Where paintings have been – Matt Smith | Fitzwilliam Museum

Matt Smith’s lockdown adventure was spent in County Kilkenny.  From there he recalls being in the Fitzwilliam’s Gallery 6, where decades old wall coverings reveal memories of where paintings have been.  Effects of light and marks of use revealing the passage of time. 

This led Matt to an early photographic process called cyanotypes, creating an image using just paper, light and two chemicals.  Often used in the past to create flower prints, Matt’s mind turned to flower paintings by artist Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750) in Gallery 17. 

Hear how he makes a connection from Ruysch’s paintings to the decriminalization of homosexuality.