A exhibition of new work from the painter John Bellany opened in Barga Vecchia this afternoon to the sound of Scottish pipes and fiddle as the Artist in Residence 2008 (articles here) Hamish Moore and his daughter played a number of traditional songs to welcome John and his guests to the piazza.

Two large crucifixion paintings dominate the exhibition with the trademark John Bellany bold use of colour and superb draftsmanship visible even in the most flamboyant brush marks imaginable scattered across the canvas surface. John’s particular interest in the armpit hair closely followed by the haunted expression on Christ’s face catches the eye in these paintings.
Smaller more intimate watercolours are also included in the exhibition, as a a couple of landscapes from Barga and surrounding area.

The exhibition can be found at the John Bellany Gallery in Piazza Angelio all this summer.