Harriet Devine's Blog

Man Painting

Not just any old man -- this is the great American illustrator Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), and this is known, for obvious reasons, as 'Triple Self Portrait'. All Rockwell's liveliness and wit are here, and I love the way he's got some famous examples pinned up on his board. 

I've always loved Rockwell and have posted him before on here, so when I was contacted by someone asking me to post a link to a new site promoting his work, I thought I'd do it. It's called Artsy, and here's the link.  Looks like it's a work in progress, but it's got some biographical info, and so far just one painting -- this famous one, called 'New Kids in the Neighbourhood':

 

Any Rockwell lovers out there?

Great Shakespearean Actors by Stanley Wells

You may not know this -- why should you? -- but as a teenager I had huge ambitions to become a great Shakespearean actor. I learned famous soliloquies and practiced them in my room. But when I went to drama school I found out that I wasn't actually all that good at it. No regrets, as I've had a great life doing other things. But I was really delighted to get a chance to read and review Great Shakespearean Actors: Burbage to Branagh, by the distinguished Shakespearean scholar Professor Stanley Wells. 

Ranging from the Elizabethan period to the present day, this is a fascinating account of the performances of thirty-nine celebrated actors, with lots of lovely illustrations. Pop over to Extra Shiny and have a look!

Reading on the Train

Actually 'The Travelling Companions', painted in 1862 by the rather curiously named Augustus Leopold Egg (1816-1862). I've always found this a slightly odd painting, with the identical outfits and hats, though I suppose it must show a pair of twins. As you can see from his dates, he died young. He was a friend of Dickens, who described him as  "dear gentle little fellow," "always sweet-tempered, humorous, conscientious, thoroughly good, and thoroughly beloved'.