Harriet Devine's Blog

Andrea del Sarto

Many years ago I went to Florence, my first and last visit there, and in one of the great art galleries I saw this painting, which was labelled 'Andrea del Sarto: Self Portrait'. I stood in front of it for ages, totally transfixed. What a beautiful man. Of course I knew about this painter because of Browning's poem, which tells the sad story of his unhappy marriage and his dissatisfaction with his own work. I was reminded of all this by dovegreyreader's post on Browning, whose 200th birthday it is today, and thought I'd have a look at the painting. But oh dear -- since I was in Florence, it's turned out that this is not a self portrait at all -- it is someone else entirely.  This is what he really looked like and though I'm sure he was a perfectly nice chap. I'm rather disappointed. 

Girl Thinking About Reading

Actually called 'What Shall I Read?' (a dilemma that will be familiar to most of us), this very Edwardian-looking painting is by one Florence Marlowe, who I know nothing about.

Beryl Bainbridge Week

Several people who commented on Muriel Spark last week compared her to Beryl Bainbridge (1932-2010). And now Annabel has been inspired to host a Beryl Bainbridge week (more info here). I've only read one of BB's novels, her last one (The Girl in the Polkadot Dress), which I liked very much. I said when I reviewed it that I wanted to read some more and now I will -- probably starting with Harriet Said..., for obvious reasons. So I am definitely on board. See you there?