The Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon holds one of the world’s finest arts collections. With a fortune amassed from canny deals during the emerging modern oil industry, the enigmatic billionaire was able to buy Renaissance paintings, Rembrandts from The Hermitage, Lalique glass, carpets, Iznik ware, and much more. 

Is genius enough for artists & designers to reach fame and hold on to it? In the 1950s Finn Juhl’s unique and iconic furniture made him one of the most globally celebrated designers, yet 30 years later he  descended  into total obscurity, his work selling for a mere pittance. Yet today he sells for 5 figure sums! His journey tells us much about this world we live in! 

Three designers who  took fashion into art and became synonymous with luxury and elegance after the privations of WW2. You will find out why Haute Couture is an art form, rather than just fashion. 

The Victorians were inveterate travellers, some for pleasure, others for work. From his archive of unpublished letters they wrote home, John tells some of their stories, from the steppes of Asia to the battlefields of the American Civil War. 

The success & legacy of the Fab Four remains unrivalled. This talk re-lives their greatest moments, and highlights the many unsung heroes who helped them achieve it.

Iznik ceramics are a type of hand-painted Ottoman ceramic produced in Iznik, Turkey, from the late 15th to the 17th century. They are known for their vibrant colours and intricate designs, which were influenced by Chinese porcelain but evolved into a distinct Ottoman style featuring stylised flowers like tulips and hyacinths. The technical quality and unique designs, including a brilliant red, deep blue, green, and black outline, made them some of the finest ceramics of the era.

There was far more to this civilisation than the enormous monuments we see today. An advanced understanding of mathematics and astronomy, a complex calendar they developed, and a hieroglyphic script which is now being deciphered, allowing a greater understanding of their astonishing achievements. 

Musicologist and gigging musician Sandy sheds light  on one of music’s most important genres. From the early years of jazz up to WW2  and the dawn of swing. Musical illustrations  range from the blues, ragtime, and the very  first jazz recordings.

This lecture is all about the value of art. The different ways we consider her expansion, - as as social economic, and of course monetary. It will ask why some things survive the test of time, and others do not. Also, arts as an interchangeable commodity from the black market to repatriation.

This talk is not part of the Members programme and is the annual TASWS fundraiser for its Young Arts Programme. We ask for a donation to come along.

Tony uses art of the nineteenth century to tell the story of the westward expansion of the United States from the first explorations and contacts with native Americans to the near extermination of the buffalo.

Gustav Klimt and his colleagues broke away from the imperially endorsed art institutions in Vienna in 1897 and founded the Secession. That was the same year that Gustav Mahler arrived to take charge of the Opera House in the city. Comparing these two totemic fin de siècle talents, this lecture places Klimt and Mahler in context, asking what fundamentally links and, indeed, divides them.

The Impressionists were an innovative and radical group of artists whose took Paris by storm in the 1870s. Using new colours and techniques, they created paintings of modern life which shocked and horrified the art establishment. From the start the group included women artists who, but their contribution to Impressionism, has often been overshadowed by their male contemporaries. Marie Bracquemond, Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt all exhibited regularly at the Impressionist exhibitions alongside artists such as Monet, Renoir and Degas.

A professional cartoonist for thirty years, he provided cartoons for several high-profile UK publications as well as for countless more obscure titles such as the British Journal Of Wound Care. He was awarded UK ‘Strip Cartoonist Of The Year’ for his Guardian strip ‘Clare In The Community’, Harry will be tracing the history of his profession from early practitioners like Cruickshank and Hogarth, to more contemporary artists such as Giles and Schulz, ending with events produced fresh on the page live that day! Prepare to hear some tricks of his trade, learn where to put eyebrows for maximum effect and discover exactly what the eskimo brothers said in ‘The Funniest Joke Ever’ (possibly).

Niven's remarkable life and career in cinema is explored, with an examination of his enduring place in public affection. Rising from studio extra to Hollywood leading man, although Niven remained characteristically modest about his abilities, they were in fact considerable, as this lecture demonstrates. Particular attention is paid to his military film roles, and insights are offered into his writings, and the huge range of his wartime activities. From his personification of an ideal young subaltern in The Way Ahead, to the reality of being a Lt.-Colonel on Eisenhower’s staff, there was much more to this unique actor than a moustache and a smile!

Buddhism originated in India in the fifth century BC and subsequently became the dominant religion in such far-flung nations as China, Japan, Cambodia and the Philippines. Buddhist art was created to address its immense popularity, and it soon developed its own array of regional styles and symbols. This lecture will introduce its audience to the basics of Buddhist art by looking at its main ‘mudras’ (poses), symbols, subjects, materials and functions. It will tackle early abstract representations of the Buddha, through Greek-inspired figurative sculptures, its main regional styles and the key symbols that were devised to represent the Buddha’s teaching.

Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, was a keen patron of contemporary British artists who gave valuable support to the arts during the Second World War. Advised by the great art historian Kenneth Clark, she bought pictures by leading artists such as Augustus John, Paul Nash and William Nicholson and formed a collection that revealed her pleasure and delight in paintings and watercolours – and contained some surprises, too. This lecture tells the stories behind her purchases and commissions – including John Piper’s famous views of Windsor Castle – and explores her warm friendships with artists.

