading “Penwith Peninsula”
La Poissonnerie Bleue
Marcel Gatteaux just brought us this souvenir of his recent trip to France. It is presently displayed centre stage in The Rowley Gallery window. I’m hoping that as well as a fishmonger he’ll bring us a butcher, a baker and a candlestick-maker too. There is something about its simplicity and its proportions and the way it fits the frame that marks this as one of his best. See it here on our website and see what a difference a frame makes.
Frenchman’s Creek
We crossed the river by ferry from Helford Passage to Helford Village. The Shipwrights Arms was tempting but we passed by determined to return there at the end of our circular walk. The pub had recently fallen on hard times and been threatened with closure until a consortium of anonymous locals from around the Lizard Peninsula bought it from the liquidators. It is presently being run by volunteers. We wish them every success. Continue reading “Frenchman’s Creek”
A Bundle Of Walnut
A nice bundle of clean, new leaves of walnut burr veneer fresh from the tree. Continue reading “A Bundle Of Walnut”
Dancer With Cymbals
This marquetry panel was designed by William Arthur Chase and made by The Rowley Gallery, circa 1920. It looks like the wood inlay is pine, sycamore, perhaps cedar, and oak-burr for the hair. It is titled Dancer With Cymbals and by its size and the way it is framed you’d be forgiven for thinking it might actually be a tambourine. It was recently discovered at auction and very kindly returned to its maker courtesy of the good folks at JHW Fine Art. Thank you, James.