Leonardo da Vinci once said: “Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.” So, basically, you need to see art to really understand it.
It won’t be a shock to learn that we don’t have any Da Vinci’s on display here in Essex for you to gaze in awe upon, but you don’t need to trot up to the National Gallery in London to see amazing artworks either.
Our county’s beautiful land and seascapes have inspired generations of artists. Perhaps the most famous is John Constable who immortalised the scenes of north Essex in his oil paintings.
Constable was born in 1776 in East Bergholt just across the Essex border in Suffolk. The son of a prosperous mill owner, he was influenced by the works of Gainsborough and his early studies as an amateur included copying some of these and also works by the Dutch masters. He believed that his paintings should come as directly as possible from nature and he made hundreds of outdoor oil sketches, capturing the changing skies and effects of light.
Constable was happiest painting locations he knew well. In 1814 he famously encapsulated Hadleigh Castle in his Hadleigh Castle, The Mouth of the Thames – Morning After a Stormy Night. You’ll have to travel across the pond to the Centre for British Art at Yale University in Connecticut if you want to see this masterpiece. However, you won’t need to get on a plane to see his River Stour Looking Towards Manningtree, 1804 which can be found at the Beecroft Museum in Southend. The work is on permanent display at the gallery in Victoria Avenue.
The art gallery is also home to a permanent collection of over 2,000 works, ranging from 17th-century Dutch paintings to contemporary artists. The collection includes examples by artists such as Molenaer, Ruisdael and Berchem plus 19th-century artists including Rossetti and Edward Lear. You can also see a range of vintage bathing suits as well as a magnificent portrait of the gallery’s founder, Walter Beecroft.
Beecroft was certainly a remarkable man who left a priceless legacy for Southend. In April of 1949 the smartly dressed elderly bachelor strolled into the mayor’s parlour in Southend with a brown paper enveloped tucked under his arm. The envelope contained £20,000 in cash. He handed it to the bewildered mayor and said: “Here you are, build an art gallery.” Thanks to this incredible charitable gesture 75 years ago, Southend still has its very own gallery. The Beecroft is free to enter and is open Wednesday to Sunday. southendmuseums.co.uk/beecroft
The county has a number of other art galleries including The Fry Public Art Gallery in Saffron Walden which opened in 1987 and houses an impressive number of paintings, prints, illustrations, wallpapers and decorative designs by artists of the 20th century and the present day who have local connections and have made a significant contribution to their field. The space is open from Tuesday to Sunday for a large part of the year. Admission is free. fryartgallery.org
Meanwhile, The Munnings Art Museum in Dedham is home to the largest collection of works by Sir Alfred Munnings. Born the son of a Suffolk miller Munnings rose to be one of the most acclaimed painters of his age and president of the Royal Academy of Arts. The gallery houses sketches, watercolours, photographs charting Munnings work and life. Munnings was perhaps best known as ‘the finest painter of horses in England’. In August the museum will be hosting a ‘how to draw horses’ workshop. Visit the website for more details. Munningsmuseum.org.uk
The Naze Tower Museum in Walton-on-the-Naze is home to an art gallery where three new exhibitions are held each year. As well as operating as a museum charting the history of the 86ft high tower, there’s plenty for art buffs to see. The Autumn exhibition will run from September 9 to October 31 and will see paintings, sculptures and ceramics going on display. nazetower.co.uk
Pottery crafted by Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry can be seen at the Chelmsford Museum, based at Oaklands House, Chelmsford, including his ‘Chelmsford Sissies’ pot. The venue also boasts a fine art collection with works by Doris Boulton-Maude, known for her woodcut prints and watercolour painter, Alfred Bennett Bamford. The museum is open daily, and entry is free. chelmsford.gov.uk.
These days artists have a choice when it comes to displaying their work as community art spaces, hospitals, shops and public buildings open up their doors to creators. Professional artist and illustrator, Richard Allen, from Wivenhoe, will be exhibiting his works at a contemporary art space in Wivenhoe next month.
Richard has a passion for the wildlife of the east coast marshes and estuaries and spends many hours in the field sketching the multitude of birds that flock to the muddy creeks and channels.
A member of the Society of Wildlife Artists Richard won the prestigious Swarovski Birdwatch Artist of the Year Award last year at the “Natural Eye” exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London. Next month he will embark on his first one man show and will showcase new oil paintings inspired by the patterns found in bird’s plumage and mirrored in mud and water against the ever-changing light of seasons, weather and tides on the Colne estuary.
Richard says Essex has some lovely art spaces: 'The Fry Gallery in Saffron Walden is a favourite of mine,' he said, 'and The Naze Tower has a good selection of artists and an amazing view from the top.'
The Wings and Water exhibition will be on at The Old Grocery in High Street, Wivenhoe, from September 20-245. Instagram: @richardallenart
Meanwhile, It’s no shocker that many of our stately homes boast wondrous paintings, Audley End House in Saffron Walden is well worth a visit for art aficionados. Works by Hans Holbein the Younger, such as Unknown Gentleman C 1540 are on display throughout the mansion. This half-length portrait depicts a young man in black robe, with burgundy/brown sleeves lines with fur. Holbein is known as one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century and is responsible for probably the most famous portraits we have of Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell. The English Heritage- owned Audley End House also features several Rebecca Biagio paintings. The Italian artist was employed to produce some paintings at Audley End house in the early 1770s. Audley End House is open daily from 10am-6pm. Entry fees apply. english-heritage.org.uk.
Perhaps most surprisingly to many is that a rare religious painting by John Constable hangs on the wall of St Mary’s Church in Dedham. The Ascension is hailed as the best of only three religious paintings by Constable, all of which were commissioned for churches in his native Stour Valley. The Ascension was commissioned in 1821 and depicts the figure of Christ floating in the sky surrounded by clouds. The painting was saved from being sold off to a wealthy buyer and packed up out of the county thanks to the charity, The Constable Trust, which united to buy the painting and keep it in Essex. Visit dedham-parishchurch.org. uk for more details.