Deborah Devonshire, the youngest of the Mitford sisters and wife of the 11th Duke of Devonshire, was hefted by marriage to one of Europe’s greatest treasure houses, Chatsworth. In the second half of the 20th century, in partnership with her husband, she imbued it with a spirit, elegance and sense of welcome that transformed it from being the worn-out survivor of decades of taxation, war and social change into one of the best-loved, most-emulated, and popular historic houses, gardens and estates in the country.

Walter Sickert was the most charismatic British artist of the early Twentieth Century. Ever conscious of his public image, he cultivated a variety of personae: aesthete; provocateur; sage, painter of modern life. He was drawn to shocking or notorious subjects (those more likely to garner attention), especially the sensational ‘Camden Town Murder’ of 1907. This lecture examines the series of paintings and prints Sickert produced in response to the crime and its aftermath. These are compelling images, among the most original by any British artist of the period. How was Sickert able to create great art out of murder? Why was he, and much of the British public so fascinated? Come along and be fascinated too

From the 16th to the 19th centuries, we look at small portraits that could be held in the hand or placed in lockets creating an intimate relationship between owner and sitter.

When social historian Tessa Boase told the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds she wanted to write their early story, they refused to let her visit their archives. To a former investigative journalist, this was a challenge she could not resist . . . This lecture shines a light on the intriguing story of women’s love affair with plumage ­ – and of the brave eco feminists who fought back on behalf of the birds. Moving from a polite Victorian tea party to an egret hunt in a Florida swamp; from a suffragette ‘monster rally’ to a milliner’s dusty workshop, you’ll be taken back in time to a world where every woman, of every class wore a hat.

Shocking and surprising, entertaining and moving, a pacy lecture …

When Lucy goes through the wardrobe into Narnia, when Harry Potter opens his letter and when Nemo takes the red pill they all  discover that the worlds they thought they knew are only part of the truth. From Plato onwards, writers and artists have been inspired to push beyond the and to create other worlds that inspire our imagination. This lecture explores what these stories tell us about how we view our lives and what it is that we most desire.

His period in Provence is known for his brightest and most expressive paintings and for his illness. We visit some of the most influential, recognisable and loved paintings ever made by an artist.

Marc Allum is a freelance art and antiques writer, broadcaster, consultant and lecturer. You will know him from The Antiques Roadshow, where he has run the miscellany section! 

Programme for the day:

9.30 am Doors open for coffee/tea and biscuits.

10.00 am First lecture: “Behind the Scenes at the Antiques Roadshow and its Great Discoveries” 

11.00 am Coffee/tea break  

11.30 am Second lecture:  “Auctioneers’ Tales”

12.30 pm Lunch - a light lunch with soft drinks.   You are welcome to bring your own wine and wine glass.

1.30 pm ‘Roadshow’ style discussion of objects you have brought together with objects from Marc’s own collection.

3.00 pm Finish.

So many historical references for musical instruments can be found in works of art. We explore musical instruments and their symbolism in selected works, supported by demonstrations using replica instruments.

An introduction to the principles of arts criticism and how to put them into practice. Learn lessons from history about how to think about the arts, ask questions about the place of the artist, the role of the critic and discuss ways in which all of us can discuss the art we enjoy in a productive and creative way.

Angels, familiar and fantastic can be seen in centuries of art works. Time to contrast the beauty and light of cherubim and seraphim with the fiery abyss of Satan and contemplate the Angel of the North?

Using stills and video clips we take a look at dance as an art form from its earliest beginnings; through the birth and rapid development of ballet throughout Europe, the explosion of modern dance in the early 20th century a time of unprecedented creative growth for dancers and choreographers and with the growth of post-modernism from the 1960s the expansion of street dance, hip-hop, break dancing and rock dance

A special "extra" lecture to raise funds for our Young Arts Programme.

Making braids is one of Japan's many crafts of stylish sophistication, embracing Samurai and Buddhist history.

Her fabulous wealth enabled the nurturing of art and artists during the building of a radical collection now in Venice.

Learn ways to develop opinions with insight, and interpret art as an active viewer, to increase your enjoyment from gallery and museum visits

Invading in AD43, the Romans brought their soldiers, language, culture and art.  Over 2000 years later, their impact is still with us, embedded in our society and our homes

The tumultuous life of this Mexican artist is reflected in paintings which express life as a woman for the first time in western art.

Gertrude Jekyll reminded her readers that designing a garden border was "painting a picture", advice that has influenced many other artists

Many Constable works are neither signed nor dated.  Developing technical methods of analysis has removed attribution mysteries from over 250 works of all sizes.

Centuries of royal building have given Denmark 14 castles, the most spendid four of which help tell the life stories of royal Danish families

Manga are Japanese comic books, illustrating 12th century stories and histories. Rooted in medieval scrolls, the beautiful images still influence modern animations

The photographers who cystallised the architects' vision into works of art that also shaped opinion of the buildings they depict.

A common thread links the Incas of Peru, the Maya of Central America, the Aztecs of Mexico and the Navajo of the United States. Artists in cloth, they have created some of the finest textiles in the history of the world. Using natural resources and complex techniques, weavers across the Americas have produced sumptuous and richly coloured garments patterned with mythological creatures, elements from nature, and interlocking geometric designs. Today, textiles remain a key part of the cultural legacy inherited by the descendants of ancient civilisations.

