Tate Britain- The Romantics

This April Fools day was not foolish at all. Together with a friend, we decided to take a 20 minute sunny walk along the Thames and go to Tate Britain.

She decided to go for the Picasso exhibition while I decided to stroll along the gallery of the Romantics. She surprised me with a postcard of her favourite painting in the exhibition. So fascinating.

I spent the afternoon exploring the likes of Constable and JMW Turner. I only managed to go to 4-5 rooms in the end. With soothing music in my ears, I had one of the most enjoyable afternoons reading and delving into the paintings. I especially love paintings capturing nature and I lapped in Constable's Sketching from Nature. I was thoroughly fascinated by his depiction of the sea and the light hitting the waves. My favourite painting of all in that room was this. It looks much better in real life. The computer blurs the effect. I wish I could bring it home with me. I had the Narnia- Voyage of the Dawn Treader feeling of the sea flowing towards me. Ahhhhhhhh....

The ultimate work I fell in love with today was Constable's Cloud Study. He scribbled a beautiful, magnificent verse from The Farmer's Boy- A Rural Poem written by Robert Bloomfield which took my breath away.

Here it is:

With saunt'ring step he climbs the distant stile,

Whilst all around him wears a placid smile;

There views the white-rob'd clouds in clusters driven,

And all the glorious pageantry of Heaven.

Low, on the utmost bound'ry of the sight,

The rising vapours catch the silver light;

Thence Fancy measures, as they parting fly,

Which first will throw its shadow on the eye,

Passing the source of light; and thence away,

Succeeded quick by brighter still than they.

Far yet above these wafted clouds are seen

(In a remoter sky, still more serene,)

Others, detach'd in ranges through the air,

Spotless as snow, and countless as they're fair;

Scatter'd immensely wide from east to west,

The beauteous 'semblance of a Flock at rest.

These, to the raptur'd mind, aloud proclaim

Their MIGHTY SHEPHERD'S everlasting Name.

What a brilliant reminder this Palm Sunday of how amazing our Creator God is!