For my recent visit to London the original plan was to visit St Paul’s cathedral. The last time I visited the cathedral was on a school trip so you can guess how long ago that was… However, after the plan was made protesters took up residence just outside the cathedral so a plan B had to be hatched.
Plan B was a visit to the Tate Britain art gallery, which was rather adventurous because last time I went there I didn’t make it past the teashop. I was just about to sit down with a nice cup of tea when the fire alarm went off and the building was evacuated. But that is another story…
The first port of call in the gallery was the Apocalypse exhibition by John Martin. His paintings, amongst other things, depict biblical scenes, heaven, hell, death, destruction and other dramatic events. I thought it was an excellent display of his work, especially the triptych of judgement day which was displayed as a proto-cinematic effect son-et-Lumière display. The centre painting showed God surrounded by his angels casting judgement. On one side of this painting, there was another that showed the abyss with fire and brimstone and bodies falling to their doom. The painting on the opposite side showed Paradise and souls that had been found worthy enjoying themselves alongside cherubs.
The ten minute light show was very dramatic. The lights highlighted and changed the colours of the paintings, and, on occasions gave the impression of movement within the paintings, which the artist painted in the 1830s. The light show was accompanied by sound effects and a commentary. I thoroughly enjoyed this exhibition and spent quite some time in it.
There was also an exhibition by Barry Flanagan which was more modern and abstract, most of which wasn’t to my taste but after that I had a quick look around the other galleries. A cab ride to Charring Cross was followed by a slow stroll back to Marble Arch and the coach. A good day out was had by all.
