Cambridge is a treasure house for lovers of fine art. It would take several days to see all of the wonderful sources ,many of the major art museums and galleries are free.It is worth travelling from London where special exhibitions can be expensive to see the art available in Cambridge. I am going to list my favourite works from some of the permanent exhibitions.
Kings College Chapel
The Adoration of The Magi,Rubens
This glorious painting was donated to Kings College in the early 1960s.It stands above the altar in the Chapel, a lovely building in it's own right.A good way to enjoy this painting is to attend a service where you may also hear the famous choir singing.Check the website to make sure that a service is available .This is a quiet , prayerful space, not the place to eat your sandwiches or take a noisy phone call.
www.kings.cam.ac.uk
There are plenty of nice cafes and a good Kings gift shop in Kings Parade .There are a number of private art galleries with quality original paintings for sale.A lovely card would be an affordable souvenir from one of these shops.
Kettle's Yard
What I really love about this gallery in Castle Street is that it is set in a house and the paintings are hung in the way that the owner Jim Ede, intended. All the rooms are cottage style with simple furniture and layouts. The paintings bought mainly in the 1930s, reflect naive,unfussy styles.
A new gallery has now been added for special, temporary exhibitions.There is also a very good cafe serving light meals and refreshments. The shop does not have to accessed through the gallery.
Check for opening times before you visit kettlesyard.co.uk
These are my favourite paintings by a Cornish fisherman,Alfred Wallis.He painted on any cheap base that he could get hold of like cardboard with limited colours. He had no art training, no lessons in perspective,which helped him to retain the naive , child like style that makes his work so attractive.
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| French lugsail fishing boat,Alfred Wallis |
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| White house and Cottages, Alfred Wallis |
Christopher Wood sought to portray his work in bright colours and modern style .This flower painting from the 1930s is a lovely example of his work.
| Flowers, ChristopherWood. |
The Fitzwilliam Museum
The Fitzwilliam museum is a large international museum with many galleries of paintings and antiquities.Allow at least 2 hours even for a short visit.
Entry is free.
Check on opening times and other details at www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
I shall list several favourite paintings of mine in this museum beginning with a winter scene by Pissarro.I love painting snow.
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