My 4 day trip to Dorset (Day 1 - late morning cont.) - Bournemouth - The Russell-Cotes Museum and Art Gallery (cont.) - The Morning Room; the Drawing Room and the Main Hall - The 21st of April 2016

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I walked into the Morning Room which is said to have been originally filled with paintings, ceramics and part of the Japanese collection and used as Merton Russell Coteses study. Its 1948 ceiling designed by Anna Zinkensen depicts Greek Gods and Goddeses.

The Happy Family painting by William Roberts was inspired by the painter's observations of everyday life.

I soon walked into the Drawing Room with a remarkable 19th century sculpture attributed to Orazio Andreoni representing Jael.

 

The multiple Art works and artefacts amongst which an 1848 marble sculpture by John Gibson depicting Queen Victoria were worth looking at and the more I seemed to immerse myself into the overall atmosphere of the house the more I felt my admiration for this couple grew.

The main Hall was astoundingly beautiful with its numerous sculptures and paintings. A gentleman sat somewhere in the middle of the hall quietly sketching, as we strolled around it. I was particularly impressed with the disposition of the artistic works and a few sculptures in display.

(as seen from the upper floor)

Cleopatra - a late 19th century sculpture by Lambardi Eugenio (left). Mrs. Barbe Sladen - a 19th century marble sculpture by Baron Carlo Marochetti (right).

A Black Queen - 1881 marble and bronze sculpture by Pietro Calvi.

An Arab Chief - 1860 marble and bronze sculpture by Pietro Calvi.

A Wood Nymph - 1886 oil on paper by Robert Poetzelberger (right).

(To be continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My 4 day trip to Dorset (Day 1 - late morning) - Bournemouth - On the way to the Russell-Cotes Museum and Art Gallery; the Museum Gardens; the Café area; the Dining room and the Conservatory - The 21st of April 2016





As I was walking up towards the Russell-Cotes Road I came across a rather strange individual dressed up in an unusual way, though I admired the courage he displayed as he was bombarded by quite a few outloud remarks coming from some construction workers standing by. 

 

 

To be able to ignore those who laught at us is an art but the type of art I was looking for was the one  displayed at the spectacular seaside villa  which was once a hotel pertaining to Annie and Merton Russell-Cotes from 1901 and which has been turned into an interesting Museum and Art Gallery.

 

 

As patrons and collectors the Russell-Cotes couple created galleries to showcase their collections of Art, natural History and souvenirs from their world travels having upon their death left it all to the people of Bournemouth.

 

 

One hasn't got the faintest idea what to expect from the outside (at least I hadn't) but as I got through the garden and onto the first floor, where  an Art of wellbeing Bournemouth East Mental Health exhibition was on into the dark red Dining room and Conservatore I instantly knew that I had taken the best decision in not having gone straight to Wareham. 

 

 

Three artefacts on exhibition on the first floor next to the Café area with "Two nudes" by John Christopher Jane being the one that caught most people's attention.

 

The Dining room is considered one of the principal showrooms of the house and is said to contain some of the finest painting. The peackocks and fruit that decorate the coving were painted by John Thomas, with the inglenook fireplace and the ceiling in an early English type design and the stained glass revealing the patriotism and imperialism of the Russell-Cotes couple.

(To be continued)