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Viewing Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution
Above Aquamarine and diamond tiara by Fabergé. Photography courtesy of HMNS
Above
Installation shot of Faberge in London, Romance to Revolution at the V&A
Above Aquamarine and diamond tiara by Fabergé. Photography courtesy of HMNS
Above
Installation shot of Faberge in London, Romance to Revolution at the V&A
20 November 2021 — 8 May 2022
Victoria & Albert Museum, London
https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/faberge
Think of Fabergé and glorious visions of jewelled enamel Easter eggs spring to mind. These magnificent objets d’art, however, represent only a fraction of the house’s artistic creation.
Bringing together around 200 objects, Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution tells the story of Carl Fabergé, the master Russian goldsmith, and his internationally recognised firm, while also exploring the Anglo-Russian relationship which saw the opening of a branch in London in 1903.
It was Fabergé’s trademark ability to transform everyday objects into opulent works of art that made the House so famous across Europe: royalty, aristocrats, heiresses, exiled Russian Grand Dukes, socialites and financiers flocked there to purchase gifts of unparalleled luxury. Many of these are now on display for the first time in the UK.
Highlights include the recently rediscovered Third Imperial Egg of 1887, found by a scrap dealer in 2011; and the rock crystal Peacock Egg of 1907-8, shown on public display for the first time in over a decade. Also worthy of note are a silver model portrait of Persimmon, King Edward VII’s most loved and successful racehorse; a notebook given by Emperor Nicholas II and his wife to Queen Victoria for Christmas in 1896; and a sparkling aquamarine and diamond tiara. Prepare to be spellbound.
19 November 2021, opening times vary
The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House
https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/
After a three-year, £57 million makeover, The Courtauld Gallery is finally reopening its doors. Visitors to the spanking new space will see one of the UK’s greatest art collections, ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, redisplayed across elegantly refurbished galleries. As hoped, this bijou trove shines brighter than ever before.
Among the treasures back on display are Botticelli’s large-scale masterpiece The Trinity with Saints and The Courtauld’s celebrated collection of works by Peter Paul Rubens. Other highlights include the gallery’s renowned collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces, such as Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882), Van Gogh’s Self- Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889), and the most significant collection of works by Cézanne in the UK. New to the hang is Cecily Brown’s Unmoored from her reflection, a large-scale painting specially commissioned for the curved wall at the top of gallery’s historical staircase.
After meandering around the permanent galleries, head to the top floor to see Modern Drawings: The Karshan Gift (19 Nov 21 – 9 Jan 22), a temporary exhibition showcasing an outstanding group of drawings by European and American masters including Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Georg Baselitz and Cy Twombly. Courtauld, it’s good to have you back!
Incubator—21
7 October — 14 November 2021
A. Society, Chiltern Street, London
https://incubatorart.com
An important platform for emerging artists, Incubator—21 is the brainchild of Angelica Jopling, the daughter of art dealer Jay Jopling and artist Sam Taylor-Johnson. Currently showing at A. Society in Chiltern Street is a series of back-to-back week-long solo exhibitions of the most exciting young talent working in London right now.
The six artists featured are Hawazin Alotaibi, Richard Burton, Charlie Gosling, Nathalie Hollis, Anne Carney Raines and Nick Sanderson. Exhibited works span portrait painting, sculpture, performance art and sound installation, and reflect the energy and culture of London in this post-pandemic moment. Concluding the project is Not Here (2021), an immersive sound installation by Angelica Jopling and sound artist Noah Berrie. Catch it while you can.