Plaudits
The Guardian
Arthur Smith
Thursday January 16, 2003
I abhor nothing more than bumping into someone I know on the tube. However charming or interesting the person may be, I never wish to have an enforced public conversation, and usually announce the need to get off at the next stop, where I wait for the following train - full, I hope, of strangers.
"I met you in a pub once," was the man's opening gambit, a statement I can never confidently dispute. For some reason, however, I chose not to remember an imagined appointment at Clapham North and fell into conversation with the man who, it transpired, was off to a Philip Glass concert. For the second time this week. Blimey. He used to work in the bookshop in the National Gallery, but had graduated to the information desk. He had also started, on his days off, to do visitors' tours of the gallery. What an admirable young chap.
The next day I joined my new chum, Leslie, and his tour group and we ascended the gallery's stairs, arriving appropriately at a big canvas of the Ascension. Leslie showed us six pictures, from a Fra Lippo Lippi to Seurat's Bathers at Asnières.
One of Leslie's themes was how art changes with time. For example, one picture he had intended to discuss had changed overnight into a completely different painting. It struck me that galleries must operate like football clubs: some pictures are on loan, others get transferred or injured, and the rest operate on a kind of squad system.
Leonardo needs a rest; let's play Botticelli for a bit. Tintoretto's The Origin of the Milky Way had been changed in a different way - by having a slice of its bottom cut off.
The real change that paintings undergo is in the perceptions of the viewer. An uninspiring canvas becomes a glamorous masterpiece when it is reattributed to a better-known artist. I reconsidered another painting on learning from Leslie that, when it was made, a picture was a poor man's substitute for a tapestry, and painters accordingly tried to "tapestrify" their work. Two other interesting facts from the tour: in Rubens's The Judgment of Paris, the three partial nudes are all versions of his own wife; and the nerdy Medici scholars' bible is Lorenzo il Magnifico's 1492 inventory. By being more sociable on the tube than usual, I had serendipitously enjoyed a small afternoon of history and old masters. I thanked Leslie, and agreed we would meet for a drink some time.
Back on the underground, I spotted a friend at one end of the platform. I turned and scuttled up to the other end. Link to article below.
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/columns/smith/story/0,12169,875535,00.html
Mike – City Lit, student:
This term I have been studying the National Gallery course with Leslie Primo –again a wonderful extremely knowledgeable and inspired lecturer who gives generously of his own time when necessary –this course has been absolutely riveting so far everyone in our class is enthusiastic about it Leslie has discussed renaissance and Byzantine Art pictures which we view in the gallery –many of these are pictures derived from the Greek myths this course has been so fascinating that it has stimulated me into rediscovering the Greek Myths –not read since school and I have bought a book from the NG shop which I am currently reading . Leslie brings the works of Art that he shows us alive –not all of these have been to my taste but with Leslie as our guide I have seen their value and understood a lot more about the works and the role of the NG in bringing them to us –I would definitely sign up for another of these courses with Leslie
Sally – http://www.arthistoryinfocus.com, student:
Thank you for an excellent day in the National Gallery yesterday. Please also say thank you again to Leslie for his discourse on the Judgment of Paris and Rubens. It adds so much more to hear the pictures linked as he did – I think I am getting more ‘friendly’ towards Rubens the more I know of him and see of his pictures.
S.J Simpson - Bristol:
We arrived at 11:30 at the National Gallery, London and Joined a guided tour. We spent a fascinating hour with a superb Guide. Leslie Primo's voice was a delight to listen to; even our over 60's ears could hear every word. His timing was excellent; the balance between information both of the technicalities and the background of the subjects and between humour and seriousness was just right; a first class presenter.
Dr G. Brawton - Lincs:
Today I went on a tour of the National Gallery, London with Leslie Primo. It was a most interesting hour, he explained in-depth the paintings, the artists, the history and the artistic techniques. A book or guide book could not have given us such a beautiful description.
Rev Francis Pole - West Sussex:
Excellent! What a superb speaker and presenter. Wonderful. What can I say - except I'd like to follow a tour of his again.
Corker. J - Hawaii:
I loved Leslie Primo's guided tour. The background information he gives on each artist's history on the painting's story and events of the time are fantastic. I will never forget any of the paintings he explained on his tour.
Julian English, London:
Please convey to someone in high authority, and to Leslie Primo himself, what a brilliant job Leslie did. He was on duty at 11.30 yesterday Friday 21 September 2007 at the National Gallery, London. He took take a group of us around 6 paintings/sets of paintings (actually 5 plus the wonderful Donatello school piece currently on loan to the National Gallery) – his knowledge and delivery and enthusiasm really brought the pictures and their times to life, which I know was shared by others in the group….as I say brilliant, very many thanks.
Adonica - Visitor to a National Gallery tour:
I wanted to give positive feedback on Leslie Primo's National Gallery Tour. WOW, what an interesting hour! Leslie's mind contains a vast amount of information and historical correlations which was most interesting to listen to. He was absolutely mesmerising and really brought the art work to life. He easily entertained and amazed a mixed audience of teenagers through to pensions, some with and without art history knowledge. His vocabulary was fitting and pronunciations just delightful. The combination of facts; good humour and wonderful demeanour, made for a very enjoyable hour. If it had ran on longer I really do not think that anyone of the audience members would have noticed or minded! Now that I have experienced such a wonderful tour I will endeavour to participate in more. A truly wonderful introduction to a beautiful collection.
