I love to travel whenever possible, and wherever you go you always find some amazing artwork that you may or may not have seen or heard of before. Travel is a great way to discover works of art up close and personal - and it always surprises me how different it is seeing a painting or sculpture in the flesh, even if I'm already familiar with the work in question from books or prints. It seems to be easier to make that connection with the artist who worked hard to create it.
Here are a few of my favourite travels:
Medieval Frescoes in Istria
On the 17th July 2009 I made a journey by bus from Porec in Istria to visit Sv Marija na Skriljinah (Church of St Mary on Skrilinah), an incredible church that sits in the woods just outside of a small town called Beram. The town of Beram sits on top of a large hill and once you've made your way up to the top you find yourself in a quiet little town centre with a small church. Here you can see an alter painting by the famous Croatian painter Celestin Medovic. I met a friendly old couple there in the centre of Beram and the old lady asked if I had come to see the frescoes. She told me to wait while she went to find her neighbour who looked after the key to the church. Before long another lady appeared with a great big iron key, but I soon discovered that because I hadn't brought a car with me I'd need to wait until someone else came along who could drive her to the old church and back again as it was a good walk from the town.
I took her directions and followed a path from the town into the woods below. It was slightly wild on the approach, and at one point a large black snake slithered across the path in front of me. I found the church, made myself comfortable, and started sketching some of the many large pine cones lying on the ground around the entrance. An hour and a half passed before a car drove down through the woods and the lady appeared again with the giant key.
The church of St Mary is full of frescoes painted by Vincent of Kastav in 1474. I was completely bowled over by how unique and fresh these paintings were. They were executed with such a sensitivity and there is a clear personality which speaks from the work. One of the most striking and powerful paintings shows people from all walks of medieval life being led by skeleton guides to their inevitable fate. Knights, kings and peasants, proceed together in the 'Dance of Death'. I was amazed to hear that at some point these beautiful frescoes were covered up and totally hidden from view, only to be rediscovered in the 1930s.
I took her directions and followed a path from the town into the woods below. It was slightly wild on the approach, and at one point a large black snake slithered across the path in front of me. I found the church, made myself comfortable, and started sketching some of the many large pine cones lying on the ground around the entrance. An hour and a half passed before a car drove down through the woods and the lady appeared again with the giant key.
The church of St Mary is full of frescoes painted by Vincent of Kastav in 1474. I was completely bowled over by how unique and fresh these paintings were. They were executed with such a sensitivity and there is a clear personality which speaks from the work. One of the most striking and powerful paintings shows people from all walks of medieval life being led by skeleton guides to their inevitable fate. Knights, kings and peasants, proceed together in the 'Dance of Death'. I was amazed to hear that at some point these beautiful frescoes were covered up and totally hidden from view, only to be rediscovered in the 1930s.