Grandson of Sigmund and brother of Clement, Lucien Freud is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever painters of the human form. In 2000 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II agreed to his request to paint her portrait, with dramatic consequences.

Introducing some of Japan’s most famous gardens this lecture provides a context for understanding the principles of Japanese garden design as it has evolved through the ages. The Japanese love of nature and changing seasons has manifests itself in paintings and in the intimate and grand-scale of gardens surrounding palaces and temples as well Zen inspired dry gardens with their symbolic content.

The Moulin Rouge immediately evokes the Belle Epoque. Explore this golden era of Paris; a period around the turn of the 19th century which pulsated with artistic energy, technological and scientific innovations, risqué entertainment and boundless optimism.

Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge has been described as “one of the country’s most intimate and spellbinding museums, the collection of one man and his unerring eye, restorative, homely yet life changing”. HS ‘Jim’ Ede opened his home to university students as “a living place where works of art could be enjoyed…” his curated home remains much as he left it. This lecture discusses his life, his collecting, his vision and its enduring legacy.

This sumptuously illustrated lecture traces the Fall of the Roman Empire in the West through both its art and one of its most intriguing heroines; an orphan girl of ‘nobility, beauty and chaste purity’ - Galla Placidia. Half sister of Roman Emperors, she became one of the world’s most powerful women, leaving her mark on the history of Rome.

Looking at paintings such as The Return of the Herd, Hunters in the Snow and The Gloomy Day we will explore how Bruegel pioneered a new way of thinking about the environment making the landscape the focus rather thank the decorative backdrop to dramas both sacred and profane.

A look at some of opera’s greatest rivalries, spats and tiffs, ranging from throw away remarks to full in-public fighting. We will see and hear examples of great singers from past to present which should entertain and inform aficionados and detractors alike.

For booking details click here

London’s sumptuous Victorian and Edwardian department stores changed the capital - and changed its women. Starting on Oxford Street’s golden mile, we’ll set off on a cultural tour of the capital’s big stores. From shoppers to shop girls, publicity stunts to wow factor window dressing, this is a fascinating slice of social history, with wonderful period images.

Discover the work and legacy of this genius Spanish architect and designer who stands as one of the creators of Barcelona’s urban identity. An inventor of new techniques his most famous building, The Church of the Sagreda Família is Spain’s most visited monument and is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. 

The peak of Mayan civilisation was between 300 and 900 AD, although they lived in Central America from 1000 BC to 1558. They built monuments, produced jade and ceramic items of great beauty, developed a calendar and had an understanding of mathematics and astronomy. They developed a hieroglyphic script which scholars are beginning to decipher which enables us to understand their achievements more fully.

An illustrated lecture about the development of the British seaside and how the entertainments there evolved. Pierrot troupes and concert parties were ubiquitous throughout the seaside resorts of Britain, but what is a pierrot troupe? Where did they come from? How do they impact us today? Find out in this lively and intriguing talk - featuring unique archive materials from Tony’s vast personal collection. This lecture can be tailored to the specific geographic location of your society and a chance to join-in with the live performance of a song!

Picture - Clifford Essex' Pierrot troupe, 1894 - Tony Lidington

This talk provides an overview of the Church of England's magnificent 42 cathedrals, jewels in the crown of England's built heritage, some recognised as World Heritage Sites. Beautifully illustrated by Country Life photographer, Paul Barker, in addition to looking at their history and stories, evolving architecture and treasures, the talk considers the role of cathedrals over the centuries and specifically their role today.

Accompanying book https://scalapublishers.com/cathedrals-of-the-church-of-england/

Picture Rochester Cathedral - Janet Gough

This lecture celebrates the 400th Anniversary of Charles I’s accession to the throne in 1625. Charles I’s obsession for collecting works of art began when as a 22-year-old prince he travelled to Spain and saw the magnificent collection of the Spanish king, Philip IV.  On becoming King in 1625 Charles purchased the fabulous collection of the Gonzaga Dukes of Mantua which included works by Titian, Raphael and Andrea Mantegna’s astonishing series of paintings “The Triumphs of Caesar”.  Charles engaged Peter Paul Rubens to paint the ceiling of the Banqueting House in Whitehall and he appointed Anthony van Dyck as his Court Artist.  By the end of his reign Charles had amassed over 2000 works of art but in doing so he had bankrupted England and alienated his people.  His life ended on the scaffold in 1649 and most of the collection was sold in what was known as “The Commonwealth Sale” in 1650. While many works were retrieved by Charles 2nd during the Restoration others now hang in the great Art Galleries of Europe.

