British Art Is as Exciting and Heroic as Any in Europe ; `Many English Painters Attempt Philosophy, Only to Find That Cheerfulness Keeps Breaking In'

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THE OPENING of the rebuilt and rehung Tate Britain is a cultural event to match, and perhaps even surpass, the opening of Tate Modern. After years in which the incomparable collection was squeezed into half a museum, and then subjected to the indignity of a "thematic" hang which, in many people's view, made it quite impossible to look seriously at much of the art, it is finally displayed in a way that demonstrates the strength, beauty and continuity of the holdings, and, indeed, of British art itself.

I was extremely rude about the thematic hang at the time, and, if it's not just a great relief but a great pleasure to be able to sing the praises of this superb …