An exhibition of watercolours by Prince Charles opens at the NGA. His selection of 30 works from 2002 to 2016 spans the globe from scenes in the gardens of the royal estates in the UK, to landscapes in the Swiss mountains completed while on holidays to evening daubing sessions on tours to Africa. Ominous skies in deep shades of grey are a striking common feature. Each one is signed lightly in graphite with a single C and the year underneath.The prince has had years of practice, the best tutors and plenty of time to paint but he is a capable watercolourist, a fiendishly difficult medium. The accompanying video tells us much: he is diffident about his “talent” to the point of disconcerting humility on both his part and ours. Charles also comments that many organisations have requested to show his work but only the NGA’s request has been agreed to. Did we ask to show these works or did the Palace ask us to? (they are in a dimly lit corridor off the beaten track near the first floor toilets). Billed as an exhibition to celebrate his 70th birthday, WfaAR was left pondering why only a request from a national gallery – and an Australian one at that – was acceded to? The exhibition runs until 18 November.
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
