During Napoleon III’s reign (1852-1870), the Paris landscape was transformed by the construction of wide boulevards, elegant buildings and parks. Theatres, cafes and entertainment venues flourished, offering spaces for sociability and artistic exchange and inspiring impressionist artists keen to capture the fleeting sensations of the modern capital. This lecture will examine works by Manet, Renoir […]
During Napoleon III’s reign (1852-1870), the Paris landscape was transformed by the construction of wide boulevards, elegant buildings and parks. Theatres, cafes and entertainment venues flourished, offering spaces for sociability and artistic exchange and inspiring impressionist artists keen to capture the fleeting sensations of the modern capital. This lecture will examine works by Manet, Renoir […]
For many people, Kashmir conjures up a beautiful valley surrounded by the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas, for others it is a land of conflict. But what is less well known is that it has been of historic artistic importance for nearly 2000 years. This lecture introduces the astonishing diversity of arts and crafts […]
Mary Cassatt (1844–1926) was the only American to exhibit with the French Impressionists. Encouraged by Degas to exhibit with them, she remarked, “I accepted with joy… I hated conventional art.” Cassatt made significant contributions to four of the eight shows. However, the subjects deemed suitable for a “respectable” woman were limited. We will consider how, […]
Brancusi was the son of a peasant from a mountainous province of Romania, yet he became an internationally famous artist and is now seen as one of, if not the, most important sculptors of the 20th century. How did this happen and what is so special about his work? Brancusi combined the Romanian wood working […]
Whistler’s painting, Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl (1862) is both monumental and modern. Though its scale recalls grand portraits, Whistler’s innovative technique and overall treatment of the subject resist straightforward interpretation. In this presentation we will examine Joanna Hiffernan’s role in his art and life. Was she simply his model and lover? […]
For many people, Kashmir conjures up a beautiful valley surrounded by the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas, for others it is a land of conflict. But what is less well known is that it has been of historic artistic importance for nearly 2000 years. This lecture introduces the astonishing diversity of arts and crafts […]
Brancusi was the son of a peasant from a mountainous province of Romania, yet he became an internationally famous artist and is now seen as one of, if not the, most important sculptors of the 20th century. How did this happen and what is so special about his work? Brancusi combined the Romanian wood working […]
During Napoleon III’s reign (1852-1870), the Paris landscape was transformed by the construction of wide boulevards, elegant buildings and parks. Theatres, cafes and entertainment venues flourished, offering spaces for sociability and artistic exchange and inspiring impressionist artists keen to capture the fleeting sensations of the modern capital. This lecture will examine works by Manet, Renoir […]
In the early 19th century, the Forest of Fontainebleau, situated 35 miles from Paris, became a key inspiration for modern landscape painting. Artists and tourists flocked there to escape the city. For painters, the Forest’s diverse terrain – woodlands, rocks, oaks, marshes, and glades – offered endless opportunities to explore light, colour, and composition. Painting […]
For many people, Kashmir conjures up a beautiful valley surrounded by the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas, for others it is a land of conflict. But what is less well known is that it has been of historic artistic importance for nearly 2000 years. This lecture introduces the astonishing diversity of arts and crafts […]
This lecture will focus on the Buddhist areas of the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas — the once spiritual domain of Tibetan culture and religion, spanning 2,000 miles from Ladakh in the west to Bhutan in the east. Zara will explore the kingdoms and principalities of Ladakh, Zanskar, Spiti, Lahoul, Nepal, Mustang, […]
Can we ever really ‘know’ a painting fully? What might we gain if we look again – but slowly – at a familiar picture? Looking with a curious eye we discover how familiar paintings by Georges Seurat and Vincent van Gogh that we know well from reproductions were both extraordinary and pioneering. They made extraordinary […]
With her innovative use of colour, fluid brushwork, and attention to fleeting moments of daily life, Berthe Morisot stands as a defining figure of French Impressionism. Her experimental approach challenged academic conventions, creating a visual language of light, immediacy, and atmosphere. Beyond their surface beauty, her paintings convey deeper meanings. By examining a selection of […]
A general introduction to the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, known by its inhabitants as Druk Yul or land of the Thunder Dragon. This is a reference to the Drukpa tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism that permeates every aspect of Bhutanese life. This lecture explores the history, art and culture of this extraordinary country, which for […]
Rodin is one of the heroic figures of 19th century art history and was internationally celebrated during his lifetime. But after his death his reputation slipped and there were questions about his use of the female image. Now that is very much being reassessed and he is seen as having in one career taken sculpture […]
Rodin is one of the heroic figures of 19th century art history and was internationally celebrated during his lifetime. But after his death his reputation slipped and there were questions about his use of the female image. Now that is very much being reassessed and he is seen as having in one career taken sculpture […]
This lecture will focus on the Buddhist areas of the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas — the once spiritual domain of Tibetan culture and religion, spanning 2,000 miles from Ladakh in the west to Bhutan in the east. Zara will explore the kingdoms and principalities of Ladakh, Zanskar, Spiti, Lahoul, Nepal, Mustang, […]
