Very much looking forward to discussing
Samuel Palmer and The Ancients
on Saturday 5th September, 1-4pm in Enfield
for further details & tickets, please visit: https://eslifelonglearning.uk/services/
Samuel Palmer (1805-1881) “Coming Home from Evening Church” [1830; Tate]
Inspired by William Blake’s poetic and mystical images, Samuel Blake, leading a group of friends called themselves The Ancients, moved to the village of Shoreham in Kent. Intoxicated by the landscape, they created artworks of an idyllic pastoral infused with the rhythms of nature and sacred belief.
Exploring these “enchanted landscapes” today, we’ll review the broader social context and ask why the most intense of the Shoreham pictures remained hidden in Palmer’s “Curiosity” portfolio until the 20th century when, rediscovered, they enthused a new generation of artists.
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With plenty to see & lots to talk about, I look forward to seeing you there!
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Notes:
The best book out there on Samuel Palmer’s life is Rachel Campbell-Johnston’s “Mysterious Wisdom: The Life and Work of Samuel Palmer” [2016; Bloomsbury publishing].
Two very good catalogues of Palmer’s etchings and paintings are by Colin Harrison [2021; Ashmolean Museum] and William Vaughan [2015; Yale] and the British Museum (Print Room) has numerous drawings and etching by Palmer: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?agent=Samuel%20Palmer (nb. scroll down!)
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thecommonviewer 