Visit to Pallant House Gallery

 Pallant House Gallery is a striking building among other town houses in Chichester, it is thought to be one of the important 18th Century Townhouses in England. There's more about it here, it was built in around 1712 for a 27 year old disreputable wine merchant and his wife, a wealthy widow in her forties. I looked up the website because although I love the pair of stone birds at the front, I wasn't sure what they are. Apparently they are supposed to be ostriches, but resemble dodos, hence the nickname for Pallant House Gallery: 'Dodo House'

  Here's the outside of the house with the stone ostriches on top of the gate posts either side of the front door of the house. This door is no longer used, entry is through the modern extension on the left of the house.

I visited when staying with Lyn in Emsworth before Christmas, so this post is a bit out of date, there's always so much to see at Pallant, and it can take me some time to write it up. Our visit started in the Print Room where there was an exhibition of over 100 original Christmas cards made by a huge range of artists. Called 'Christmas Greetings by Modern British Artists' it featured some fantastic cards as you can imagine. I have included some favourites here:

This first one is 'Fieldfare' by  Mark Hearld who has captured the essence of the bird so well.

Above Brick House at Great Bardfield by Edward Bawden . I think we then moved onto the main exhibition: Hockney to Himid: 60 Years of British Printmaking showing an extraordinary selection of prints including over 90 artists. Many of the prints have been donated over the past 21 years by collectors Mark Golder and Brian Thompson who in all have donated over 500 works for the enjoyment of visitors to the gallery. Mark has written an extremely personal and moving blog about 6 of the artworks in the exhibition which can be read here. 

Above is 'War Tourist'  from an edition of 20 lithographs on paper by Joyce Cairns. Her curiosity about her Father's World War II experiences led her to undertake  a period of research following the route taken by her father who saw active service in South Africa. In 1998, she painted 'War Tourist' in oil on panel, and subsequently translated it into a lithograph. She has portrayed herself with her father to show her physical involvement.  This is one of the many prints which form part of the Golder-Thompson Gift.

This is a relief engraving on paper by Neil Bousfield. It's entitled 'No Prayers Nor Bells (Anthem for Doomed Youth) ' from Wilfred Owen and Armistice Folio. I regret not going to see an exhibition of Neil's at Rabley a couple of years ago. It's also worth reading  A History of: The Golder-Thompson Gift and Rabley Gallery celebrating the Golder- Thompson Gift. 

After the Hockney to Himid exhibition, we wandered around the permanaent collection

I picked out this stunning painting, it's Michael Andrews painting of The Colony Room painted by Michael Andrews in 1962. There are reflections from the glass, it's worth seeing the real thing.

And this is so lovely, Ivon Hitchens 'Flowers' 1942.

Once again a lovely day spent at Pallant House Gallery, guaranteed to be a great day out when you visit. So much car and thought goes into the exhibitions. I have only covered a fraction of what was wonderful there just before Christmas. Do go and visit.