Standing in the nave of Ely cathedral it easy to stop listening to the guide  and start wondering how on earth ordinary human beings created sky-scraping, dizzyingly high buildings on which even the top-most parts were delicately decorated. How, why and for whom? For God, for redemption and to make a living, are two answers. To answer the "how", we need to meet the Master Masons

Joaquin Sorolla hated darkness. Claude Monet once said that painting in general did not have enough light in it. Sorolla could not agree more. Sorolla believed painters could never reproduce sunlight as it really is, and he could only “approach the truth of it”. 

Most of us when standing in front of one of his canvases would agree he was the master of light. He managed to capture like no other the light of the Mediterranean beaches he loved and the energy of Spanish life. He painted what he saw, quickly, to capture that precise moment. As he said "I could not paint at all if I had to paint slowly. Every effect is so transient, it must be rapidly painted.” 

In this lecture we will look at Sorolla’s life and art, from early education to success; having been almost forgotten to be rediscovered in the last few years.

wimming is Britain’s second favourite form of physical recreation (after walking). Almost everyone has memories of visiting their local baths. But whilst not all these memories might be positive, for many swimmers, the baths themselves are cherished. Some, particular those built in the late Victorian and Edwardian years, are rich with decorative tilework, stained glass, polished wood and terracotta detailing. This sense of municipal pride continued into the 1920s and ’30s, when Art Deco and Modernist lidos became the urban beaches of their day. This lecture, highlights the treasures of aquatic art that survive, and considers how the pools of today compare

Public Art is a contentious subject. It is the most visible art form and therefore is an easy target. But how do they come to appear in our public spaces? This lecture tracks the development of public art over the last century and looks at various examples to see why are some loved and others loathed. It also explains the process of procurement from the initial commissioning to the production and installation. Drawing from his own experience and using case studies, David Worthington takes us through this process and tries to show why we are all richer with the presence of art on the streets.

In seventeenth-century Europe, fan painting rose from a lesser branch of the decorative arts to become a specialized guild-controlled craft with centres of production in France, England, and other European nations. Despite the introduction of affordable printed fans in the eighteenth century, the hand-painted fan remained an essential fashion item for the aristocracy.  In the nineteenth century fan painting acquired a certain prestige and fine artists such as Gauguin, Degas and Sickert experimented with the arc-shape format, producing accomplished fan paintings partly-inspired by Japanese art and design. Drawing together some of The Fan Museum’s finest treasures, Jacob illustrates the evolution of fan painting in Europe from its seventeenth century roots to the present day.

Fan-making became a guild-controlled craft  - this talk covers the evolution of fan painting from 17th Century to today.

An overview of the work of this dynamic period of design, featuring key historicist, neo-Gothic, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Modern jewellery and metalwork, beautifully-illustrated with works from the Fitzwilliam Museum’s collection.

An overview of work during this dynamic period ... 

It is well known that both physical and psychological illness can affect the creative process. Both can act as a stimulus but illness can also act as a major modifying influence on an artist’s perception of the world and on an artist’s creative output. This lecture seeks to explore this relationship in artists such as Durer, Goya, Monet and Kahlo in an endeavour to understand better how different illnesses impacted on their genius.

Evoking the spirit of romance and adventure - examining the architecture, the brilliant engineering and the art.

Day 3 of 3

The Art of Rabindranath Tagore: Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) is arguably the most important Indian artistic figure of the modern era. The first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, claimed that he had two gurus: Gandhi and Tagore. A renowned poet, novelist, com-poser and painter, Tagore is also the only person in history to have written the national anthems for two countries (India and Bangladesh). He became a global sensation when he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, the first non-European to do so. This lecture provides an introduction to Tagore’s remarkable life and work, including his novels, poetry, songs and paintings. It also explores the role Tagore’s art played in the story of India’s figh

Day 2 of 3

Imperial Calcutta: Arts and ArchitectureCalcutta was the second city of the British Empire and a hub of cultural and artistic production throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This lecture provides an overview of the arts (poetry, theatre, literature, song) and architecture of this extraordinary city, which was India’s capital until 1911. At the epicentre of the ‘Bengal renaissance’, Calcutta played a central role in shaping the arts and culture of modern India, as a huge variety of artists sought to interpret India’s classical heritage in new ways, and to combine this heritage with Western cultural forms. This lecture examines how Calcutta’s arts and architecture were affected by British rule, and explores the fascinating ways in which Indian artists viewed the British in India.

Day 1 of 3

Images of the British Empire: At the turn of the twentieth century, the British Empire held sway over approximately one quarter of the total population of the world. British imperial power was projected through a variety of artistic mediums, from fine portraiture and grand imperi-al buildings to more popular forms of imagery. British artists also produced countless images of people from all over the globe who had become subjects of British rule. Through considering a variety of paintings, buildings and objects from across the empire, this lecture provides a fascinating insight into the ways in which the British viewed themselves and theirsubjects in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

An exploration of art produced by hunter-gatherers between 50 and 15 thousand years ago.

Wine has been part of society for over 7,000 years ...

