Small Cities

How is that Siena, a city of some 15,000 people in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, could create so many outstanding, dazzling, inspiring works of devotional art and beautiful buildings (as seen in the amazing exhibition at the National Gallery in London till January 13th), when Faversham struggles to create a single coherent design anywhere for its streets, pavements, buildings, park or houses? We have 20,000 people - most of whom are reasonably well educated and with access to enough money live on, one way or another. We have civic pride and a sense of community, more than many other small towns. We have artists and even patrons. We have churches and confraternities (let's say 'groups who come together for mutual interest, including charitable works). We have some new art in the Roman Catholic church in Tanner Street - a mural on the altar wall painted by the late, great Edward Ardizzone, and other interesting pieces in the Shrine of St Jude under the main church. But what else? Very little. And why not?
Go and see the art works of Siena while you can, in London.
Astonishing.