Latest & GREATEST
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STEPHEN FRY
Stephen Fry, actor, broadcaster, writer and director, on Francisco de Zurbarán’s “Still Life with Lemons, Orange and a Rose”. GB Tell us what you’ve chosen. SF Well, off the top of my head and because I’ve been looking lovingly at it (in reproduction, but I’ve been lucky enough to gawp at the real thing too) […]
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JESS FEURY
Jess Feury, textile artist, on a piece of Ottoman era fabric. GB Tell me why you chose this fabric. JF I chose it because nothing I see in the world ever seems to compare to a an antique find in a flea market, especially when it’s a textile that involves old burnished metal. A lot of […]
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MICHAEL TANNER OBITUARIES
Dr Michael Tanner (15th April 1935 – 3rd April 2024), philosopher, opera critic, life fellow of Corpus Christi, Cambridge. The Telegraph The Spectator The Times For many people who met Michael Tanner, his reputation preceded him. I had heard that he was terrifying, withering and prone to dramatic fallings-out. All this made me want to […]
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PETER COPPING
Peter Copping, Creative Director at Oscar de la Renta, on Whistlejacket by George Stubbs, 1762 GB Tell me why you chose this painting. PC I grew up with horses and have always had a passion for them. As a child I used to ride. Whistlejacket by George Stubbs is an amazing painting and captures everything […]
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MICHAEL TANNER
Michael Tanner, philosopher, on the ass of Donatello’s statue of David. GB Tell me why you’ve chosen the ass of Donatello’s statue of David. MT It’s just the left cheek I’ve chosen. It’s an intimation if you like, that answers to Stendhal’s definition of Beauty: une promesse de bonheur. GB Is it the realistic representation […]
I think beauty is absolutely in accordance with ideals of freedom and justice. Beauty doesn’t need to be exclusive and it doesn’t need to ignore social reality. It’s usually free when you come across it. You can be a very wealthy person and collect paintings or you can be penniless and see something on the street and say, wow. It’s much more to do with your openness to the world than it is to your position in life.
Hari Kunzru
GILDED BIRDS 