Into the garden's dying dream

  Today is the final day of the Impressionist Gardens exhibition, and we went this morning for a last look. Queues were building very early on, the catalogue has sold out (though it is available here and here) opening hours have been extended this week - it must have been one of the most popular exhibitions the National Galleries of Scotland have ever put on.

    There are gardens captured at all seasons and in all moods, shown from within, from without and with a view to what's beyond; there's the domestic and the everyday and the grand and the public, the ordered and cultivated and the winsomely wild. The picture above suits this time of year, of course; it's In the Pergola (c.1912-13) by Marie Egner, "[It] was painted in Italy, and contrasts the last fruits of summer - luscious grapes, and red and yellow gourds - with the hint of autumn chill which accompanies the withering of the vine leaves."

    The book goes on to say that Egner was an admirer of the work of Richard Strauss - "he is always distinguished and has splendid colour" - and would surely have appreciated September from his Four Last Songs: "The summer shudders silently towards its end. Leaf after golden leaf drops ... The summer smiles, astonished and weary, Into the garden's dying dream..."

   Here is Jessye Norman singing that beautiful song.

Comments

[m]

Lucky you, having a chance for a second look. There were so many artists I was unfamilar with it. I loved the one by James Guthrie ... can't remember the title but it looked like Jean Brodie's 19th century maiden aunt having tea in the garden with a fabulous silver teaset!

[m]

Unfamiliar. Sorry. Why do I never spot mistakes until they're posted!

[Margaret Powling]

How I love Jessye Norman singing Four Last Songs ... but I'm afraid I can't bear to listen to this right now as it always makes me weep!
That is a wonderful painting, redolent of early autumn, thank you so much for posting it today.

[Dark Puss]

Four Last Songs; I heard all four of these rather well sung (but not by Norman) live at work a few months ago.