The lecture can be linked to her guided tour of Windsor Castle where several of Van Dyck’s most celebrated portraits of Charles 1st and his family are on display.

Charles1 on Horseback with M. St. Antoine van Dyck

More correctly called ‘foliate heads’, there was a proliferation of Green Man images around the year 1400. The lecture discusses how the image may have evolved from pagan and Classical times and what its purpose may have been. Although they may originally have been connected to ancient fertility rites, the majority show either distorted or very mature faces which seems to contradict the notion that they were associated with May Day frolickings. It may be that we can learn more about its meaning if we take into account the historical events of the time and their effect on the nation’s imagination. (Picture credit Imogen Corrigan)

In sixteenth-century Venice, Tintoretto, helped by his studio assistants, produced work so quickly that he was nicknamed ‘Il Furioso’ (“The Furious”) by his contemporaries. He had received almost no formal training. Without the benefit of an apprenticeship in the studio of a major artist he had to find work the hard way: by under-cutting prices and delivering faster than his competitors (who included Titian and Veronese). The scourge of the Venetian art market, Tintoretto would obtain commissions by either working for no fee or charging only for the cost of materials. His work, characterised by muscular figures, dramatic gestures and movement takes the art of the Mannerist period into the excitement of the Baroque. By the end of his life, he was working for the wealthiest in Venice and for international patrons. Yet he never forgot his roots and the poorer churches and scuole which had supported him in his early days. What might have driven his ambition, and why might he have given so much of his work away? (Picture credit The Rijksmuseum)

This unique lecture presents the Top 20 most popular paintings and other artworks in Britain today. In putting this talk together, the results of eight polls carried out from 2005 to 2020 have been aggregated and analysed. The polls began with Radio 4’s poll of its listeners from 2005, and include the Samsung/Daily Mirror poll of 2017 when buyers of Samsung products and readers of the tabloid were asked for their favourite artworks. There will be a brief description of some of the paintings that did not make it into the Top 20; followed by a ‘Pick-of-the-Pops’ style countdown of the Top 20. Be prepared to hear about some old favourites, but also be ready to welcome some new ones. (Can you guess?) Prior to the lecture, individual members of the audience will be asked to name their favourite paintings in Britain today. Towards the end of the lecture, audience members will see how their favourites compared to the results from the polls. In the last 15 minutes, the factors that make a painting popular, or not, will be discussed. Without giving too much away, popularity does not solely rely on the quality of the painting or the status of the artist. As well as being unique, the lecture is engaging, full of interest and a few surprises. Eventually, it is hoped to build up a picture of local art societies’ favourite paintings, with a view to sharing results widely.

This lecture examines the extraordinary life and dramatic times of Oscar Wilde from his Irish roots to his days as a student at Oxford and his meteoric rise to the heights of celebrity. We travel with him to the United States and examine his starring role within the artistic & theatrical worlds of late 19th century London. We visit his home in bohemian Chelsea and some of his favourite West End haunts. Finally, we learn how ‘tired of being in the heights, he plunged into the depths’ and became famous for being infamous..

Our lecture this month takes us to the gruesome subject of medicine. For more than 5000 years artists have been attempting to depict illness and healing in their art.  From Egyptian wall paintings, medieval manuscripts, Renaissance masterpieces, and 19th and 20th century realism, the mysteries of medicine have inspired artworks around the world.  In this lecture we will look at some of the bizarre, amusing and often startling realistic depictions of medicine in art throughout the ages. (Picture accredited to the Wellcome Foundation)

The Alhambra of Granada, the Great Mosque of Cordoba and the Alcazar of Seville are the three most impressive monuments to the architectural creativity of the Moors in Spain, but there are many other examples worthy of mention too. The classical origins that influenced the Moorish style are less well-known, but fascinating to explore, as too is the unique interior decorative style developed by the Moors, which gives their architecture its beauty and exotic appeal – an appeal so strong that the Christians sometimes copied it, even as they slowly reconquered the territory from its Islamic rulers. This lecture provides a comprehensive introduction to the peninsula’s Moorish architecture.

