Monday, August 15, 2011

He might have been a spy but he didn't patronise

Best moment from an excellent episode of the always interesting The Reunion on Radio Four was an anecdote about the spy and art historian Anthony Blunt. Called upon to explain Van Dyck's portrait of Charles I to a group of nine-year-olds in the National Gallery he surveyed the children sitting on the floor and began thus:
"If I could just remind you of the historical background to this picture....."

1 comment:

  1. 8 year olds, ectually, in case you were checking up on whether we'd listened to the text.

    What kind of car did you take on holiday by the way - I was wondering if it was a lush and French Citroen.

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