Travels through Burgundy - Margaret Loxton

As well as being the gastronomic heartland of France, Burgundy is the most picturesque of its wine-growing regions. In its thousands of little walled vineyards the vines are tended by the families who own them and nearly everything is done by hand. The paintings in "Travels Through Burgundy" are the robust, fruity product of a gentle journey made by Margaret Loxton through the Cote D'Or. Travelling by bicycle, she was able to observe the timeless ritual in which men, women and children harvest the grapes on sunlit hillsides, and in a series of colourful compositions she has captured the movement and gossipy camaraderie of the harvesters as they work their way laboriously among the immaculate rows of vines, bathed in the clear autumnal light of Burgundy.;Equally spontaneous are the paintings of village and small town life. In addition to the frenzied activity of a Burgundian market day and the religious festival at Beaune, there are scenes of relaxation at pavement cafes and over games of boules, and peaceful scenes such as the charming conversation piece "Le Dejeuner", where two farmers share a simple lunch in a homely tiled kitchen, while through the open door one glimpses snowy white geese, beautiful countryside and the distant hills of the Cote.;Whatever the subject, there is in all these quiet scenes an almost religious simplicity and harmony which speaks volumes about rural values and traditions. Indeed all Margaret Loxton's paintings show a deep affection and respect for the people of Burgundy and their lives of hard work, good humour and devoted care for the vine - lives to which the vines in return seem to lend meaning, tranquillity and contentment.