Last weekend I
visited the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Wirral. Having grown up about
an hour away, I have to confess this was my first time. I had read
about Port Sunlight when I was student- a model village built in 1887
by Lever Brothers the soap manufacturers. It fits into that
philanthropic employer movement that is so sadly lacking today.
What I was not
prepared for was the sense of space. The main road is of boulevard
proportions lined by houses in the Arts & Crafts style. There are
900 houses but it does not feel cramped, the overall impression is of
light and space.
The Lady Lever Art
Gallery has a permanent collection of Pre-Raphealites, sculpture and
much Chinese porcelain. It also has a Napoleon Room- the Victorian's
had romantic take on Napoleon that I don't myself understand. There
is a sign saying that research has shown that the furniture is later
than first thought, but there is a death mask.
What really
impressed me was the temporary exhibition of Turner watercolours.
They were superb. If you get a chance to see this travelling
exhibition take it. You will not be disappointed.
 |
| The Bowling Green |
 |
| The Hillsborough Memorial Garden |
No comments:
Post a Comment