A 3-day, 1-hour Special Interest event

The talk focusses on the sophisticatd processes used to create these bronzes, their use and symbolism and the response from our contemporary artists.

Theatrical London London Blue Badge Tour Guide Diane Burstein takes you on a virtual tour of Theatreland treating you to historical vignettes and anecdotes about some of our famous theatres. Discover how theatre developed from the Elizabethan playhouses of Bankside and Shoreditch, through the rise of restoration drama in Covent Garden to  the West End’s Edwardian and Victorian theatres. Bringing things up to date we’ll discover the birth of the Fringe, Off West End and socially distanced performances!. The illustrated talk will include anecdotes about theatrical personalities, superstitions and traditions. 

Examining why artists include food in their works, across the ages and styles.

Exploration of the history and significance of the colour red in Russian art ...

What it was like being a woman living in Paris betwen 1939 and 1949 ...

Zoom talk at 10:45am - Mark Hill, Antique Road Show fame, history of glass design and the four big glass companies.

Standing in the nave of Ely Cathedral, one wonders how on earth these huge structures were built and questions how, when and why. For God, for redemption, to make a living? We need to meet the Master Masons!

*** with the AGM and our Summer Party ***

It has been said that modern architectural drawing is interesting, the photograph magnificant and the building an unfortuante but necessary stage between the two! This talk introduces photographers who have crystallised architects' vision in images that are works of art in their own right and shape our opinions of the buildings they depict.

The talk unveils the largely forgotten romantic figure of Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940), composer and concert pianist - Rimsky Korsakov's 'Snow Maiden'. It provides narrative, images and musical performance at the piano.

Ths was a golden age for figurative painters in North America, including Grant Wood, Andrew Wyeth, Norman Rockwell, Edward Hopper and the Ashcan School of painting. An exploration of the most iconic images that are etched in the public consciousness.

Built at the edge of Holland Park these houses were built in the second half of the 19th Century. The centre was the Frederic Leighton House, providing inspiration to other artists. The talk focusses on why artists invested so much in the creation and use of these homes.

Russia, in the second half of the 19th Century was a cultural powerhouse. Painters were relatively unknown- they were "itinerants" that ruthlessly criticised Tsarist Russia.

A lavishly illustrated history of auctions from the Roman period, through the 16th Century and on to the 18th & 19th Centuries when auctions became the means of disposing of the contents of great landed estates.

Painter, writer, poet, engraver, sculptor, architct, photographer, theatre and jewellry designer, as interested in science as in art, Dali's work reflects those renaissance artists he admired.

This talk examines the humble chair as a conduit for profound ideas on themes of protest, absence and memory to domestic and everyday life and how artists depict what is missing.

The talk looks at the development of the sport of horseracing in England using the wealth of paintings, archive material and decorative art associated with and depicting the "Sport of Kings"; it starts with the origins of the sport including the development of Newmarket and the Jockey Club as racing's 'Headquarters' through modern times.

This talk will be preceded by the AGM and followed by the Summer Lunch.

Covering almost 200 years of changing silhouettes, this talk looks at how both men and women have shaped their style through a range of undergarments.

Looking at corsets ansd crinolines, calf pads and sleeve puffs, the range of unusual objects is always a surprise!

In the early evening of 16th October 1834, a huge ball of fire exploded through the roof of the Houses of Parliament, creating a blaze so enormous that it could be seen from Windsor castle.

Glorious old buildings and contents were destroyed.

This talk provides a gripping hour-by-hour story of the fire with particular focus on the oils and watercolours produced by Turner.

This talk documents one of the biggest social changes in British and European history, as three million women left their normal housewife roles and entered industry and the armed forces, discovering careers and undreamed of freedom.

It is told against the background of Lee Miller's own life story which takes her from being a fashion supermodel via life as a surrealist artist to a combat photographer and finally a gourmet cook.

The destruction of the monastic libraries was perhaps the greatest cultural loss caused by the English Reformation.

The Tate estimates we lost 90% of our religious art, books and music.

Our knowledge of that past was closed and we will never know what might have been, at least in art.

Highlights from the Predynastic to the Roman Period.

Outstanding pieces will include intricately decorated coffins belonging to the Chief of Scribes and Craftsmen and the magnifucant sarcophagus of Pharaoh Ramesses III plundered by circus strongman Belzoni.

Have you ever wondered why every Nativity scene and every school play has to have an Ox and an Ass?

Are they there just to add authenticity to Christ's lowly birth in a stable?

Or could they have a long history of meaning?

This talk seeks to find out more.

This talk examines how Pantomime developed from Greek and Roman roots through to the religious plays of the Middle Ages and the italian Commedia Dell'Arte.

It looks at the characters of Harlequinade, Grimaldi the 18th Century clown, Music Hall artistes such as Dan Leno, Marie Lloyd and the soap stars of today.

Priams Treasure is a cache of gold diadems, necklaces, bracelets and rings discovered by Henrich Schiemann who claimed that the find of fabulous artworks was from the site of ancient Troy.

