WHAT ARTS RELATED FILMS, BOOKS, TV DO YOU RECOMMEND?

Loved watching the 2015 film The Woman in Gold - the extraordinary story of Gustav Klimt's Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer - although it didn't get great reviews.

Here are some novels which I have recently enjoyed...

GIRL IN HYACINTH BLUE by Susan Vreeland (Vermeer)

THE PAINTER by Will Davenport (Rembrandt)

THE LACUNA by Barbara Kingsolver (Kahlo and Rivera)

KEEPING THE WORLD AWAY by Margaret Forster (Gwen John)

As we are in it for the long haul, if you haven't yet read Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch,it is my pick (almost 800 pages), I loved it! The Goldfinch is a painting by Dutch painter Carel Fabritius, dated1654,it's currently in the Mauritshuis, The Hague. The book won 2014 Pullizter Prize for fiction.

I wasn't a fan of 'A secret history' but I was absorbed by this book and it's characters.

The film by all accounts is a let down though.

I've just heard about the film Portrait of a Lady on Fire which sounds brilliant for anyone particularly interested in the arts. It is about a painter commissioned to do a wedding portrait...secretly. My son said it was one of the best films he'd ever seen - and he's watched a lot. I'll be looking out for it on Amazon Video Prime.

The Bolshoi is also streaming a number of productions. Unfortunately they are only available for 24 hours after the broadcast, but worth catching them if you can. Next one is this afternoon - 'Marco Spada', starting at 5pm UK time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-0ZfKcB-Xw

This is wonderful - I knew about the National Theatre and me and my family are planning a 'evening at the theatre' on Thursdays. But will also be great if the Royal Opera House are doing the same, as my son and I love opera.

How brilliant.. I'm definitely getting a lot more cultured from being at home! Also what a wonderful way to make it more accessible.

The National Theatre have just announced that they will be broadcasting through YouTube a play each Thursday night from the 2nd April. These will be free to all and are drawn from some of their most successful NT Live performances. Fantastic chance to see again 12th Night and a fantastic staging of Jane Eyre

That is such a good question Amber! I have just watch the film Effie Gray which is about the life of the model Effie Gray who was married to John Ruskin and the world of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. I thought Dakota Fanning was really good in it and with Emma Thompson directing if offered an interesting female perspective. I would love to hear everyone else's suggestions 😀