Brandon Lee at the Wallace

17th century art has never really been a strong point of influence in my life. Mostly due to the lack of exposer I’ve had to it over the years.

However, recently I have had the opportunity to spend more time getting acquainted with it due to my work. Ive never worked anywhere where culture has been so encouraged as it is at Vivienne Westwood. As a result of the time i have been spending at Vivienne’s office, I have had the chance to visit several museums. Among these was the Wallace Collection.
This museum was particularly encouraged by Vivienne, as she tells me that it is “Really Important” that I go and see the 17th century Dutch Paintings they have on display there.

When I arrived at the museum I was surprised by the size of it, as it was much smaller than I excepted. However, I then walked upstairs to go look at the paintings on display. I saw all of them and liked most of them. The paintings that I saw were of a quality of art that was lost many years ago, so me being a “young person” was a little shocked. I was also amazed at how they have kept the paintings looking the way they do now for so long.

Everyone I spoke to after I went was asking me the same question “If there was a fire, which painting would you save”. That concept had never crossed my mind until then. However, being to the museum only one time I could not make an accurate decision on my behalf. So I went back a second time.
This time I went back with that specific thought in mind, and that if there was a fire which painting would I save. After this visit it was now clear to me. ‘Breakfast with a Lobster’, this painting in my mind was the one I would save from destruction. However, i feel compelled to say that it wasn’t the best, the most valuable, or the most pleasant one to look at, but for me somehow it was the obvious choice. I would tell you why I chose it, but I really don’t know. I just did. Thats whats special about it.
These paintings are so individual and so personalized that some just match up with a personality, like mine with the Lobster.

I plan on going back to the museum soon to see this painting one (hopefully not the last time) time before i return to the States. I would encourage everyone to go to see some 17th century Dutch paintings, especially young people. Don’t go just to “go” go with an idea in your head as I did with the fire scenario. You’ll find what you want to see more of that way.

The Wallace Collection 

Still life with Lobster,1643 – Jan Davidsz. de Heem (1606 – 1684)