Dulwich visit planned

I'd like to offer you , Dear Reader, another fascinating tour, of the picturesque area south of the Thames, called Dulwich Village. Save the afternoon and evening of the last day of this month, 30th of June 2017! More details will follow, but let me just tell you that I've booked ten tickets for an evening event at the famous Dulwich Picture Gallery so do get in touch if you want to join me!

Street art in Dulwich, let's go there!

So, here is my plan:

Let's meet at Rocca Restaurant, Dulwich Village, at 3 pm and go for a walk around Dulwich taking in its charm and style, street art and quirky shops, the park, the old and new Dulwich College, alms-houses and more, to arrive at 6 pm for a Friday Late Opening (6-10 pm) with live music and other attractions while looking at the impressive collection (originally meant for the last Polish king) at Dulwich Picture Gallery, designed by Sir John Soane who once lived in Ealing, home of ARTification!

Would you like to know more?

Here you go then:

Usually we, the Ealing Walking, Talking and Exploring Group, explore the Ealing Borough area, but this time the late opening of Dulwich Picture Gallery inspired me to offer a walk further afield. You probably know that Sir John Soane's house in Central London attracts visitors from all other the world. His summer residence facing Ealing Green, in Walpole Park, Ealing, now under refurbishment, ranks among the borough's top attraction. This son of a bricklayer designed the Bank of England and many other buildings including his family mausoleum. A renowned art and antiquities connoisseur, he stepped in to design the first purpose-built public art gallery which gave home to the long standing collection started by Edward Alleyn.

Edward 'Ned' Alleyn, an English actor, was a major figure of the Elizabethan theatre, a businessman and founder of Dulwich College and Alleyn's School. When he died in 1626, he left ' 'hangings and pictures', mainly of kings and queens, sibyls and emperors, to the College: 26 of these paintings survive in the Permanent Collection'.     The collection grew bigger over the years, especially when enriched with what was meant for the last Polish king, Stanislav Augustus Poniatowski, who unfortunately had lost his crown by the time the two art dealers based in London had it ready. All these Dutch, Flemish, Italian and other European masterpieces, including Rubens and Rembrandt's works, were added to the existing Dulwich College collection which its founder started.They needed a home and this is when Sir John Soane stepped in. Imagine the enthusiasm of this great art lover when taking on the task of designing a purpose-built art gallery for the general public to visit!

It's nice to know that the people of Dulwich appreciate how much they owe these men from distant past: Edward Alleyn, Noel and Margaret Desenfans, Francis Bougeois and Sir John Soane. You too, Dear Reader, can read about it if you click here.

Edward Alleyn with a schoolboy in Dulwich College grounds, by Louise Simson

This makes me think of Ealing and Charles Jones whom the Borough of Ealing owes so much. I mention it in another post.