IN London last week, I visited the small temporary exhibition at the National Gallery of Degas from Glasgow's own Burrell Collection. It's mainly pastels with a few oils, and with a handful of additional paintings from the National itself. I think the National claims that this is the most comprehensive showing of the Burrell Degas holdings ever.
It's stunning. It's a "must see" if you happen to be in London in the next few weeks. It's fantastic that this wonderful assemblage belongs almost exclusively to Glasgow. My point, however, is that I don't recall ever having seen it as fully and as well exhibited at the Burrell itself, nor as well documented. Those who are responsible for the refurbishment of the Burrell, please take note.
When the gallery in Pollock Park finally reopens, this part of the collection must be given the space and the prominence it deserves.
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Robert Love,
37 Kelvin Court, Glasgow.
CALL me a Philistine, and perhaps I am to architecture what Van Gogh’s ear was to music, but the urgent appeal to raise £1.5 million to the £3m already secured to build a protective box around the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Hill House in Helensburgh, which has been crumbling for years, raises the question in my mind at least: Masterpiece or Mistake, and National Trust for Scotland Folly?
R Russell Smith,
96 Milton Road, Kilbirnie.