Sunday, February 15, 2009

Over the River and Through the Woods


TD and I went this weekend to visit my parents in Guilford, Connecticut, a picturesque town on the Long Island Sound above New Haven. On Friday night we took the train from Grand Central Station to New Haven, and then the little Shoreline train from New Haven to Guilford.

Saturday we went to the Yale Center for British Art in New Haven. I love that museum. The collection was a gift from Paul Mellon, and it is the largest and most comprehensive grouping of British art outside of the United Kingdom. It's housed in a peaceful building designed by Louis Kahn, and admission is free. I enjoy looking at the history of men's fashion, and there are many wonderful portraits here.

George Agar-Ellis, 1st Lord Dover, by Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1823

Self portrait by Joseph Wright of Derby, 1780

William, 4th Duke of Devonshire by William Hogarth
I like the white scarves tied at the neck.

On Saturday night my father grilled a steak and we exchanged some Valentine's Day presents.


After dinner we watched on dvd The Duchess starring Keira Knightley. Really good. Based on a true story, she plays Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire (1757-1806). Ralph Fiennes plays her cruel husband William Cavendish, the 5th Duke of Devonshire, and, yes, he is the son of the Duke of Devonshire pictured above at Yale. It's a beautiful movie (nominated for an Oscar for Art Direction), and I can never take my eyes off of Keira Knightley.

But it's a sad story about how women were trapped in that society with no rights.

She does survive it though.

On Sunday TD and I drove to nearby Hammonassett Beach State Park. Brilliant day, not a cloud in the sky.

We went running along the bike path.


I love a beach year 'round but especially in the winter when it is such a relief to be outdoors in the sun.


The few people that are there really want to be there.




On Sunday night we took the train home.

It was swell. Hope you had a good weekend too.

3 comments:

bevglen said...

Enjoyable weekend - enjoyable post;
the men's clothing in the portraits is really wonderful. I've never seen these before and I can't help but smile at Lord Dover who looks as if he's been painted while taking a call on his cell phone. Is there a catalogue that would have reproductions of these paintings?

Bart Boehlert said...

Bevglen, I love Lord Dover too, it looks like his jacket is velvet and lined in fur, pretty luxe! Not sure about a catalogue, didn't see anything like that in the museum bookstore, but it would be fun to find.

Easy and Elegant Life said...

Like Champagne, give me a beach any day and at anytime at all.