The cartoonist, Carl Giles, once said that he loved his creation, Grandma Giles – that fearsome, black-clad, gambling, drinking battleaxe – because she allowed him to say things through his cartoons that he was too polite to say in person. She helped him to poke fun at authority in all its forms, from Hitler to traffic wardens and even his employers at the Daily Express, who didn’t trust him and had sub-editors scouring his cartoons for subversive background details. His admirers included Prince Charles, Sir Malcolm Sargent and Tommy Cooper, and it was no surprise when he was voted Britain’s best-loved cartoonist in 2000. Few people realise, however, that this likeable and humane satirist was also a war correspondent who witnessed the horrors of Belsen, where he found that the camp commandant, Josef Kramer, was also a great fan of his work. Giles gave us a remarkable picture of a half-century of British life. He was also, as his editor John Gordon put it “a spreader of happiness’ and ‘a genius…with the common touch’.

When the Wallace Collection was bequeathed to the British nation in 1897 it was believed that it contained twelve paintings by Rembrandt. In the following decades, however, most of these paintings were re-attributed to other artists, to the extent that by 1992, when the last full catalogue of the Collection’s Dutch paintings was published, it was thought that there was only one genuine work by Rembrandt - the wonderful portrait of the artist’s son Titus. Since then further work on four of the other paintings has suggested that they are also wholly or partly by the master. This talk tells the fascinating story of how connoisseurship changes and the impact this has on how we look at works of art.

It is 950 years since the Normans invaded England. The roughest of company, they came not to civilise, but to seize. A mere eleven men in Duke William’s inner circle enjoyed an unprecedented bonanza, receiving almost half the land of the conquered kingdom. There followed an orgy of building in what was described as ‘a new manner’ – castles, churches, monasteries and cathedrals – that all but effaced the fabric of Saxon England. It was their way of showing us who was in charge. In describing the mass of post-Conquest masonry, Rupert focuses on individuals, like the deeply unpleasant Baldwin de Redvers, lord of the Isle of Wight, where his legacy endures. He offers an insight into their lives – and the disgusting details of William the Conqueror’s funeral.

Opera is an exuberant art form, full of big gestures, huge emotions and seemingly ridiculous plots. How does not cope with it? This lecture suggests some survival techniques as I unpack the disconcerting sides of opera – the acting style, the spectacle, the sheer noise of the experience and its gripping theatricality. En passant I discuss why 19th century heroines die but 18th century ones do not.

Charles John Huffam Dickens brought into the world a staggering array of wonderful characters with orphans. Staving children, misers, murderers and abusive school teachers among them. People such as Mr Mcawber, Fagin and Abel Magwitch remain in one’s literary psyche long after the books are put down. Largely self educated, Dickens possessed the genius to become the greatest writer of his age with 15 major novels and countless short stories and articles. In his lecture Bertie Pearce looks at the life and places of Dickens through his characters. The talk is interspersed with readings of this works. A truly Dickensian experience.

This is the keystone lecture of the Poster Series relating the technical innovation combined with creative genius and remarkable craftsmanship that enabled the Poster to become the world’s first effective method of mass communication. From ‘Les Chats’ by Edouard Manet to ‘Saxoleine’ by Jules Cheret and ‘Moulin Rouge’ and ‘Divan Japonais’ by Toulouse-Lautrec, you’ll see inspirational work by generations of superb artists who made the poster great: magnificent Mucha, socially-conscious Steinlen, and many more. Learn how an effective poster is designed and how it plays on the mind; and why most posters today go unnoticed.

Food and drink play a huge part in defining who we are and how we are perceived by others. True on an individual basis, it’s even more true when we consider national identity. One of the defining dishes of Englishness is cake: we make it, eat it, and have exported its delights wherever we’ve spread out particular brand of culture. This talk looks at the history of cake, and why we love it so much. Illustrated with satire, recipe book drawings, photographs, and pictures of cakes the lecturer has cooked, we run the gamut of sweet stuff, from rich fruit to gluten-free. Both the ordinary and the extraordinary are discussed, from cake as tummy filler, to cake as architectural statement. Classics such as the Victoria Sandwich and the traditional Wedding Cake are used as examples of how cake history has developed.

This amusing talk discusses Bram Stoker’s novel and its times, the sources of his inspiration in historical figures and his extremely realistic descriptions of the dramatic Romanian countryside (bearing in mind that he never visited the country). We finish with an irresistible look at the many film incarnations of Dracula – invariably more comical than terrifying.

Murder, poison, corruption and incest: all perfect ingredients for sensational popular culture. But in an age known for its brutality and church corruption were the Borgias really so bad? This lecture reveals the real family that dominated the Papacy and Italian politics during the last decade of the 15th century: the charismatic figure of Pope Alexander VI, living inside his sumptuously decorated apartments, the career of his son, Cesare, cardinal, general, employer of Da Vinci and the model for Machiavelli’s The Prince, and the journey of Lucrezia Borgia from “the greatest whore in Rome” to a devout and treasured duchess of the city Ferrara. Sometimes truth is more intoxicating than myth.

Priory School in Bury St Edmunds is a beneficiary of our Young Arts fund. The school for 130 young people between the ages of 9 to 18 is the only special academy in West Suffolk for young people with complex moderate learning difficulties. With our support, last year for the first-time students obtained GCSE Art.  This lecture has been arranged to raise money for more art equipment.

