Checkmate

Today's the day . . . . . . . . . .  for a dry run

The new exhibition of the paintings of Henry Raeburn at Kirkcudbright Art Gallery is now open to the public.  Starting this week, a short guided tour will be offered on most days, for anyone who would like it - and I have signed up to be one of the tour guides.  My first one will be on Wednesday afternoon and as you might imagine, I've been doing a bit of swatting up on the relevant facts etc.  

Fortunately, my good friend Sharon was persuaded to be my guinea pig today at the Art Gallery - to see whether I could manage to put together an interesting and informative talk.  It was a very useful experience and I learnt a lot about just how much and what sort of things should be said.  The exhibition itself is very well put together and it's more a case of setting the scene and putting things in context at the time when Raeburn was painting.

The painting above is one of my favourites in the exhibition and shows General Francis Dundas, Governor of the Cape of Good Hope (1759-1824) and his wife, Eliza, playing a game of chess.  Eliza is just making the move which will 'checkmate' her husband.  

The expression on both their faces says it all ........................!