J M WATERHOUSE

PRE-RAPHAELITE ARTIST

HYLAS AND THE NYMPHS, Manchester Art Gallery.

The author of this blog had occasion to visit Manchester last week, supposedly to see a concert featuring Jeff Lynn and the Electric Light Orchestra, which, unfortunately, was cancelled but that is another story.

Not wanting to waste an opportunity to see the rather good collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, I spent a morning in the Gallery. My first observation was that this very fine painting was placed high up on the wall, not at eye level, which made me think that perhaps the curators would rather we didn’t see the painting at all. Then I recalled that it 2018, there was a controversy surrounding this painting, entirely manufactured by the Gallery curators. Below the painting was a sign commenting that the painting had been entirely removed from view in 2018, as part of a “debate about objectifying women.” According to the people behind it, “a debate which was long overdue.”

Overdue to whom you may well ask. Well, there was a debate but probably not what the curators expected. Mostly condemnatory from members of the public and the painting was put back on display a week later on the instructions of the City Council. Though this took place seven years ago, it marked the start of curators arbitrarily removing paintings from view which they deem to be offensive, upsetting or “racist.” They made the mistake of inviting the public to leave post it notes with their comments in the empty space where the painting should have been.

Having learnt from that, the public these days are rarely consulted before the ban hammer falls on offense causing paintings and objects. They just disappear or, in the case of Rex Whistler, are replaced with the awful hectoring film where his mural and restaurant used to be.

As the art critic in the Independent stated: “whatever stunt the curators of Manchester Art Gallery were pulling, there is a more serious point behind this which appears to be questioning the validity of art made in the past, which we’re told, doesn’t chime with modern notions of morality.”

There appears to be no end to this current trajectory the museums are on. It certainly doesn’t chime with the general public that’s for sure. But I am glad I had the privilege of seeing this stunning work of art.

#J M Waterhouse, #Manchester Art Gallery.

July, 2005.