Thursday 5 July 2012

Tantrums And Serious Reflection


There was so much to see at the Huntington Library and Gardens. Being nerdy types we could have happily used a week in the library and art gallery.

The art collection is in the Huntington mansion. Much was European, including significant British works. It was rather disquieting to see so much of my heritage in a Californian museum. When we got to "The Blue Boy" by Thomas Gainsborough, an icon of British art, I had worked myself into a patriotic lather. "Well", I declared, "I think I'll be popping a few things into my purse and taking them back to the U.K."

Terrified Ssshing from my husband along with anxious glances at the guards. Really, I was hardly going to stuff Master Jonathan Buttall aka "The Blue Boy" into my miniscule fanny pack.

                                                                                      

Gainsborough was at the height of his powers but receiving few commissions when he painted “The Blue Boy”.  His intention was to impress potential patrons and in doing so he created a masterpiece. There was a public outcry in Britain when the painting was sold to Henry Huntington in 1922. The details of the actual transfer of the painting to the U.S. were kept secret due to fear of disruption.

The Serious Stuff:

Since my jingoistic huff, I have given some earnest thought to the matter of cultural icons in foreign ownership. I’ve ended up with a markedly different point of view.

Due to war, racial stereotyping, greed, propaganda and religious extremism the worst of any culture is almost constantly before us. Sharing what is fine and noble from all cultures is not only O.K. but essential if we are ever to understand, respect and identify with each other.

So here are my rules, because of course the world is going to pay attention to a middle aged housewife from the prairies.

If you own it let other people look at it, lots of people, especially the young and impressionable.

Let it travel to as many places as possible. Oh stop with the horrified gasps and hand wringing. Technology can provide a way to have masterpieces safely travel the world.

If it was stolen, give it back. If you get it back, enjoy it, and then consider my first point.

Spiritual artifacts and human remains to be displayed only with the permission of the originating culture, return them if requested, even if you paid big bucks for them.

What do you think?

11 comments:

  1. I agree in principle with what you say - good art is there to be enjoyed by everyone.

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    1. A local native museum and the contributing native band have an arrangement where the pieces on exhibit can be signed out and used for ceremonial and spiritual events. I rather like them still being used for the original purpose.

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  2. I agree. One culture is no more innocent or guilty than any other, with a few exceptions (all indigenous cultures). Having read this I suppose I should cal the Louvre and tell them their Vermeers are on their way. But I'm keeping my Joan of Arc statue! :o)

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  3. You could display them in your garden. Have the sprinkler going to maintain the correct moisture and adjust your lovely green shade for light and temperature control. I'm sure the Louvre would be impressed.

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  4. I appreciate the thought you have given this sticky issue, Susan-- and your fine conclusions fit my "we are all earthlings" perspective. p.s. When you can, buy NEW original local art so artists can eat and continue to work and so your house will be an (even more) unique place to live!

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  5. Good idea. Art hunting will be fun.

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  6. Actually, I think your rules sound perfectly sensible. Thank you for joining me over at Living Life. I look forward to hearing from you soon. I'll be back soon to browse more. Bonnie

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  7. Thanks Bonnie. I will be visiting you too.

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  8. One of the wondrous thing about blogs is that it means a middle aged suburban housewife listens to a middle aged housewife from the priairies. (Which may go a little teeny tiny way toward changing the world) Gainsborough is superb, I wonder if there is a difference between works that are produced as art like the Gainsborough and works that are part of a culture that has religious connotations like indigenous artefacts. So the indigenous stuff should definitely be returned and it's up to them to decide whether to exhibit or not. The pure art, I don't know, does it matter where the artist was born and where the art ends up being shown?

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  9. dear susan, since writing last comment, I have thinking and thinking about this interesting and challenging topic. My latest opinion is: I dunno - what is art, what is an icon and who decides, what is culture? I will now go out and dig compost to get into something unambiguous and empirical! cheers, catmint

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    1. Two useful comments, catmint. As for changing the world-I have plans....

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