Not the Renaissance but .......
I’d forgotten pubs as idiosyncratically
British as The Harp at Covent Garden still existed, the Harp, was especially interesting to me because of its black portraits.
Artist: Unknown, Sitter: Unknown, Date: Unknown
I was introduced to The Harp at the close
of a very convivial lunch in St Martins
Lane, my luncheon partner suggested a quiet pint in a local hostelry to
complete the afternoon.
We walked down St Matins Lane and he
insisted we turn into Brydges Place despite it being barely three feet wide. So
narrow in fact we had to wait for an oncoming lady before we could enter in
single file down the slim passage. Turns out that this is London's narrowest alley.
Artists: Unknown, Sitters: Unknown, Dates: Unknown
We entered The Harp through its rear entrance.
It was a sublime experience from the dark narrow passage into what seemed a
vast light filled room after the dark passage - the bar of The Harp, formally known as the Welsh Harp ,
it was renamed by its Irish owner Bridget Walsh, sadly now deceased.
Bridget’s art buying covered the Harp’s walls, there are portraits of men&women, young&old, beautiful&ugly and black&white
everywhere. I’m sure a knowing eye would recognise some of the sitters I was
unable to recognise any.
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Artist: Unknown, Sitter: Unknown, Date: Unknown
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I spotted at least four portraits of black
people. Sadly none of the artists or sitters are named like all the other
portraits on display.
I enjoyed an excellent beer delivered by
very friendly bar staff. The Harp was CAMRA pub of the year in 2011 and maintains
Bridget’s tradition of stocking a wide range of hand pulled specialist cask beers.
The afternoon at the Harp finished with some good old
chat amongst some lovely paintings in a quintessential London pub - styled with
the hand and eye of its landlady – a brilliant way and a recommended way to end
any afternoon as well as a great alternative to the near by National Portrait Gallery, if you’re interested in portraits!