Winter 2024/5 lecture series

4th November     Face to Face with Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh embodies the romantic idea of the tragic genius who suffered for his art and died young. He must be one of the most mythologised painters in the history of art. But let's look at him through his own eyes and 'meet' the artist face to face.

Van Gogh left us comprehensive information about his life as an artist: he exchanged hundreds of letters with his brother, Theo, and painted more than forty-three self-portraits between 1885 and 1889. The paintings demonstrate a high degree of self-scrutiny, and chart the artist's stylistic development through these extraordinarily productive years.

This lecture will complement the upcoming exhibition 'Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers', The National Gallery (14th September 2024 - 19th January 2025).

2nd December      Away with the Fairies: Victorian Flights of Fancy

For children (and grown-up children!) Christmas is the most magical time of year. The Victorians introduced, and revived, many of the traditions we associate with Christmas today. The fairy on top of the tree is, like the tree itself, an old German tradition.

Whilst the origin of fairies lies in the folklore of many European cultures, the Victorians shaped our modern definition.

The era was particularly noted for fairy paintings. Amongst the most celebrated painters were Richard Dadd, John Anster Fitzgerald, and Joseph Noel Paton. Their detailed depictions of fairyland are utterly compelling. So -

"Do you believe in fairies?... If you believe, clap your hands!"

6th January      Take one painting: 'The Adoration of the Kings' by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Today we will be spending time in the company of an intriguing painting from the National Gallery collection.

The Kings (or wise men, or magi) are commemorated today, on the feast of Epiphany, sometimes called 'Three Kings Day'. The Adoration was one of the most popular themes in European art. It gave painters the opportunity for considerable invention since the actual biblical account, in the Gospel of St. Matthew, is very brief indeed.

Bruegel's version of events has a contemporary Flemish setting. The characters are real - almost to the point of parody - and wrapped up against the bitter winter weather.

Our approach is called 'slow art' but we'll zip along at the usual jolly speed, discovering Bruegel's techniques and exploring related images, to help examine this curious work in detail.

3rd February      Cupid, the God of Love and Desire

Aphrodite to the Greeks, Venus to the Romans, is the Classical goddess of love. Eros to the Greeks, Cupid (or Amor) to the Romans, is her most famous child. Some say by Mars, the god of war, which might explain his handy way with a bow and arrow!

Cupid used his weapon to create love affairs but accidents happen and on one occasion he, almost literally, shot himself in the foot.

The story of Cupid's subsequent passion for the beautiful princess Psyche was told by the Roman writer Apuleius in his novel 'Metamorphoses' or 'The Golden Ass', then by Jean de la Fontaine in 'The Loves of Psyche and Cupid'. The poignant story has captivated many artists.

Let's look forward to Valentine's Day in the company of the god of love and desire.

3rd March      The Peril of Yellow

Yellow is the colour of daffodils and springtime. It is sunny and optimistic. Yet, paradoxically, yellow has been the most poisonous colour on the artist's palette and one of the most difficult to produce. At worst, it has driven artists mad and cows to a painful death.

Many cultures regard yellow with distaste: as the colour of treachery and cowardice. To Giotto it was the cloak of Judas, but to Franz Marc it symbolised femininity, for Wassily Kandinsky it had to be a triangle!

From costly gold to deathly orpiment, malodorous purree to heavy metals, we will look at paintings from across Western art to discover the symbolism, science and psychology of 'The Peril of Yellow'.