Francis Bacon used to say all he wanted from art was excitement.
Two electrifying showings of large paintings by the Royal Academicians Basil Beattie and John Hoyland fill the bill. A small room at Tate Britain, part of the BP British Art Displays, has four Beatties from the permanent collection (until 3 June), including 'The Difference Between II', 2005, right.
People can see what they like in the shapes and relationships, but above all here is paint manipulated with bold and marvellously sensual dexterity. And the dining-room of the Arts Club, 40 Dover Street, W1, is temporarily decorated with recent canvases by Hoyland, who still calls the shots after 40 years as top gun of no-holds-barred colour painting (all welcome).
Source: Spectator, The London
