From Kew Gardens to the World. The Adventure of a Flower Hunter
Location: Marianne North Gallery
Address: 193 Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 2AA
Marianne North fell in love with the flowers of Kew Gardens. Then she began to travel - from North America to Japan, from India to the Caribbean, all the way to Australia and New Zealand, following the advice of Charles Darwin. During these travels, she depicted 900 species of plants in their natural habitat, sometimes including animals, temples or people. Contrary to the usual water colours of Victorian botanical illustrations, the “flower hunter” created vibrantly coloured high impact oil paintings. After challenging conventions with her solitary journeys, in 1882 she became the first woman to whom England dedicated an entire gallery. It can be found right in Kew Gardens and bears her name - 833 paintings are on display, arranged according to their geographical provenance, allowing visitors to retrace the steps of this artist and naturalist of the 1800s through dramatic landscapes among exotic plants and the stunning colours of tropical flowers. One of these paintings remained undisplayed until a few years ago when, during restoration work, and a surprise was found behind a Victorian poster - “No life is as charming as that of the English countryside and no flower is as sweet or more adorable than the primrose, bluebell or violets that grow all around me,” wrote the indefatigable traveller when she finally arrived home.
Works on display differ vastly in subject, ranging from sacred compositions such as Michelangelo's Virgin and Child with the Young St John and Raphael's first design for his Disputa fresco, to secular decoration and designs for metalwork, including a table fountain by Leonardo da Vinci.
The thin thread that binds Hockney to Piero della Francesca
Two Hockney paintings, one showing his mother and father and the other depicting his friend, will be displayed with the "thread that ties them together", Piero della Francesca’s The Baptism of Christ.
Judy Chicago rose to fame in the late 1960s for making works from a female-centered perspective, challenging the male-dominated art world landscape. Her work is characterized by a commitment to craftsmanship and experimentation.
An exhibition to show how fashion photography has moved past the simple presentation of product lines to reflect on the reality of our lives, to explore our aspirations and to push at the boundaries of creativity.
An Emperor’s Jewel - The Making of the Bvlgari Hotel Roma
A new movie starring Bvlgari Global Brand Ambassador Priyanka Choora Jonas and produced by Atomic Production and directed by Andrea Rovetta, gives viewers an unprecedented view of Bvlgari Hotel Roma, taking them behind the scenes to discover the craftsmanship and culture that inspired the property.