At the Dundas Street Gallery this week, a new exhibition, “Tranquil Destinations”, by Jamie Primrose will take you on a sunny Continental journey. The French and Italian Rivieras - Cote d’Azur, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Provence - and the incomparible city of Venice.
On the Ligurian Riviera is the charming town of Portofino which curves around a half moon bay, the harbour lined by super yachts, motor launches, ferries and fishing boats, beside a row of shops, bars and restaurants. The soft pastel colours (ochre, peachy pink, lemon yellow) of the stonework are reminiscent of Tobermory, Mull – but in the blazing heat of the Italian sun!
Jamie Primrose spent time last summer staying along the coast in Sestri Levante, a favourite with Milanese residents many of whom own holiday homes in this attractive resort. The quietly composed painting, “Impressions on The Bay of Silence” neatly illustrates a scattering of anchored boats and the sweeping promenade along the beach.
The region of Cinque Terre winds its way through five distinctive villages, perched along the shoreline and dramatic cliffs. “Late Afternoon in Manarola” depicts the symmetry of higgledy-piggledy houses and steep terraced vineyards above. Heading inland to Tuscany, here too are exquisite views of San Gimignano, with its Medieval skyscraper towers, a patchwork quilt of green fields, painted from early morning to the soft afternoon shadows.
Wander around the gallery on this artistic journey around Italy to arrive at the most romantic, most beautiful city in the world, La Serenissima, Venice. This majestic vision can be experienced in a series of superlative paintings, which detail in fine precision the stunning architecture along the wide waterway. From a perfect position on the Accademia Bridge, Primrose captured the same view from the soft light of dawn to richly vivid sunsets.
“Last Light on the Grand Canal, Venice” is given pride of place on the right hand wall so that you can stand back and study at a distance. Here are the grand Palazzos in varying shades of terracotta, sand, daffodil and cream and the rounded domes and spires of distant churches. The dappled water shimmers in the soft light before dusk. A final glaze added last week to the lower right corner creates a soft shadow, which draws the eye along the length of Canal.
After-Canaletto, Primrose brings a refreshing, pure, impressionistic view of this famous scene, devoid of vaparettos, boats and barges, to show the tranquility and timeless, magical sense of place.
Travel on to Cote d’Azur with the clear azure, turquoise water of the French Riviera - Nice, Eze, Villefranche, St Paul de Vence and on to Provence with verdant vineyards and fields of purple lavender.
Having viewed Jamie Primrose’s work over the past decade, “Tranquil Destinations” is a most impressive exhibition and clearly demonstrates his creative, crafted development as an accomplished and mature artist. Visit the Dundas Street Gallery this week to experience an evocative, painterly tour around France and Italy (with a side trip to London), to see this superb collection of modern masterpieces.
Canaletto, eat your heart out!
The Dundas Street Gallery, 6a Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6HZ
“Tranquil Destinations” runs from 9 – 17 June, 2017
Mon-Fri. 11am-6pm – Sat. 11am-5pm.