The international art market is today dominated by four British auctioneers, their world record prices sensationally reported by the world’s media. But what is it like behind the canvas? How do auction houses function? What goes on behind the scenes and what is required for a successful sale to take place? With an overview of the rise of two of the main London salerooms, Sotheby’s and Bonhams - both founded in the 18th century - this lecture, given by an auctioneer with thirty-five years’ experience in both houses, reveals all.

Starts at 14.30

One of the world’s most popular athletic events commemorates Pheidippides’s epic run from the battlefield of Marathon to his naAve Athens. Apart from the amazing courage of Pheidippides, why remember a bttle that took place over two and a half thousand years ago?

Since the 19th century, historians have argued that it was a crucial event, one that had decided ‘the whole future of human civilisation’. As John Stuart Mill put it, ‘the Battle of Marathon, even as an event in English history, is more important than the Battle of Hastings’. Rupert re-creates the background and the battle itself in thrilling detail. He looks at the various ways in which ancient Athens has influenced our art and culture, and argues that Marathon was, indeed, the battle that saved ‘Western
Civilisation’.

Eye-opening, edge-of-your-seat stuff.

Starts  at 14.30

He makes the talk entertaining as well as informaAve by taking the audience on a journey to uncover the original owners by tracing the heraldry, shows portraits of them, and reveals some of the life story associated with them; fabulously wealthy aristocrats and middling sorts, they variously had a stint in the Tower of London, had tragic family circumstances, had their descendants gamble away their estates, found their wife in a bed she should certainly not have been in, or were dragged to their death in an overturned carriage...

Knowing the exploits of these original owners of these pieces adds considerably to their interest and brings another dimension to the handling.

Starts at 14.30

Namibia (formerly Southwest Africa) is a scenically beauAful country known for its geology and its wildlife, but it is also rich in prehistoric rock art, both sophisticated paintings and engravings. New discoveries continue to be made.

The talk will present the best of the known rock art, and also tell the story of the "White Lady" of the Brandberg, one of the most famous pieces of rock art in the
world.

Starts at 14.30

In Search of Leokadiya Kashperova - the rescue of a major romantic composer whose fine music was almost erased forever by the misfortunes of twentieth century history.

For a historian there can be little to match the excitement of discovering a forgotten treasure. Dr Griffiths’s evenjul research across Russia to unveil the Romantic figure of Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940) offers the perfect example. Kashperova was BBC Radio 3’s Composer of the Week in December 2022. Her fine music is now published by Boosey & Hawkes and available for the musical world to enjoy. This presentation offers narrative, images and high quality recorded music examples – illustrating ‘what it takes’ to recover the biography and works of a great composer whom History had completely forgotten. Until now.

Starts at 14.30

Watercolourist, muralist, ceramicist and wood-engraver, Eric Ravilious was one of the most distinctive young BriAsh artists working between the two World Wars; he is also an artist who is ofincreasing interest and popularity, as recent exhibitions and sales of his work have revealed.

This lecture explores Ravilious’s career, looking both at his place in the long tradition of watercolour painting in England, as well as within the social and cultural context of England in the 1920s and‘30s, leading up to his untimely death as an official war artist in Iceland in 1942.

Weds 24 January 2024 at 14.30

In this lecture Bertie recounts the extraordinary tale of how a small bronze statue, which had sat in his Grandfather’s garden for 40 years, was discovered as a master piece and ended up in the Getty, California.

Adriaen De Vries (c.1556-1626) was a Northern Mannerist sculptor born in  the Netherlands. A technical virtuoso, he created spectacular bronzes for the most discerning patrons of his Ame, including the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II of Prague.He excelled in refined modelling and bronze casting and in the manipultion of patina and became the most famous European sculptor of his generation.