This lecture will focus on the Buddhist areas of the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas — the once spiritual domain of Tibetan culture and religion, spanning 2,000 miles from Ladakh in the west to Bhutan in the east. Zara will explore the kingdoms and principalities of Ladakh, Zanskar, Spiti, Lahoul, Nepal, Mustang, […]
During Napoleon III’s reign (1852-1870), the Paris landscape was transformed by the construction of wide boulevards, elegant buildings and parks. Theatres, cafes and entertainment venues flourished, offering spaces for sociability and artistic exchange and inspiring impressionist artists keen to capture the fleeting sensations of the modern capital. This lecture will examine works by Manet, Renoir […]
Brancusi was the son of a peasant from a mountainous province of Romania, yet he became an internationally famous artist and is now seen as one of, if not the, most important sculptors of the 20th century. How did this happen and what is so special about his work? Brancusi combined the Romanian wood working […]
Lecture 1: Buddhism This lecture will cover the transmission of Buddhist art and architecture from its birthplace in India into the Himalayas and provide a general overview of Buddhism. Lecture 2: The Sacred Art of Tibet In this lecture, Zara will explore the rich symbolism of Tibetan art and explain how to interpret the common […]
Brancusi was the son of a peasant from a mountainous province of Romania, yet he became an internationally famous artist and is now seen as one of, if not the, most important sculptors of the 20th century. How did this happen and what is so special about his work? Brancusi combined the Romanian wood working […]
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 […]
Can we ever really ‘know’ a painting fully? What might we gain if we look again – but slowly – at a familiar picture? Looking with a curious eye we discover how familiar paintings by Georges Seurat and Vincent van Gogh that we know well from reproductions were both extraordinary and pioneering. They made extraordinary […]
A general introduction to the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, known by its inhabitants as Druk Yul or land of the Thunder Dragon. This is a reference to the Drukpa tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism that permeates every aspect of Bhutanese life. This lecture explores the history, art and culture of this extraordinary country, which for […]
Joanne Rhymer, MA (UCL) is an art historian specialising in 19th-century and early 20th century French art. Her interests include the visual skills involved in sustained looking at paintings.She has worked at the National Gallery and for London galleries and institutions including Tate, the Hayward Gallery, Sotheby’s and the National Portrait Gallery as well as […]
Brancusi was the son of a peasant from a mountainous province of Romania, yet he became an internationally famous artist and is now seen as one of, if not the, most important sculptors of the 20th century. How did this happen and what is so special about his work? Brancusi combined the Romanian wood working […]
Can we ever really ‘know’ a painting fully? What might we gain if we look again – but slowly – at a familiar picture? Looking with a curious eye we discover how familiar paintings by Georges Seurat and Vincent van Gogh that we know well from reproductions were both extraordinary and pioneering. They made extraordinary […]
Rodin is one of the heroic figures of 19th century art history and was internationally celebrated during his lifetime. But after his death his reputation slipped and there were questions about his use of the female image. Now that is very much being reassessed and he is seen as having in one career taken sculpture […]
This lecture will focus on the Buddhist areas of the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas — the once spiritual domain of Tibetan culture and religion, spanning 2,000 miles from Ladakh in the west to Bhutan in the east. Zara will explore the kingdoms and principalities of Ladakh, Zanskar, Spiti, Lahoul, Nepal, Mustang, […]
During Napoleon III’s reign (1852-1870), the Paris landscape was transformed by the construction of wide boulevards, elegant buildings and parks. Theatres, cafes and entertainment venues flourished, offering spaces for sociability and artistic exchange and inspiring impressionist artists keen to capture the fleeting sensations of the modern capital. This lecture will examine works by Manet, Renoir […]
For many people, Kashmir conjures up a beautiful valley surrounded by the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas, for others it is a land of conflict. But what is less well known is that it has been of historic artistic importance for nearly 2000 years. This lecture introduces the astonishing diversity of arts and crafts […]
For many people, Kashmir conjures up a beautiful valley surrounded by the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas, for others it is a land of conflict. But what is less well known is that it has been of historic artistic importance for nearly 2000 years. This lecture introduces the astonishing diversity of arts and crafts […]
This lecture traces the relationship between the histories of sculpture and science fiction in the 20th century. Starting with Jacob Epstein’s Rock Drill of 1913 the lecture will show how the search by many artists for a simplified expression of human experience created imagery that fed into the depiction of robots and aliens in Science […]
Art is seen as sacred, whilst shopping is frivolous. Yet the two have been intertwined throughout history. When painting changed from the fresco on walls to oil on wood it became portable and a readily traded commodity. More recently there has been a great shift in retail brought on by internet sales. A shop now […]
A general introduction to the history, art and culture of this extraordinary land, lying deep in the heart of Central Asia surrounded by some of the highest mountains in the world. Despite its geographical inaccessibility, it developed a rich and vibrant Buddhist culture and artistic tradition. This lecture gives a brief overview of Tibetan history […]
A general introduction to the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, known by its inhabitants as Druk Yul or land of the Thunder Dragon. This is a reference to the Drukpa tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism that permeates every aspect of Bhutanese life. This lecture explores the history, art and culture of this extraordinary country, which for […]