10.00 for 10.45

Cost £10 per person

Plerase visit the Documents section to view/download an Application Form

Legend recounts that when Adam and Eve were expelled fom the Garden of Eden,they were allowed to take just three plants,in the Mentonese version Eve also secreted a lemon in her bosom.She planted it's seeds in the new paradise of Menton,the starting point of our odyssey through the eyes of Renoir who first visited it in 1883,to Cocteau's extaordinary interiors at the Salle des Marriages and museums.The patrons and friends of these two men will lead us to the Comte de Noailles at both Hyeres and Grasse,Lawrence Johnston of Hidcote Manor fame,Matisse and many more.The harsh mountaimous landscape is the tough outer rind but within lies the liquid gold of olive oil, impressionism ,modernism and aspirational lives.We go beyond Somerset Maugham's waspish comment "a sunny place for shady people".  

“Leonardo the Scientist” - Anatomical illustrations were rare and essentially useless prior to Leonardo, this Lecture shows how his drawings bring together his skills as a scientist artist and engineer.

I come to NADFAS not with a background in the arts but from the world of science in general and surgery in particular. I describe myself as a retired surgeon with a lifelong passion, fascination, and admiration for the work of Leonardo da Vinci. I consider that the contribution he has made to both the world of art and the investigation of scientific concepts to be quite unique and extraordinary in the way that so many of his pioneering investigations have contributed to the understanding of our world today.

“Tapestries:  The ultimate wall decoration” - Tapestries of the courts of Europe, ancient and modern

This lecture will introduce some of the most important sets of tapestries in Europe including the Lady and the Unicorn, those commissioned by the Dukes of Burgundy in the 15th century, Raphael’s designs for Pope Leo X, Henry VIII’s Abraham tapestries, Louis XIV’s 17th century series around the Seasons and the Months made at the Gobelins factory and on to the 21st century set commissioned by the Queen of Denmark. We will explore the designs and the craft of tapestry and why it has been the most expensive form of artistic expression until recent times.

“Children’s book illustrations”  - A colourful and nostalgic Lecture examining how the interaction of image and narrative creates such powerful memories

As adults we carry in our heads huge numbers of images from childhood, and some of those most deeply etched come from illustrations in books that we read as children. Images of ‘Tigger’ and ‘Toad’ or even ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’ will probably remain with us for ever! In addition to a wide range of examples John will examine how illustrations contribute to the development of understanding and how the interaction of image and narrative creates such powerful memories.

“Winston Churchill – the Artist”

In 1915 Churchill was rescued from depression by the ‘muse of painting’. Painting was the mainstay that allowed one of our greatest national leaders to achieve all that he did. Churchill’s paintings record landscapes from the Riviera, to Blenheim, Chartwell and Marrakech. The most fascinating aspects of this exploration of a talent beyond the mere amateur is the role it played in his personal and political life, the restorative power of the process of painting, and the insight it allows us into the art of his age. Churchill took lessons from Lavery, Sickert and Nicholson, and the choices he made tell us much about the colour, texture and direction of art in the early-twentieth century.

“Is it worth it? – Fakes, forgeries, fashion at the art market”

In February 2015 Paul Gauguin’s 1892 painting, Nafea Faa Ipoipo, or When Will You Marry? set a new world record when it sold for nearly £200 million. In this new lecture I explore the dynamics and economics of the art market through history, looking at what sells (and what doesn’t), and why, and how fakes, forgeries and fashion have helped to shape our attitudes to the perennial question of what is art, and who (exactly) is an artist. It covers a broad historical range, from the early Renaissance to the world of twenty-first century contemporary art.

“Brilliant humour in the forgotten art of the picture postcard 1909 – 1939

From the Edwardian era to the outbreak of World War II millions of artist-drawn humorous postcards were produced not just for entertainment but to bolster morale, to inspire, instruct, motivate and persuade. Discover the popular themes and styles of the period by the masters of the medium such as Mabel Lucie Attwell, Dudley Buxton, Donald McGill and Fred Spurgin, and the reasons why their popularity waned with the British public.

“The ups and downs in the lives of the Impressionists along the section of the Seine which has been termed “The Cradle of Impressionism”

A tiny section of the Seine to the West of Paris which would have represented the perfect antidote to the claustrophobia of mid 19th Paris has been termed the Cradle of Impressionism. It was here to 5 neighbouring riverside villages that the artists who would later become known as the Impressionists, became frequent visitors. In some cases they even set up home for a while. The lives and early works of Monet, Renoir, Pisarro. Sisley and Morisot will be explored in this lively and entertaining lecture. Their desperation to gain recognition and make their mark is apparent and both the painting styles adopted, and subject matter depicted were to cause a Revolution in the Art World.

“The Art of the Great Parisian Fine Jewellery Houses – Joanna Hardy goes“behind the scenes”

Paris is the custodian of the famous ‘high jewellery’ houses such as Cartier, Boucheron, Chaumet and Van Cleef & Arples who have created jewels that have adorned Kings, Queens, Maharajahs, millionaire industrialists of the 1900’s, bankers, entrepreneurs, Hollywood royalty and some of the most beautiful women in the world. These jewellery houses have continued their quest to create jewels that are innovative in design and beautifully crafted, ingredients needed to make iconic creations that will stand the test of time. The skill’s of the Parisian goldsmith is unrivalled and Joanna has had the unprecedented privilege of being invited to Cartier’s workshops in Paris to discover and witness first hand what goes into making ‘high jewellery’ that will ultimately be sought after and collected by international jewellery connoisseurs. But it is also the stories that lie behind the commissions and the fabulous diamonds, pearls and gemstones that have been used which bring the jewels alive and by sharing these tales we will travel through history following some of their remarkable journeys that have helped make Paris the centre for jewellery luxury and excellence.

