Laura Knight: A Panoramic View
Milton Keynes Gallery. September 2021 – 20th February 2022
As our societies archivist I have, over the past 12 months or so, been assisting the Milton Keynes Gallery in a small way in the production of their new exhibition of Dame Laura Knights work entitled: A Panoramic View.’ Consequently, it was with pleasure that I was able to represent our society to the exhibition opening and gallery preview.
In approaching the gallery, I was a little apprehensive as to how well her paintings would fit within a modern ‘White Cube’ Gallery. These doubts proved to be a little misplaced as the staff have gone to some effort in transforming each room according to a specific period of Knights career. That said, the overall simplicity of the rooms ensured no distraction to the paintings on show. The exhibition is contained within five interlinked rooms with her work generally displayed in a chronological order (Beginning with ‘Study of a Girl’ 1893 through to ‘Unfinished Portrait’ 1970) but also loosely overlapped in career phases, titles as: Early Work, Newyln, Ballet, Circus, Theatre, Between The Acts, Gypsies, War and finally Malvern.
There are 160 artefacts on display, of which some 85 are paintings and studies with the remainder being a collection of ceramics, enamelled jewellery, personal sketch books and a unique lamp shade, (Which unfortunately could not be backlit) designed and gifted to Alfred Munnings in 1919, loaned by the Munnings Museum.
I still cannot overemphasise the impact and pleasure I felt when facing the original paintings in the gallery, showing off their vitality and vivacity of colour as opposed to spending the last 18 months viewing via a computer screen. As there is insufficient space for me to write about every picture on show, nor am I suitably qualified, I feel it worthwhile to share some of my personal highlights. As always; saying hello to one of my favourite paintings: ‘Allez Oop’ is a pleasure, as were viewing the sketchbooks and quick studies, including preliminary sketches for her ‘Nuremberg Trial’.
This exhibition has been curated in partnership with the Penlee gallery in Penzance and consequently some of the paintings and ephemera have transferred over to Milton Keynes. However, to those who visited Penlee I would still thoroughly recommend the visit, if only to enjoy the increased breadth and scope of her work on display: The largest exhibition of her work in 50 years; a true Panoramic perspective.
Michael Johnson