Up Close with The National Gallery

I'm going on BBC Radio Scotland's Culture Studio on Thursday to talk to presenter, Janice Forsyth, about a new film by veteran filmmaker, Frederick Wiseman.
A voiceoverless three-hour long close-up of London's National Gallery, it's safe to say it will have a niche audience when it opens this weekend in cinemas.
My son kept coming up and looking over my shoulder and saying: "Is it STILL on?" I had to pause every few minutes to tell him off for being online as the three hours was turning into four due to constant buffering.
His succinct view was: "Mum, it's SO boring."
Although there are chunks which could have been edited right down and it lacks any sort of narrative, I think it'll become an art anorak's classic.
It has some fascinating insights into the day-to-day running of an internationally renowned art gallery and collection.
I was particularly reeled in by the view from the gallery's top-flight conservation team.
The film was shot during 2012 when Titian's masterpiece Diana and Callisto was secured for the nation after the National Gallery paid £25m to its owner, the Duke of Sutherland.
It then joined its pair, Diana and Actaeon, in the shared ownership of the National Gallery and the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS).
This is a screen grab from the end of Wiseman's film, which shows part of a dance called Metamorphosis: Titian 2012, performed by members of The Royal Ballet.

Comments
Sign in or get an account to comment.