Previous Days of Special Interest
The Day of Special Interest on Friday 22nd October 2021 was three lectures on Pre-Raphaelite painters.
The presenter was Mr. Julian Halsby, MA RBA FRSA. Julian studied History of Art at Emmanuel College Cambridge and had a career in lecturing and writing, working as a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department.
John William Waterhouse
The Pre-Raphaelites were young, revolutionary artists who defied the traditions of the Royal Academy and produced highly original and innovative works from 1848 until the 1880’s.
The study day looked at the origins of the movement and the battles for recognition from 1848 to 1860, moving on to examine the wonderful Pre-Raphaelite landscapes, amongst the finest landscapes of the 19th century. The young Pre-Raphaelites were also social rebels rejecting Victorian morality and associating with girls whom their parents considered to be below their social standing. The day continued by examining the loves and scandals surrounding these artists. Julian then looked at the later Pre-Raphaelites and their influence in Europe, as well as examining Pre-Raphaelite design led by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones which became the famous Arts and Crafts Movement.
It was a very enjoyable day with an enthusiastic audience.
Susan Dunnett
Making Art from Destruction: The Cultural History of War and Heroism – November 2019
Image supplied by the speakerOn Friday 1st November 2019, Dr. Max Jones, Senior lecturer in modern history at the University of Manchester, delivered a fascinating day’s lecture.
He explored the changing ways that artists have interpreted war and heroism over the last three centuries.
Attention focused on commanders through the eighteen and nineteenth centuries – as sculptors and painters raised hosts of Admirals and Generals onto pedestals.
He explored how artists developed new strategies to represent loss and honour the dead of the war.
Max was very entertaining and fun.
Roz Crampton
How to look at paintings – March 2019
On Friday 15th March 2019, we hosted a Day of Special Interest at The Warwickshire Golf & Country Club, Leek Wootton, near Warwick CV35 7QT.
The speaker was Stella Grace Lyons and the subject, “How to Look at Paintings: Unlocking hidden meanings in Art”.
The lecture was an excellent introduction on how to look at art. Stella delivered the whole day with enthusiasm and fun.
Roz Crampton
Image supplied by the speaker
Chatsworth House – October 2018
On Friday 12th October 2018, we hosted a Day of Special Interest at The Warwickshire Golf & Country Club, Leek Wootton, near Warwick CV35 7QT.The speaker was Simon Seligman who has spent almost thirty years working in the arts, heritage, tourism and communication.
The subject was Chatsworth House, an historical overview of the evolution of the House and collections, and the garden. After lunch, a focus on the life and times of Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, the youngest and last surviving of the six Mitford sisters, who were prominent members of English society in the 1930s and 1940s.
Roz Crampton
Image out of copyright. Taken from Morris, F. O.: “Picturesque Views of Seats of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland” (1870)
