Maggi Hambling

[Crusoe]

Apologies for posting this so late but I did want to mention this edition, briefly, because it was another recent edition which I enjoyed greatly.

I don’t think I’ve heard a dull edition of DID which featured an artist. I wonder if pursuing a career in art provides a life of interesting experiences or whether having an odd background gives you the “artistic temperament”? Ms Hambling’s life was certainly unconventional and made for interesting listening. I was also touched by her devotion to her partner.

The choice of records, too, was enjoyably varied. It was clear that Oscar Wilde was an important figure for Ms Hambling and the particular recording she chose was enjoyably unusual. I also liked the George Melly and, I was surprised to find, the Beethoven, among others. I don’t recall a record being played which I didn’t like, actually.

The discussion of the shell at Aldeburgh made me look it up (I hadn’t been aware of it, previously) and it looks like an excellent sculpture to me. Stone carvings of dignitaries are all well and good but I find them a bit dull.

[Lawrence Jones]

webb said:

Apologies for posting this so late but I did want to mention this edition, briefly, because it was another recent edition which I enjoyed greatly.

I'd assumed contributors hadn't enjoyed it Mr. Crusoe

I wonder if pursuing a career in art provides a life of interesting experiences or whether having an odd background gives you the “artistic temperament”?

I guess they're functions of each other Crusoe. One's background will be construed as more 'odd' in proportion to the level of 'artistic temperament' and vice-versa.

I, too, enjoyed her enormously, especially all the comments in relation to painting her parents in death (think she said that) and I didn’t regard this as being morbid. My own mother died in March (not pedalling any sympathy story here) and took six hours to die, but I observed every second of her final journey, including her last breath and will certainly never forget her face in death. Ms. Hambling mentioned during the programme that she’s still afraid of death – a comment I understand perfectly. Coincidentally, one of the hymns at my own mother’s funeral was Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.

The importance of developing a positive rapport with her subjects was also good to hear and I wondered if the topic of conversation during a sitting ever modulated the style in which she paints a subject. I heard Mr. Fry speaking on Mr. Ross’s radio programme recently about how he can’t sing in the presence of people and it certainly changed my own mental picture of him.

No complaints either about her musical choices and I even have to confess that I love Lacrimosa dies illa

P.S. Hee-hee-hee-hee, I love the hole in the sleeve of her jacket in the BBC DID web picture! Also, has anyone noticed that she appears to be driving a 60’s car in that picture? Looks a bit like a Humber Super Snipe. Can anyone identify it?

[Crusoe]

Lawrence said:

I, too, enjoyed her enormously, especially all the comments in relation to painting her parents in death (think she said that) and I didn’t regard this as being morbid.

No, quite. Death is a part of life and I think that the real reason that people prefer not to have anything to do with it is not the desire to avoid morbidity but simple squeamishness. We do not like to be reminded of our own mortality.

Lawrence said:

The importance of developing a positive rapport with her subjects was also good to hear and I wondered if the topic of conversation during a sitting ever modulated the style in which she paints a subject.

I would have thought that the rapport was vitally important, since a portrait should convey more than a simple, visual likeness. I saw the television programme about Rolf Harris painting the Queen and it was interesting to see that, even in the short time available for sittings, he managed to develop a certain rapport that you wouldn’t, necessarily, associate with a monarch.

Lawrence said:

P.S. Hee-hee-hee-hee, I love the hole in the sleeve of her jacket in the BBC DID web picture! Also, has anyone noticed that she appears to be driving a 60’s car in that picture? Looks a bit like a Humber Super Snipe. Can anyone identify it?

Ah yes, the hole in the sleeve did show a mind that is not obsessed with image which, of course, created an image of its own. Definitely wearing painting clothes I don’t know what the car is but would guess that it could be a Super Snipe: all that chrome certainly suggested American origins.

[Crusoe]

It was a bit disappointing to hear this again quite so soon, although it does give an opportunity to look at that rather impressive car, again, on the website.