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If you could own any painting or work of art. What would it be?

(124 Posts)
HelterSkelter1 Sat 11-Apr-26 18:11:08

I have shamelessly stolen this thread from Mumsnet and have spent the last hour looking at their choices and reading some lovely stories of why.

A wonderful gentle thread.

I cannot choose between any of the works by the Scottish Colourists. I watched a documentary by Michael Palin about 20 years ago and fell in love with the 4 of them then..
But if my life depended on choosing it would be Iona by Peploe. I could lay on that beach for hours.
If you read the Mumsnet thread look out for the work in marble of The Bride by Raffaele Monti. Amazing.

NanKate Tue 14-Apr-26 17:49:12

Great Terri that we both love the vibrant colours of the Frida Kahlo paintings.

My DS gave me a pack of postcards at Christmas and DH bought a picture frame and mounted them for me. 😀

Lovetopaint037 Mon 13-Apr-26 10:18:02

Fallingstar

Any of the Dutch Masters. But especially The Milkmaid by Vermeer

This painting was the first one I thought of as having seen this at a National Gallery exhibition some years ago. I stood in front of it and thought how wonderful it was. When I got home I told dh that I had an overwhelming desire to grab it and run. He thought I may not have been safe to go outside 🤣

TerriBull Mon 13-Apr-26 07:45:46

Rene not Remy

TerriBull Mon 13-Apr-26 07:44:39

I also like Freda Kahlo and Diego Rivera's unique bold style.

Another artist who I've come to acquaint myself with more recently for his dreamy, surreal style is Remy Margritte.

Allira Sun 12-Apr-26 22:23:32

NanKate

Any Frida Kahlo painting of herself when she was in her 20s.

If ever there's a question about art on a TV quiz, the answer is Freda Kahlo!

NanKate Sun 12-Apr-26 21:24:37

Any Frida Kahlo painting of herself when she was in her 20s.

Allira Sun 12-Apr-26 20:37:19

Chocolatelovinggran

This is a fun thread indeed. I share other posters enthusiasm for Dutch interiors, the Pre Raphaelites, Eric Ravilous, David Hockney and enjoy Beryl Cook.
In reference to a previous question, in an early stage of my career, I taught in Lancashire.
The local authority collection of works of art could be borrowed to be displayed by any public buildings - schools, libraries, register offices. I thought it was a splendid idea.

I went to Beryl Cook's first exhibition in Plymouth.
Great fun - I didn't buy one, unfortunately but someone we knew did. I was looking to see if we were in any of her paintings 😀

Magenta8 Sun 12-Apr-26 20:29:01

Like other GNs I am a fan of Norman Rockwell and Grant Wood. I would also add Edward Hopper (especially 'Night Hawks') to my list of favourite American artists. As far as I am concerned they are far superior to Jeff Koons or Jack the dripper.

Retread Sun 12-Apr-26 19:55:37

I see that John Piper's name has popped up here quite often. My OH came home one day with an "impulse" purchase, a John Piper of a derelict blockhouse.

Although I immediately wondered how much it had cost, I held my wisht smile and, I love it.

Moth62 Sun 12-Apr-26 16:56:27

There are so many that I love, but one painting that I should like to see in the flesh, as it were, is of an old blind lady touching the wedding dress of the young woman standing in front of her. One of my bridesmaids sent me a large wedding card with it on the front. I’m not sure what it’s called and i can’t seem to find it on Google. I just find it very poignant and touching.

bookwormbabe Sun 12-Apr-26 15:29:26

On Paul Hill by Stanhope Forbes, with its view over my home town, Penzance.

Chocolatelovinggran Sun 12-Apr-26 15:22:27

This is a fun thread indeed. I share other posters enthusiasm for Dutch interiors, the Pre Raphaelites, Eric Ravilous, David Hockney and enjoy Beryl Cook.
In reference to a previous question, in an early stage of my career, I taught in Lancashire.
The local authority collection of works of art could be borrowed to be displayed by any public buildings - schools, libraries, register offices. I thought it was a splendid idea.

JaneJudge Sun 12-Apr-26 15:18:21

this is a lovely thread

Chestnut Sun 12-Apr-26 14:55:09

Chestnut

Turner's 'The Fighting Temeraire' was the first painting to catch my eye as a youngster, but I'm mostly a lover of the Pre-Raphaelites. I have 'The Lady of Shalott' by Waterhouse on my wall, but it's already been claimed.

