Own work: West Walton

     The latest finished painting ahead of my exhibition in October: The Bell Tower, West Walton. 28 x 52.5 cms, mixed media on watercolour board.

     West Walton is one of architectural sights of Britain - a mighty detached bell tower, sophisticated Early English Gothic, except for the parapet and pinnacles. West Walton is in the extreme west of Norfolk on the silt fen, and is one of a number of excellent parish churches to be found between the rivers Nene and Great Ouse.

Own work: 'Gate after Hendrik de Keyser'

     Finally, a new painting to share with you all. It's been a long hiatus, and I feel better for having started making art again. Here, then, is my latest offering: 'Gate after Hendrik de Keyser', 27x28 cms, mixed media on 300msg watercolour paper. It is a variation of a design reproduced in 'Architectura Moderna', 1631, the artist and architect Salomon Brays' tribute to de Keyser.

     De Keyser, (1565 -1621), was an interesting character: architect, sculptor and merchant. He was resident mainly in Amsterdam, though he did visit England at the behest of Amsterdam city magistrates in 1607. His, work, as far as I can tell, blends the native Netherlandish tradition with Italian Mannerism. He was the son of a cabinet maker, and father of Pieter de Keyser, architect and sculptor; Thomas painter and architect; and Willem, architect and sculptor. Quite a talented family.

     Talented indeed. I've only just found out, as of today 18.02.23, that it was Hendrik who designed and made the seriously grand tomb of the Stadtholder William The Silent (1533-1584) in the Nieuwe Kirk in Delft. Perhaps the most important commission that a Dutch artist has ever yet undertaken. The tomb, started in 1620, was completed after Hendrik's death by his son Pieter.

Own work: The Arch of the English Merchants

     Finally a new painting to share with you. And it is the largest work, at 71x52 cms, I have yet attempted.  Mixed media, it is based on the Triumphal arch erected in Antwerp in 1546 by the city's English merchant to celebrate the arrival - the 'adventus' - of prince Philip of Spain.

Own work: Dietterlin

   Finally a new post!  Apologies for my absence; I've been having problems with my pc.  Here is my latest painting a Doric arch from the 'Architectura' ('Architectura: Von Austheilung, Symmetria und Proportion der Funff Seulen ') of Walter Dietterlin the Elder (1550 - 1599).  Dietterlin's treatise which was originally published in two parts was immensely influential in Northern Europe.  Elizabethan and Jacobean buildings are peppered with his decorative details.  

   I suppose that purist classical architects and architectural historians decry such stuff (and to be fair some of it is quite mad), but given a choice between Inigo Jones and Dietterlin I'd definitely choose the latter.  Much more fun.