DOCUMENTARY: The History of Art in Three Colours

Not Lord Clark of 'Civilisation' but nevertheless very good watchable TV and erudite: James Fox eloquent, far-fetched but pleasurable.

'The History of Art in Three Colours' - GOLD / BLUE / WHITE. 

No longer available on BBC Iplayer but full episodes can be found on You Tube.

ART / COMMENT: Frieze Masters 2013

This month in London there were 3/4 art fairs, the best of these for contemporary art, Frieze, has been going for years. Frieze Masters, started in 2012, is art until the year 2000 - a very remarkable collection of galleries from all over and of very high standard, a welcome newcomer.

LIVING BY DESIGN: Chester Square, London in the 1970's

A first floor [US second floor] Drawing Room.  An Arshile Gorky painting, three JS chrome cloud tables and a brown leather armchair by Zanotta, a pinoleum blind on the window.

A plain, sandstone fireplace with a real fire

 - always desirable if possible.

ART I admire: St. Jerome by Cosimo Tura [c. 1470]

Saint Jerome is shown beating his breast with a stone while praying. This refers to the two years he spent in the desert of Chalcis (376-8) repenting of his sins. The lion, one of the saint's attributes, is on the left. According to legend, Jerome befriended the lion by pulling a thorn out of its paw. The other animals may symbolise evil or simply suggest the wilderness. The wall-creeper and the owl may symbolise evil (the owl's nocturnal habits were sometimes associated with sin) or may simply suggest the desert setting.

FABRICS: John Stefanidis Archive: FOIBLES IV

DVD: BREAKING BAD

Despite its critical acclaim, I resisted Vince Gilligan's Breaking Bad but finally gave in [the series came to an end in September in the U.S. - Alberqueque gave the Walter White drug baron a civic funeral] 

It is so compelling and funny and mesmerising - many more episodes to watch--hurray!  The best thing I have seen since David Lynch's Twin Peaks.

BOOKS: Darling Monster by Diana Cooper

A great beauty, a life enhancer, she spoke and wrote with a particular turn of phrase, she had a sense of humour, a vivid intelligence, once a friend she was always loyal.   Diana Cooper, when staying at my Dorset cowsheds, would give my butler Mr. Aubrey [mispronounced Miss Strawberry] unicorns; he ended up with a stable of these lovely creatures.

 

Why not read the autobiography - three books published in one volume by Michael Russell

(Publishing ) Ltd .

LIVING BY DESIGN: Portugal - Building Containers

Age-long craftsmanship adapted to modernity:

containers with all mod-cons, made to look traditional they can be dismantled and moved if need be in 48 hours!

CLEARING OUT OF POSTCARDS... with apologies to my friends

ARCHITECTURE I ADMIRE: Paul Andreu, National Grand Theatre, Beijing

FABRICS: Pinks

JS Paulina from the Claudia Collection in Pink/Navy

John Stefanidis Fabrics available from:

London, UK - Tissus d'Helene

Showroom: Chelsea Harbour, London, SW10 0XF

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7352 9977

Email: sales@tissusdhelene.co.uk 

Website: tissusdhelene.co.uk

Miami, USA - Monica James

Showroom: 40 NE 40th Street, Miami, FL 33137

Phone: + 1 305-576-6222

Email: sales@monicajames.com

Website: monicajames.com

Los Angeles, USA – Harbinger

Showroom: 752 North La Cienega Blvd,West Hollywood, CA 90069

Phone: +1 310 858 6884

Email: Info@HarbingerLA.com

Website: harbingerla.com

ART I admire: Perseus turning Phineus and his followers to stone by Luca Giordano [1634 - 1705]

LIVING BY DESIGN: Yachts

In summer, in the Mediterranean, one becomes cruise ship conscious.  Hideous, ungainly giants dwarf Venice and the Greek islands.  Yachts are even worse, built as they are for individuals and not the mass tourist market. The French call modern yachts 'fer à repasser' - an iron for pressing... 

'M/Y Limitless'

When it comes to boats I am a super snob.  Design star of the last decades is, beyond doubt, M/Y Limitless.  

Thanks to the owner's meticulous eye for detail, 'M/Y Limitless' is faultless, luxurious and impeccable, it has not aged an iota since being built by German shipmaker Lürssen in 1997, it has an elegant and restrained interior by the Parisien designer Francois Catroux.

'Dorade'

A sailing yacht design classic 'Dorade' by American yacht designer Olin Stephens II (1908-2008), extensively restored by my Uni friend at Oxford, Giusepppe Gazzoni Frascara at the The Monte Argentario shipyard, Porto Santo Stefano, Italy.  He has excellent taste in boats.

Giuseppe also built 'Anemos' with Nautor's Swan in Finland 

- an ocean going marvel. 

'Anemos' is a 34.34m (112'7" ft)  sail yacht

COMMENT / TRAVEL: Only in France

FABRICS: John Stefanidis Archive: ALANNAH

ARCHITECTURE I admire: Aldo Rossi

Lighthouse Theatre 
Toronto, Canada
1987

TRAVEL: ADIEU TO SUMMER [Patmos, Greece - Sep 2013]

A welcome visitor

ART I ADMIRE: Gerhard Richter