PRIVATE VIEW

Richard Ingleby
Saturday 07 November 1998 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Historic Houses Association - a kind of club for some of the most landed of our landed gentry - is 25 this year and to celebrate the event the Tate has mounted a small show under the banner "The Art of the Country House". One or two works have been borrowed from 62 of the finest private houses in the country and assembled in a very eclectic mix of old masters, miniatures, manuscripts and assorted curiosities, including a death mask of Napoleon and Mary, Queen of Scots' rosary beads.

The result is a fascinating selection of little-known things, many of which are not usually on show to the public, but one which seems to suggest that collecting in this country stopped some time in the mid-19th century. There are a few exceptions, such as a John Piper drawing commissioned by the Sitwells in 1942 and a fine little Fifties painting by Lucian Freud from the Duke of Devonshire's private rooms at Chatsworth, but for the most part the emphasis is on past times.

This isn't surprising - most of these collections were built up long ago - but I can't help thinking that it might have made an even better celebration to show more evidence of these fine houses as living things. None the less, it's an unusual and intriguing show.

Tate Gallery, London SW1 (0171-887 8000) Wed-28 Feb

Richard Ingleby

In Celebration: The Art of the Country House Tate Gallery, London SW1

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in