I will have to go with a very special painting Cave of the Storm Nymphs which I discovered is in a private collection belonging to Andrew Lloyd Webber so I'll never see it. The depth of the cave is what lures me in. Then I can lead a debauched life lying in the sand naked playing with jewels.

Sun 12-Apr-26 00:27:04
My 'Cave of the Storm Nymphs' has uploaded at last!

HelterSkelter1 Sun 12-Apr-26 13:21:27

Thank you everyone. I now have plenty to occupy me today and this week. I really appreciate being introduced to new to me artists and their work.
Enjoy your Sunday.

HelterSkelter1 Sun 12-Apr-26 13:18:12

Winterwhite I love Sybil Andrews' linocuts. I must look up the Grosvenor School and her history. She started as a welder I have just read.
I dont know the other 2 artists you have chosen, but will look for them this afternoon.

winterwhite Sun 12-Apr-26 12:14:38

John Sawrey Gilpin, 'Furiband'. Original is at Calke Abbey, same genre of horse paintings as Whistlejacket.

Dora Carrington, 'Watendlath' (in the Tate) I find mesmerising.

Sybil Andrews, 'Fall of the leaf'.

Sorry to put 3.

Einna Sun 12-Apr-26 10:17:10

P.S.

La Pie

Einna Sun 12-Apr-26 10:09:38

Le Pie by Claude Monet (The magpie )

The subtle tones in the snowy fields……just snow upon snow, and so beautiful.

And the farmhouse in the distance, promising warmth and security.

Greyduster Sun 12-Apr-26 10:08:55

Thomas Lawrenson’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington which hangs in Apsley House. Looking straight out at the viewer. There is something about it that I cannot look away from.

I also like the artists who recorded the first and second world wars; Ravillious, Nash, Nevinson, John Piper, Edward Ardizzone and Stanley Spencer.

Monica. I am also a huge fan of Norman Rockwell.

M0nica Sun 12-Apr-26 09:40:01

I might add, that every time I see this painting, tears come to my eyes. I would love to own it. Not just for the subject, but its depiction of the subject and its sheer artistic uality.

M0nica Sun 12-Apr-26 09:37:54

NotSpaghetti

I would also love to have American Gothic by Grant Wood. I have loved this since I first found it aged 15.
It is so full of expression yet seemingly blank.

We lived in Iowa for a while and it just feels perfect!

It makes me think of Norman Rockwell, who illustrated the front page of the American magazine 'The Saturday Evening Post'

My father came across this magazine during WW2 when he was stationed with Americans and bought it again when we lived in Hong Kong.

I loved Norman Rockwell's magazine illustrations. He always insisted he was an illustrator not an artist, but a few years ago I saw a touring exhibition of his paintings in Caen - and he can say what he liked - he was an artist - and social commentator.

This painting called 'The Problem we all live with' was painted in 1960 and it depicts Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old African-American girl, on her way to William Frantz Elementary School, an all-white public school, on November 14, 1960, during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis. Because of threats of violence against her, she is escorted by four deputy U.S. marshals;

O could not get the picture to print so here is the link www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/visual-arts/norman-rockwell--the-problem-we-all-live-with/

uick, uick, look at it now before Trump has it delisted and consigned to the fires.

Jaxjacky Sun 12-Apr-26 09:28:45

I’d like a Beryl Cook, her pictures always make smile. At the other extreme for years I’ve been fascinated by Hieronymus Bosch, so much going on, but often not much to raise a smile.

NotSpaghetti Sun 12-Apr-26 09:12:45

How interesting Sago I remember now yes, it was definitely the RA as I was forced to buy an "afternoon tea" ticket as I couldn't get a ticket when I could go any other way!

I just wanted to chomp my way through it so I could have more time in the show but it was a beautiful spread and I think it must have been in Keepers House as it felt pretty grand.

Sago Sun 12-Apr-26 08:29:27

NotSpaghetti

Sago did you see his big London exhibition some years ago - I think it was at the RA... I was amazed by his fabulous moody charcoal drawings which I'd not been aware of before.
They were stunning.

Yes, I was so lucky I got a free walk through.

My daughter’s friend worked for the RA and had spent many hours with DH on the composition.

As she took me round she relayed some lovely stories about him, apparently he only agreed to the exhibition if there was somewhere within the gallery he could go to smoke whilst he was working there!

I loved the exhibition, I also went to his Normandy exhibition, Big Trees at Warter and the immersive experience.

We once went to an exhibition about 30 years ago, there was a very stylised painting of an East Yorkshire scene, my husband recognised the place immediately as it was on the road to his prep school, his eight year old eyes saw the countryside exactly as Hockney painted it.