Carry on Tyler “A Bit of a Carry On” with Tyler Butterworth

The remarkable untold story of Carry On actor Peter Butterworth, and his wife, Britain’s first female tv impressionist Janet Brown, best known for her impression of Mrs Thatcher. Using classic film and tv clips, personal mementos, and rare photographs and letters from his family’s unseen collection, Tyler reveals the private story behind his parents’ public lives. It’s a journey that takes in MI9, the building of a theatre in the notorious WW2 Prisoner of War camp Stalag LuW III, nights at Chequers with a Prime Minister, This Is Your Life, and many more moments in their long, shared life in the theatre.

Weds 22 November 2023 at 14.30

Stonehenge is the most celebrated and sophisAcated prehistoric stone circle in the British Isles. This lecture explains why Stonehenge must be regarded as architectural in its layout and construction, embodying techniques that for centuries convinced anAquarians that it could not have been built by ‘primitave’ ancient Britons but must be a product of ‘sophisticated’ Romans.

We then explore how, over the last two centuries, this iconic structure has inspired painters, po_ers and poets. Blake, Turner, Constable and Moore are amongst those who have all been drawn to this magnificent ruin, resulting in a diverse catalogue of images and impressions. Finally, we will look at Stonehenge as a global icon and how it’s instantly recognisable stones now grace tea towels in Wiltshire, phone cards in Japan and stamps from Bhutan.

Weds 25 October 2023 at 14.30

Robert Hughes declared of Still life painting; ‘Stll Life is to eaAng what the nude is to sex’ (we won’t go there I assure you!), although he did also admit that Spanish SAll Life painAng is ‘more sacramental than gastronomic’. The lecture will cover a cabbage that has been painted with such astonishing accuracy that the painted version is more alluring than the vegetable itself. Goya’s painting of a pile of 6 silvery fish, is a political commentary on the disasters of war. These bream have been abandoned on a beach in the middle of the night, leW to rot in the sand, evidence of
reckless waste at a Ame of famine. Through this and others painAngs by Velazquez, Zurburán, and Meléndez, we shall explore several stunning key themes that can all be discerned from arrangements of simple food stuffs; religious fervour and symbolism, the absence of presence and that importance generates waste.

Weds 27 September 2023 at 14.30

This lecture tells the remarkable story of the fabled Ballets Russes company which Diaghilev established in Paris in 1909. Building on the achievements of Tchaikovsky and PeApa, Diaghilev and his associates brought about nothing less than a revoluAon in classical dance, which was dazzlingto the eye and would have a lasAng impact not only on all the arts. The lecture will discuss how artists of the calibre of Bakst, Goncharova, Picasso and MaAsse, worked with composers such as Stravinsky, Debussy and Ravel, choreographers such as Fokine and Balanchine, and dancers such as Pavlova, Karsavina and Nijinsky to create ballet stagings of genius.

Weds 28 June 2023 at 14.30

Gustav Klimt and his colleagues broke away from the imperially endorsed art ins5tu5ons 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.

Weds 24 May 2023 at 14.30

Best known for his outlandish appearances dressed as his feminine alter ego, Claire, Grayson Perry
is now a core part of the art establishment, a Turner Prize winner, Royal Academician, popular
broadcaster and colourful character. He’s possibly one of the world’s best-known contemporary
artists. His works of ceramics, textiles, tapestries and prints are highly sought after. Often
controversial, he tackles difficult subjects in a poignant yet witty way and holds a mirror up to
society. This talk will examine Grayson Perry’s work, his exciting and thought-provoking exhibitions,
and the unique character inside the flamboyant frocks.

Weds 26 April 2023 at 14.30

The rise in importance of writing furniture from the 16th to the 18th centuries reflected the
economic as well as social need for greater literacy and numeracy as mercan5le trade developed
across the globe. This lecture traces the development of the bureau-bookcase and other writing
furniture from the humble “writing slope” or “Bible-box” through to magnificent symbols of status
and power – just think of Louis XV’s desk in Versailles, or it’s replica in London’s Wallace
Collection. Computers may have “hidden files” but lack the intrigue and mechanical cradsmanship
of secret drawers and compartments, which this lecture will reveal.

