NEXT LECTURE  .  

January 17th
RENAISSANCE MARRIAGE AND MYTHOLOGY
Lecturer: Helen Oakden

Helen is Head of Art History at St Mary’s School Ascot and has worked at the National Gallery and the Royal Academy. Taking one mythological work each from Venice, Florence, and Rome, Helen explores the extraordinary secrets of Renaissance marriage. Giorgione’s Sleeping Venus, Botticelli’s Primavera and Raphael’s Galatea show differences between each city, attitudes towards brides, ideals of love and even bizarre anatomical beliefs. With such a focused analysis of just three paintings, the talk uncovers the politics, personalities, and sex lives of the Renaissance rich and famous. Warning – this lecture contains racy topics and imagery!

Remainder of Lectures 2024

February 21st
THE GEORGIAN JEWEL: A WINDOW OPENING ONTO A FORGOTTEN WORLD
Lecturer: John Benjamin

18th century jewellery is largely misunderstood and sadly neglected today.  A world focused on fabulous gems, jewellery auctioned for millions and diamonds bought for investment rather than beauty has little time and less interest in Regency shoe buckles, dainty Posy Rings and intimate lockets conveying messages of love.  This talk examines the innovative and fascinating period of jewellery design and explores key themes, inspirations and gems used in this elegant era – from Queen Anne’s soft twinkling diamonds to sumptuous Parures typifying the stylish exuberance of William IV. John Benjamin is a jewellery historian, lecturer, author and well known broadcaster. 

March 27th
THE ATHLETIC AESTHETIC – YOUR ARTS SOCIETY GUIDE TO THE 2024 OLYMPICS
Lecturer: Simon Inglis

Paris hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. Whilst most onlookers focus on sport, art and design will also play a part, as they have since the games began at Olympia nearly 3000 years ago. Greek art celebrated athletes on vases, plates and bronzes. Every four years modern hosts unveil dazzling new architecture: stadia, velodromes and swimming pools. Athletes showcase ideals of physical perfection. From nudity to Nike, from sand to synthetics, the Olympic story offers art lovers pure gold. Writer and historian Simon Inglis specialises in the architecture and heritage of sport and recreation.

April 17th
THE ARCHITECTURE OF MUGHAL INDIA: PALACES ,MOSQUES, GARDENS AND MAUSOLEUMS
Lecturer: John Stevens

Before the British arrived, Mughal Emperors ruled India. Their stunning 16th to 18th century buildings and gardens left an indelible stamp on India’s architectural and cultural landscape. Mughal architecture fused Islamic, Persian, Turkish and Indian architectural elements, producing some of the world’s most iconic buildings. From the Jama Masjid in Delhi, to the Taj Mahal in Agra, to the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, this lecture tours some of India’s greatest buildings, exploring historical contexts and colourful personalities who built them. Dr John Stevens gained his History PhD from UCL, and teaches at the School of Oriental and African Studies.  

May 22nd (TBC)
AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK:THE ART OF LORD DUVEEN
Lecturer: Mark Meredith

“Europe has a great deal of art, and America has a great deal of money”. Only one man had the quintessential English wit and charm to convince hard-nosed, tight-fisted Wall Street titans that, “when you pay high for the priceless, you’re getting it cheap”. Frick, Mellon, Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, Vanderbilt etc. all vied for his discoveries and until you were on his client list, you could be assured that you and your collection were second rate. Glimpse the oft-times hilarious world of Lord Duveen, and the art that made Wall Street’s toughest go weak at the knees.  

June 26th
VAN GOGH
Lecturer: Lucrezia Walker

We all know van Gogh. We know the Sunflowers, Starry Night, his self-portraits, the bright prismatic colour applied with energetic strokes of the brush. We know his life was not an easy one. But why is he so famous? What makes him possibly the best-known artist in the world? Why does every gallery gift shop display a Vincent gift? What makes his paintings instantly recognizable? His failure to find sales or success during his lifetime, his suffering leading to self-mutilation and later to suicide at the age of 37 are all well known. What happened during his short life, and afterwards, to transform him into the world’s best-loved artist? 

July 17th
NURSERY RHYMES OF LONDON TOWN: A MISCELLANY OF POEM, PICTURE AND ANECDOTE
Lecturer: Caroline Walker

"There is an Old Lady in Threadneedle Street Sits threading of needles so deft and so neat. . ." Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965) produced an instant hit for everyone, including soldiers on the Western Front, with “Nursery Rhymes of London Town” (1916, 1917), whimsical verses featuring London locations. Her much-loved children's stories, poetry, and plays followed soon after. Today, she is mostly remembered for “Morning has Broken” and her poem “Cats Sleep Anywhere”. Comic illustrations, by Caroline’s great uncle, Macdonald “Max” Gill, were crucial to her success. The lecture is a magical mix of poetry, picture and anecdote interwoven with tales of the talented Farjeon family, her friend, poet Edward Thomas and illustrator Max Gill.

September 18th
A CONCISE HISTORY OF OUR GREAT BRITISH PUBLIC PARKS
Lecturer: Paul Rabbitts

This fascinating insight into the history of one of our greatest institutions - the Great British Public Park - gives examples of parks across the UK, and their designs and architecture.. We all enjoy them but what do we really know about them? What are their origins? This talk ranges from the great Royal Parks through 18th century Pleasure Gardens, to their Victorian heyday, their decline in the sixties, seventies and eighties, and now a renewed interest in and affection for them. What makes a great park? A combination of many features including lodges, lakes, bandstands, fountains, lidos, palm houses and wonderful floral displays – in short, its ‘parkitecture’.