I had noticed the group of small oil sketches in the Courtauld Collection previously and have been hoping to find out a bit more about Georges Seurat's practice. The exhibition at The National Gallery from the Kröller-Müller Collection was not particularly inspiring.

There were a couple of conté drawings, one of which is illustrated here.

Georges Seurat
The Port of Honfleur, 1886
conté crayon on paper
22.9 x 30.5 cm

Georges Seurat
At Bas-Butin (Honfleur) 1886
oil paint on wood panel
17.1 x 26 cm

(without frame)

The studio paintings were mostly what I had expected but the small studies were quite remarkable having some 'glittery' colour and wonderful 'light'.

They did suffer somewhat from heavy framing and unfortunately deep shadows but I certainly found a painterly sensibility with which I could identify.

I was somewhat bemused by the introduction to the handout that suggested that Seurat did not mix colours on his palette. There was so much evidence in the small paintings that he did just that!

Georges Seurat
Study For 'Le Bec Du Hoc (Grandcamp)' 1885
oil paint on wood panel
15.6 x 24.5 cm

(without frame)

Georges Seurat
Marine at Grandcamp, 1885
oil paint on wood panel
16.5 x 25.7 cm

(without frame)

Georges Seurat

(without frame)

Georges Seurat
Study for 'The Channel of Gravelines: Petit-Fort-Philippe' 1890
oil paint on wood panel
15.9 x 25.1 cm

(without frame)

Georges Seurat
Study for 'The Channel of Gravelines: An Evening' 1890
oil paint on wood panel
15 x 25 cm

(without frame)

As is the way with many of the institutional galleries this exhibition is booked solid. I will probably not get back again as I have travel committments at the end of April/beginning of May!