Weds 22 March 2023 at 14.30

The history of blue-and-white is fascinating, where did it come from and what was the technology? It began in Basra in Iraq and was adopted by the Mongols, for whom it was made in Ching-te Chen in China. It was re-adopted in the Middle East, where Chinese blue-and-white was widely collected and copied. It became a major item of trade with the Portuguese in the 16th century and the Dutch in the 17th century and as a result the technology spread to Europe, where the ul5mate expression of blue-and-white was to be found in the Deld factories.

Weds 22 February 2023 at 14.30

Who were the women gardeners of the twentieth century? From the pioneering women such as Gertrude Jekyll and Ellen Willmott, who first established the place of women among the horticultural elite, by way of midcentury plantswomen like Vita Sackville-West and Marjorie Fish, ultimately in the later decades of the century to the great professional women, such as Arabella

Weds 25 January 2023 at 14.30

Ancient Greek art blossomed and then the Romans took that art – the sculpture, frescoes, vase painting, architecture and so much more – and made it their own. New media, new styles and new expressions burst forth, and this vibrant cocktail created the basis for Western Art for millennia.

Just what did those Greek and Roman artists achieve that was so world-changing? This talk explores how and why we owe so much to the ancient Greeks and Romans, and we will identify the tell-tale marks of our debt to classical art around us today.

MRS GILLIAN HOVELL

BA (Hons) Latin and Ancient History, Exeter University, and then branched out into archaeology. Ex-BBC, lecturer for British Museum and York University, an award winning writer and author who specialises in relating the ancient world to our modern lives, in person, in the field, on line and in the media (most recently on BBC News Channel, Radio 4 Today programme and BBC World Service). Publications include Visiting the Past: A guide to finding and understanding Britain's Archaeology and Roman Britain. Forthcoming Latin Yesterday, Today and For Ever, and A Mediterranean Tour: Not just a Load of Old Stones. Teaches adult education courses in Latin, archaeology and ancient history and has publicly lectures widely and passionately, on cruises and tours and for museums such as the British Museum & Ashmolean, national press, universities, literary festivals, and diverse societies including Classical Associations, the U3A and the National Trust. 

Also London-based for lectures in the South-East.

Lecture starts at 14.30

The earthquake struck at 10.47 and by the end of the day, Napier was in ruins. But from this catastrophe rose a phoenix for Napier, New Zealand, was rebuilt in record time and today Napier has the largest number of art deco buildings in the densest concentration of anywhere on the planet.

This lecture introduces you to pre-earthquake Napier; taking you through the quake and the rescue operation it then looks at the factors influencing the rebuilding. Finally we go on a photographic tour of Napier as it is today so that you can see why Napier is known as The Art Deco Capital of the World.

MR MARTIN LLOYD

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.

Lecture starts at 14.30

There is no name more evoca5ve of Bohemian life: of high spirits, decadence, poverty and revolu5onary art in Paris than Montmartre. In reality it was liPle more than a rundown suburb, but the cafes, dancehalls and cabarets and the ramshackle studios that spilled down the hillside became the inspira5on and home to some of France’s greatest artsts.

Lecture commences  at 14.30

According to one leading architect, “the modern architectural drawing is interes5ng, the photograph is magnificent, the building is an unfortunate but necessary stage between the two”.

This lecture introduces photographers Dell and Wainwright from Britain, Julius Shulman from the US and Lucien Hervé from France, who crystallised the architects’ vision in images that are works of art in their own right and shape our opinion of the buildings they depict. Brian will also examine how photographers recordings of rural buildings create a lyrical vision of Britain.

On the basis of sensational new evidence from archaeological fieldwork, this lecture will contrast the legend of Lawrence of Arabia with the true story of what happened in the famous desert war of 1916 to 1918. Is the legend a myth?

