Why Beauty Matters VII: Rome. Brian Sewell : posh, expert, funny, and rather rude!

Brian Sewell, once Britain’s poshest, funniest, rudest and best-loved art historian and critic turns his expert eye towards Rome.
Brian Sewell (1931 - 2015) was a noted English art critic, educated at the Courtauld School of Art, London. He wrote for the Evening Standard and had an acerbic view of conceptual art (don't most of us?). The Guardian described him as "Britain's most famous and controversial art critic" while the Standard called him the "nation’s best art critic".
His arch, fruitily posh delivery marked him out among other critics, along with his biting humour. One wag described him as being "posher then The Queen". But no one could gainsay his expertise in art.

[@Paul-iv9mt]

When I read "The Complete Outsider" I was totally drawn in and could hardly put the book down. Totally at a loss having finished it. Apart from the usual general knowledge I was ignorant when it came to paintings and leaving all the entertaining and often shocking titbits ( which I thoroughly enjoyed) to one side, I ended up with something of an insight into the goings on in that particular branch of the art world. I like to think it left me wiser and better informed. For that I am glad he got round to writing the books merged into the complete work. I know he was despised by many but personally I think he was an extraordinary man and meeting him would have been a great privilege.

[@AntPDC]

Agreed. Just got back from (a very hot) Rome having visited a few times before. There's no other city on earth like it. This time I focussed on Bernini and spent a couple of hours marvelling at his sculptures in the Borghese Gallery - Apollo and Daphne and David in particular. Breath-taking.