Courtauld Institute

Recently visited this hidden treasure in London - The Courtauld Institute contains some of the most famous paintings in the world, in a really beautiful setting. I had travelled over to the visit the Van Gogh exhibition at the Royal Academy, which incidently turned out really boring. Tickets for the exhibition sold out weeks previously, and when I arrived at the gallery there were a queue of people, waiting patiently on the off chance they may still get a glimpse of the expressionist artist.

I'm all for museums holding populist exhibitions, unfortunately the Irish galleries don't always do this enough. Anyway, this particular exhibition at the Royal Academy put 65 paintings, 30 drawings and 35 original letters by Van Gogh on display. The letters were mainly Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo and friend of sorts, Paul Gauguin.

Unfortunately the exhibition was rather disappointing- where were the Sunflowers? Although carrying a large number of works, the Academy failed to provide a glimpse of some of his most famous paintings. Where were the cafe scenes? Or where was the famous painting of the artist without his ear?

Let me tell you where.....

At the Courtauld Institute. I promise you, this is a well kept secret.

The Courtauld Institute can be located at Somerset House, 150 Strand, Charing Cross. I was buying an art book about Van Gogh, when the very helpful cashier told me about the Institute. Having left the Academy sooner than I thought, I decided to catch a taxi over and to try my luck.

It did not disappoint. I have never been so close to so many famous paintings in my life. Firstly there is a Michelangelo exhibition being held, with numerous delicate drawings by the Renaissance Master. I moved towards the Impressionism and Post-Impressionism room (permanent exhibition), to discover a sight to heal any poor soul.

Manet's 'A Bar at the Folies Bergere', Gauguin's 'Nevermore' (1897); Seurat's Woman Powdering Herself (1888) and of course La Loge by Renoir (reproduced below). Along with works by Degas, Manet, Monet and Cezanne.

Coming back to Van Gogh

I guess you know what painting I discovered next...... Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889).