Was Lawrence, as some claim, a liar and a charlatan? Or does legend reflect reality? Was he, in fact, a brilliant military commander and a sincere advocate of the Arab national cause?

This lecture will look at how towns and cathedral cites grew in size and prosperity from the late 17th century, bringing in gentry from the surrounding countryside.

To entertain the leisured classes, theatres and assembly rooms were built, subscription libraries started and race courses set up. Gentry families increasingly owned a house in their local town, where they could spend the winter, shop, attend concerts, and see their friends.

Fake News has been around since the time of the Egyptian pharaohs and art has always been one of its favourite media.

In this talk she will be uncovering the subtle art of spin and propaganda in art from the glories of Ancient Mesopotamia to the Norman Conquest and then onto Elizabethan England and the dark days of Nazi Germany. Every picture tells a story,whether it is true or not is an entirely different matter.

DR GERI PARLBY

Geri is a former Fleet Street journalist and film PR. She has a first-class honours degree in History and Theology, a Masters in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute and a Theology doctorate from Roehampton University in London. She has been lecturing for the past 14 years both in the UK and internationally. She is also principal lecturer on The Arts Society South West Area’s History of Art course and is an Honorary Research Fellow at Roehampton University.

This lecture introduces you to pre-earthquake Napier; taking you through the quake and the rescue operation it then looks at the factors influencing the rebuilding. Finally we go on a photographic tour of Napier as it is today so that you can see why Napier is known as The Art Deco Capital of the World.

MR MARTIN LLOYD

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.

When Howard Carter first peered through a hole into the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922 he was asked if he could see anything. Yes, wonderful things! was his reply.

In this lecture you too will discover their beauty, hear about their exciting discovery and the diary entries made by Carter, learn of the symbolism in their design, the materials used with expert craftsmanship and what has become of them.

MRS EILEEN GOULDING

Eileen has an MA from the Department of Archaeology at the University of London, is a published author and an authority on the ancient cultures of the world. She specialises in the History, Culture, Myths & Legends of the Ancient Worlds and is a keen Maritime Historian specialising in piracy in the Caribbean and the South Seas. She spends her time giving lectures to the Arts Society, on cruise ships and to various local organisations.

Her first book “What Did the Poor Take with Them? “ is an academic treatise on Ancient Egyptian funerary goods, while her second book “Understanding Ancient Egypt” is a more accessible introduction to the subject.

Eileen has recently featured as an Egyptologist in a documentary, Neferatri: The Life of an Egyptian Queen (full documentary) published on YouTube by the South African film producer Curtis Ryan Woodside during the summer 2020 covid lockdown.

This lecture provides a colourful introduction to the secret world of our 2000-mile inland waterway network and looks at all aspects of their exceptional artistic, architectural and engineering vernacular. Features range from sweeping aqueducts to tiny bollards; from colourful historic narrowboats to 'Roses and Castles' artwork; from grand World Heritage Sites to quirky listed buildings.

The lecture will be tailored to include local and regional examples which reflect the unique distinctiveness of our inland waterways.

Opera is an elaborate, even extravagant, art form. From its earliest times at the beginning of the 17th century, up to the present day, it has employed artists and architects to design sets and costumes, and has used the richest materials and effects, often by means of tromp-l'oeil and other forms of visual trickery. Simon Rees traces the arts associated with opera through surviving drawings, paintings, early theatres and their scenery, up to the present day where such artists as John Piper, Sidney Nolan and David Hockney have thrived as theatre designers.

Simon Rees draws on his own experience as Welsh National Opera's Dramaturg from 1989-2012 in delivering this detailed and entertaining account.

This lecture tracks the development of public art over the last century and looks at various examples to see why some are loved and others loathed. It also explains the process of procurement from the ini7al commissioning to the production and installation.

Drawing from his own experience and using case studies he takes the audience through this process and tries to show why we are all richer with the presence of art on the streets.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio is famed as much for his art as for his criminal record. Was it the violence of his times or his own violent spirit that inspired the dramatic lighting and intense naturalism of his work?

This lecture follows the dramatic incidents of the artist's life and looks at why and how his influence spread so far.