It couldn’t be better timing for Bath art gallery owner David Simon that his latest Bartlett Street offering coincides with a major exhibition of portraiture by Pablo Picasso at London’s National Portrait Gallery.
David features the paintings and ceramics of one of the great man’s models. Lydia Corbett – or Sylvette David as she was known when she met him in 1954.
She was his ‘girl with the ponytail’ who featured in more than 60 portraits in various media, including drawings and sculptures – as well as 28 paintings.
It was one of the most concentrated bodies of work – inspired by a single woman – that Picasso ever executed.
It was also the first time he had worked successfully from a model and one who did not share his bed. She never actually posed for him nude either.
David Simon Contemporary Gallery turns the artistic attention on Lydia’s own artistic abilities with some forty paintings in pen and ink – as well as oils.
This collection showcases both new paintings of figures and English and French landscapes as well as previously unseen work from her studio. A selection of ceramic will accompany this show.
Bath Newseum asked David Simon was the exhibition was so special.
Lydia Corbett: La Danse de la Vie
is at David Simon Contemporary at 4 Bartlett Street, Bath BA1 2QZ until November 27th.
http://www.davidsimoncontemporary.com/exhibitions/current/lydia-corbett-bath-4-11-16-29-09-16/
