Although the British Museum was fascinating, especially when I had the chance to see the Rosetta Stone in person and view the various grand, Egyptian and Roman sculptures, when I think of my favorite museum in London that we’ve visited thus far, I would gladly give that title to thew National Portrait Gallery. Whilst roaming the National Portrait Gallery, I was able to learn about key influential figures of Britain from the 15th century until the 21st century. I felt truly in touch with British culture and history while gaining knowledge of the lives of incredible people. Visiting the National Portrait Gallery has become one of my favorite activities that we’ve partaken in thus far in London. While walking through the oil paint exhibition, the story behind a specific portrait and how it sparked controversy from within the museum deliberators caught my attention. Gertrude Elizabeth Blood, Lady Colin Campbell by Giovanni Boldini, oil on canvas from 1894.
“Lady Campbell commissioned this magnificent life-size portrait from Italian painter Giovanni Boldini. Boldini pays special attention to Campbell’s black satin evening dress and the way it clings to her body. The elongated lines of her anatomy are reminiscent of both the sinuous contours of the contemporary Art Nouveau aesthetic, and elegantly exaggerated fashion drawings” (National Portrait Gallery). The regal nature of Lady Campbell gave me the immediate impression that she was of higher or noble status in society. Her golden bangle jewelry and long, silk extravagant gown show signs of wealth. She wears a small smirk with a calm expression, resting her head against her arm on a sofa in a dark lit room. Lady Campbell looks healthy and radiant with fair skin and rosy cheeks. She seems calculated, intelligent but comfortable and self assured. The dress has a low bust cut, giving a slight rebellious appearance to her figure.
“Lady Colin Campbell had gained notoriety in high society with a scandalous divorce case in 1886. Although she later had a successful career in the world of editorial magazine publishing and authored a number of books, there were concerns for the Gallery. Was she famous enough? Was she too scandalous as a public figure? On the other hand, would it be wrong to turn down such a brilliant portrait? The Gallery turned to its neighbour, the National Gallery, for help, who were persuaded to display the painting for ten years.”
“The reaction was instant. The dispute even made it to Parliament, with the Secretary of the Treasury urged to have the picture removed to the Victoria and Albert Museum, or “some equally suitable place of exhibition”. Despite the outcry, Boldini’s portrait is very popular with today’s audiences and is regularly subject to loan requests from institutions around the world. As Holmes sagely noted, “Time alone can decide the final importance of such acquisitions.”
If I were to step into the world of this painting, I would feel regal and powerful. Perhaps I’d hear classical music play, a symphony of keys and strings in unison for my enjoyment. I could hear chatter and the clinking of glasses and silverware from the next room of a dinner party. I might smell the burning of candles and firewood.
This portrait alone was able to cause major upheaval within British society amongst hundreds of people. If I were in Lady Campbell’s shoes, I’d feel amused, entertained and effortlessly in control.
Theatre in London U of A 