Sun masked by clouds

It’s an all-sorts day, as far as weather is concerned. From time to time the sun breaks through but is then masked by clouds which ever and anon sprinkle us with rain. Sometimes there is sunshine and rain at the same time.

Myddelton’s deli

As usual, we started with fuel (aka coffee) at Myddelton’s in Amwell Street.

Bus stop, Rosebery Avenue

We then walked down to a bus stop in Rosebery Avenue where…

Aboard the 19

…we boarded a number 19 bus and found seats at the rear.

Concrete cast sculpture

We arrived after a longish ride at Duke of York’s Square where this sculpture (by whom, I know not) was advertising the current exhibition in the Saatchi Gallery.

Towards the Saatchi

We had thoughts of visiting the Saatchi but then saw that, contrary to its previous policy of free entry, it was today charging £15 to go in. So we changed our plans.

The Black Penny
Photo by Tigger

Brunch
Photo by Tigger

Nearby was a cafe called the Black Penny and we went in for an early lunch. (As it was before noon, they were still serving the breakfast menu but, call it brunch, and that was good enough for us). We had a vegetarian dish called Ozdemir Pasha.

Sloane Square

We now started a long walk to an alternative destination, starting by crossing through Sloane Square.

Trees in bloom

We saw some trees, lacking leaves but prettily in bloom.

Bicameral (2019)
Conrad Shawcross

We next encountered something that was not a tree. I find the title Bicameral mystifying but, then, modern art often doesn’t make sense.

Water feature

This water feature at least had nothing pretentious about it.

We now undertook a longish walk through various districts to our alternative destination, the Tate Britain art gallery.

Caffé Foresta

We broke our journey in a cafe as much as to rest our legs as to take refreshment.

St Saviour’s Pimlico

Continuing on, we passed St Saviour’s Church Pimlico, an Anglo Catholic Church, whatever that is.

Cabmen’s Shelter, St George’s Square

In St George’s Square we passed by one of the 13 surviving Cabmen’s Shelters.

Arriving at the Tate Britain

We at last reached the Tate Britain and…

Basement entrance

…walked down the steps to its basement entrance at the rear of the building.

Crossing the Brook
J M W Turner

An art gallery of the standing of the Tate contains art of all styles and periods. Some of it – a growing amount because it is produced by modern artists – is art with which I have no sympathy whatever. I will not waste my time with it. Happily, there is plenty of art which I can enjoy and admire, the painting above by Turner being an example

Family Group (1949)
Henry Moore

I can of course show only a few of the works that I saw and liked. There is plenty more good art that I have to leave aside. Above is a piece by Henry Moore. I at first found Moore “difficult” but with time, I have come to like his sculptures more and more.

Industrial Landscape (1955)
L S Lowry

Who doesn’t like the paintings of L S Lowry? They have a deceptive simplicity but as you look at a painting, it draws you in. I feel the man himself is somehow present in the picture.

Bird (1952)
Elisabeth Frink

Elisabeth Frink is not as famous as some sculptors but you come across works of hers in many places, often in open locations.

The Visitation (1926)
Jacob Epstein

Jacob Epstein is one of my favourites. (I managed to cut off the top of her head – sorry).

Torso in Metal from ‘The Rock Drill’ (1913-5)
Jacob Epstein

This is an example of Epstein’s more “abstract” style, the sort of thing I usually don’t like but I have become familiar with this piece (I have photographed it before) and have come to feel its “presence”. Standing alone as it does, it lacks context that might make it more meaningful.

Doves 1914-5
Jacob Epstein

This one caught me by surprise as it was new to me but I immediately knew it was by Epstein and what it represented (a pair of doves). If I have favoured Epstein somewhat in this story I have at least given an idea of his versatility though I have barely scratched the surface of his work.

The Gallery Shop

We paid a quick visit to the shop, which contains a lot of interesting stock, souvenirs and luxury items as well as books and reproductions. We didn’t buy anything, though.

Tea!

Before leaving the Tate Britain, we went to the cafe and ordered tea. They serve it in small individual glass teapots where you can watch the tea as it brews. One of us had mint tea and the other, Darjeeling. Guessing who had what is left as puzzle for the reader! (Not a hard one!)

The Millbank Entrance

We left by the main portico door leading into Millbank. From there, we went round the corner and first caught a number 88 bus that deposited us in Regent’s Street,

<img src="https://tigergrowl2.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/img_0109.gif&quot; width="640" height="486" alt="Aboard the 19“>
Aboard the 19

From Regent’s Street, we cut through to Piccadilly where we caught a number 19 bus. Traffic was heavy and the journey slow, long and tedious but we eventually reached the Angel and home where we could make tea and relax!