AGM

Buffet luncheon to follow the lecture

“Not just smoke & mirrors – Camouflage in Warfare”

Camouflaging of ships in wartime was invented in WW1 by the artist Norman Wilkinson, and perfected in the Royal Academy Schools. That’s a story in itself. But it was a professional conjuror who accomplished astonishing things against Rommel in Africa. One of his tasks was to hide the port of Alexandria from aerial attack: and he succeeded. But his greatest challenge was the first one he was given. “The Suez Canal is over 100 miles long and 200 yards wide. We want you to hide it.” And in fact, throughout the War, not one German bomb was dropped on the Canal, because the Luftwaffe simply couldn’t see it! How did the conjuror manage this? My talk will reveal the answer!

Biography:

An art historian and archaeologist. In the 1980s he became Founder- Chairman of the Friends of Shakespeare's Globe. In 2005 he was one of two Lecturer Representatives on the NADFAS Advisory Council and also Vice-Chairman of Folkestone DFAS. He is the author of four books on the Impressionists in England, and one on the Frost Fairs on the Frozen Thames. His latest book My Father, the Man who Never Was features in his latest NADFAS lecture, War Artists, Spies and the Art of Deception.

“The History of the Harp” - from Mediterranean Antiquity to 20th century Europe (D) Using illustrations from carvings, wall paintings, pottery, mosaics, sculpture, stained glass, illuminated manuscripts, and 18th and 19th century paintings, Sarah traces the history of one of the world’s most ancient and beloved musical instruments from thousands of years BC, to it’s arrival in northern Europe, including the huge developments and improvements during the renaissance and 19th centuries that created the highly mechanised and beautiful instrument we see played in orchestras and as solo instruments today. Performing on her own reproduction and antique instruments, Sarah will demonstrate the development and evolving sound and repertoire of the harp throughout its history.

Biography:

Performs, writes and lectures in the UK and abroad as a musician and scholar, having been a graduate and prize-winner from the Royal Academy of Music. Has appeared on national radio and television in UK and America, lectured for National Trust, English Heritage, U3A, schools and colleges and onboard the QE2. All lectures are presented digitally and include live music and songs on various harps, depending on the subject.

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Begun in 1220 the cathedral at Salisbury, built to r“Salisbury Cathedral – The making and unmaking of a Masterpiece”

eplace a smaller building at Old Sarum, was completed in as little as 38 years.  It is the first and most complete Early English Cathedral in the country.  This lecture explores the different phases of the Cathedral's history through the centuries and focuses on the 18th and 19th Century restoration and the controversies generated.

Biography:

Read Geography at Oxford and taught Geography. Formerly Head of Geography, Downe House School Newbury. Became interested in country house architecture whilst at Oxford and has lectured on the subject ever since. Regular 5 day summer school courses for Marlborough College Summer School. Lectures for the National Trust.

Not just smoke & mirrors – Camouflage in Warfare”

Camouflaging of ships in wartime was invented in WW1 by the artist Norman Wilkinson, and perfected in the Royal Academy Schools. That’s a story in itself. But it was a professional conjuror who accomplished astonishing things against Rommel in Africa. One of his tasks was to hide the port of Alexandria from aerial attack: and he succeeded. But his greatest challenge was the first one he was given. “The Suez Canal is over 100 miles long and 200 yards wide. We want you to hide it.” And in fact, throughout the War, not one German bomb was dropped on the Canal, because the Luftwaffe simply couldn’t see it! How did the conjuror manage this? My talk will reveal the answer!

Biography:

An art historian and archaeologist. In the 1980s he became Founder- Chairman of the Friends of Shakespeare's Globe. In 2005 he was one of two Lecturer Representatives on the NADFAS Advisory Council and also Vice-Chairman of Folkestone DFAS. He is the author of four books on the Impressionists in England, and one on the Frost Fairs on the Frozen Thames. His latest book My Father, the Man who Never Was features in his latest NADFAS lecture, War Artists, Spies and the Art of Deception.

“Secret Art in the Passport”

How we use it to fox the forger - From the wax seal to the microchip, man has exploited the skill of the artist and artisan in his attempt to manufacture and unforgettable document. Taking you through three centuries of passport design, this lecture explains the overt and uncovers the covert to illustrate the defences built in to the passport and the tricks the forger uses to defeat them. You will never see your passport in the same light again!

Biography:

Has been lecturing to various groups, including U3A, National Trust, historical societies, Gresham College and business groups since 2008. Previously worked for HM Immigration Service, and has broadcast on local and national television and radio.

“The Art of Drawing: British masters and methods from 1600 to now”

Artists have used drawing in many different ways: to think on paper and to capture fleeting inspiration, as well as to make fully-fledged exhibition pieces. This lecture takes a close look at the drawings of Gainsborough, Constable, Blake, Rossetti, Beardsley and Freud – and at the innovatory work of the present day.

