Rod Collins

Once more I’m on the culture trail in historic Lincoln. Already having reported on The Collection and The Museum of Lincolnshire life it just remains for me to visit The Usher Gallery - so I did !

The impressive Usher Gallery is set in the Temple Gardens. It’s there thanks to a bequest by James Ward Usher (1845-1921) and it houses much of his original collection.

The Usher Gallery

I’ve been a few times before albeit some years ago, and as the years have passed my interest and appreciation has increased - it’s nice to know some things improve with age.
There are some very fine displays of porcelain and particularly watches, clocks and timepieces here.
I was there primarily to see their collection of pictures - and it’s quite a collection - better than you might imagine.

There are numerous works by Peter DeWint all of which are quite simply a joy to behold. The gallery is famous for having two paintings by Joshua Reynolds, I thought there was also a Stubbs but I didn’t see that.
Obviously Reynolds is a big hitter in art terms but I have to say I was a little disappointed. There are two portraits, both painted in 1759, one of Thomas Middleton Trollope and the other Isabella Thorold.
Whilst obviously very good they were perhaps, to my untutored eye that is, not his best work. Be that as it may, it’s not everyday you get to stand in front of two painting by Joshua Reynolds !

My personal favourite was an oil by Michiel Jansz van Miereveldt (or Mierevelt it seems), (1567-1641) , of an elderly woman Maria von Wassenaer and was painted in 1612 - quite simply stunning and worth the trip alone.

Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle Wall from an Unusual Angle

I took this shot on the way back as it gets not only the Cathedral in but also Lincoln Castle walls and shows the cathedral from an angle not usually seen - I thought it worthwhile anyway.

Something undoubtedly worthwhile is a trip to the Usher Gallery which, like The Collection and The Museum of Lincolnshire Life, is absolutely free to enter. This does the local authorities great credit in my opinion, not only encouraging people who are on a tight budget but also readily gets families in and those just curious who wouldn’t normally pay - you just don’t know how any of those people’s minds and imaginations you might grab from this simple expediency.

Get yourself to Lincoln - you don’t know what you’re missing !

If you’ve visited the gallery or intend to feel free to leave a comment and share your opinions

On Canvasly Yours
Rod