Art in the
Park: Highgate Cemetery – Eastern section
28 July 2026
The Eastern
section of this cemetery has probably its most famous monument: a plinth with
the gigantic head of Karl Marx. It also contains the graves of writers
such as George Eliot, musicians like Bert Jansch of more recent times, and of
course, others less famous. There was a funeral happening while we were there.
It is a very
pleasant jumble with stones propped up and close together. More ‘groomed’ than
somewhere like Abney in Stoke Newington. The site is sloping which results in
tiers and vistas of trees and tombs.
Michelle has
sent this interesting link which says more about the symbolism of different
grave monuments to the Victorians, based on the Undercliffe Cemetery in
Bradford:
https://www.undercliffecemetery.co.uk/gallery/funerary-art/
It was a very
hot day for artists but eleven of us arrived complete with hats, and one had
worked on the previous day. The images give a strong sense of the crowded
nature of the setting with its angels, obelisks and monuments, some very grand
indeed. It was easy to find shade.
The large square monument painted by Sue and Michelle is the Dalziel of Wooler mausoleum. He was
a early C20th newspaper and railway magnate and later a Tory MP. And Diane’s drawing is of
the imposing and unmistakable Karl Marx.
We had picnic
lunch on a park bench next door in Waterlow Park and some artists returned for more
in the afternoon.
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Gill Steiner |
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Diane Umemoto |
Janet Payne |
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Peter Colley |
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Michelle Cowen |
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Diane Umemoto |
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Janet Perkins |
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And three sketches of the Eastern
section, all by Audrey Rapier |
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