Biography:

Writer and freelance curator with a degree in English literature from Somerville College, Oxford, a Masters in History of Art from the Courtauld and a PhD from University College London. Formerly Curator of Paintings at the V&A, where she was responsible for oils, watercolours and drawings from 1800 to the present day. Previously worked for the Royal Collection as Assistant Curator of the Print Room at Windsor Castle. Publishes and lectures widely on British art. Amongst many publications are The Art of Drawing: British Masters and Methods Since 1600 (2013); Amazing Rare Things: the Art of Natural History in the Age of Discovery (2007; co-authored with David Attenborough, Martin Clayton and Rea Alexandratos), and Watercolours and Drawings from the Collection of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (2005).

“Emile Galle & Rene Lalique”

Exquisitely illustrated, this talk contrasts the achievements of the two great French glass masters against a backdrop of Art Nouveau and Art Deco. The cameo vases of Gallé were the highlight of European glass epitomising the Symbolist movement in France. Lalique had started his career as a jeweller at the time of Gallé’s success but moved into the production of glass by 1910. He used many of the same images as his countryman but transformed them into stylish graphic designs which continue today to maintain the Lalique name in the forefront of desirable glass.

Biography:

Former Director of Broadfield House Glass Museum (1974-2003) and one of the top authorities on glass in the country. Author of 'British Glass 1800-1914' (1991), '20th Century British Glass' (2009) and contributor to numerous books and magazines. Lectures internationally to glass museums and collector's societies. Fellow of the Society of Glass Technology, and a member of the Arts Advisory Board at the National Glass Centre, Sunderland. President of the Glass Association which he was instrumental in founding.

To be followed by sherry and mince pies

From the beginning of time the fascination with magic and the impossible has been widespread.  With the emergence of the Music Hall, Magic gained a new respectability and audiences flocked in their thousands to watch the extraordinary feats of The Great Illusionists.  This gave birth to legendary tricks such as pulling a rabbit from a hat and sawing a lady in half.  And if magicians guarded their secrets with their lives, how was the Magic Circle formed? – Home to 10,000 secrets.  Wonder Workers and the Art of Illusion is a whistle stop tour of the history of mystery from 3000bc to the 21st Century and be careful!- you might be amazed and bewitched.

Biography:

Has a BA (Hons) in Drama from Manchester University, and a Diploma Internationale from the École Internationale du Théatre, Jacques Lecoq. A member of the Inner Magic Circle, with Gold Star. Past experience includes lecturing to cruise ship audiences, the Women’s Institute, theatre clubs and the Sussex Magic Circle, as well as NADFAS. In addition, has toured the world with a magic cabaret show and a one man show entitled ‘All Aboard’. Has written an article on entertainment for the Guardian newspaper.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum holds an important collection of English delftware drug jars and pill tiles dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. They include the earliest known dated English drug jar, extremely rare dated English delftware pill tiles, and jars that held substances as unfamiliar as oil of fox, and as familiar as powdered almonds.

This lecture presents the Society’s collection, and provides an insight into the medical world of which the jars were a part. It explores the different styles of jar and their decoration, the collectors who brought them together, and the intriguing substances that they held.

Briony joined the Royal Pharmaceutical Society as its Keeper of the Museum Collections in September 2002, where she heads the team responsible for collections of around 45,000 objects.

Since its foundation in 1925, Faber and Faber has built a reputation as one of London’s most important literary publishing houses. Part of that relates to the editorial team that Geoffrey Faber and his successors built around them - TS Eliot was famously an early recruit - but a large part is also due to the firm’s insistence on good design and illustration. This lecture traces the history of Faber and Faber through its illustrations, covers and designs. Early years brought innovations like the Ariel Poems – single poems, beautifully illustrated, sold in their own envelopes. In the 1950s and 1960s, there was an emphasis on typography, led by the firm’s art director Berthold Wolpe; his Albertus font is still used on City of London road signs. In the 1980s, the firm started its association with Pentagram, responsible for the ff logo. Along the way, it has employed some of our most celebrated artists as cover illustrators – from Rex Whistler and Barnett Freedman to Peter Blake and Damien Hirst. Slides will range from book covers, advertisements and photos of key individuals, to illustrations of the concepts behind the designs. The talk will also be peppered with personal insight and anecdote. Faber and Faber is the last of the great publishing houses to remain independent. As the grandson of its founder, I grew up steeped in its books. I was managing director for four years and I remain on the board. I am passionate about the firm’s success, and intensely proud of my association with it.

Biography: Has written two works of narrative history, Stradivarius and Fabergé's Eggs, published by Macmillan in the UK and Random House in the US, and given lectures associated with these two subjects at venues including The Victoria and Albert Museum, Bath Theatre, The Library of Congress and the Huntington Library, as well as a number of literary festivals. His career began with Natural Sciences at Cambridge and has been through investment banking, management consulting and five years as managing director of the publishing company founded by his grandfather, Faber and Faber, where he remains on the board. Is also non-executive Chairman of its sister company, Faber Music, a trustee of Yale University Press (UK) and a director of the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society.