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Home | Welcome | Episode1 | Episode 2 |
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Readers Letters
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Recently discovered on a Rubbish Tip at Seghill in Northumberland the canvas hanging
just to the left of the main door is probably the only remaining example of
Queen Bodemenia a royal personage with a fearsome reputation- Artist definitely
unknown. One critic has described this picture as having an almost elemental
and ageless quality and he compares her enigmatic smile to that of Da Vincis's more
famous masterpiece , the Mona Lisa. Indeed in his article in the Evening Chronicle
he goes on to say that this painting is of such high quality that it deserves to be hung
in the National Portrait Gallery . Failing this perhaps a place could be found in either
the Tate or Saatchi & Saatchi galleries both of which are well known for
promoting the very best ( if not contentious) in contemporary art. e.g. the
famous "pile of bricks" or the infamous "half a dead sheep
". In this respect some would argue that an animated GIF on a PC in one of these
galleries would not seem out of place?
Unfortunately the Baggshott - Browne's are so hard up and the Hall is in such disrepair it seems likely that the collection will have to be sold off. At present Sir Jeremy is heavily disguised as a tramp in order to avoid his creditors who are combing the hall and grounds searching for him. All credit to Lady Cynthia's skills as a makeup artist as Sir Jeremy has already been ejected twice by Security. Regrettably the sum of cash needed to restore the Hall and pay off the creditors and death duties would require the kind of funding that only the National Lottery or the Arts Council could provide. A donation from either seems most unlikely in the light of recent experience. In the case of the Arts Council they have been accused in 'The Times' (2/04/98) as cultural snobs and elitists for refusing to give regular funding to the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company which has performed the works of Gilbert and Sullivan since 1875. It seems that like Hardup Hall the company will be forced to close within months unless at least £600,000in public money is made available.
Sir Jeremy has offered the Company free use of the Hall but of course there is always a danger that he may himself be ejected from the premises before they have an opportunity to stage any fund raising events.
© B J Pearce 98
