The shop windows of Fortnum & Mason are not necessarily the best place to see major works of art, nor the staircase an obvious place for a retrospective, but it is possible to see the full span of John Vertue’s career in both places, from the early tight graphic work in black ink, pencil and charcoal through to the more recent seascapes, painted in north Norfolk:-


Was he artist-in-residence when you were at the NG? Wonderful artist.
Yes, that’s why I know and admire him. Charles