lecture programme 2024

The Lecture will trace the story of Banksy’s humble beginnings as a tagger on the streets of Bristol in the 1980’s to one of the most recognisable names in the art world.

The Three Great Game Changers of 19th Century Opera

The world of opera is full of remarkable contributors, great game changers who leave the stage in a completely different place from the one they found.

Making sense of Portraits in Country Houses

Country houses are often full of historic portraits, but for today’s visitors it is not always clear who the sitters are, or why they mattered.

The Mayan Civilisation of Central America

The Maya lived in Central America between 1000BC and 1528 at which time they were conquered by the Spaniards. This lecture looks at the peak of their civilisation between 300 and 900AD.

The Nation’s Mantlepiece:

A History of the National Gallery in Ten Paintings

In the bicentenary year, the National Gallery houses one of the world’s finest collections of European paintings. This lecture uses highlights from the National Gallery’s collection to show how our vision of the “ideal” art collection has evolved over time.

George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham-

The Handsomest Man in 17th Century Europe and His Patronage of the Arts

Buckingham was a beauty, and he collected beautiful things. Jewels, Horses, Houses, Tapestries, Clothes and Paintings.

Lucy will show us his collection. She will tell us his story.

Danish Modernism:

The Skagen Painters

Located at the northernmost point of the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark, Skagen is an attractive spot in the summer for it’s unusual light. This lecture looks at the 1870’s period until the beginning of the 20th Century when this village was home to an artists colony.

Mars and the Muses:

The Renaissance Art of Armour

Armour was one of the great Renaissance art-forms. In the 15th and 16th centuries most of the richest noblemen in Europ were dedicated patrons of the armourer’s art. This lecture serves as an introduction to the idea of armour as an expressive art-form.

The Power of Photography

Photographs have the ability to stop time, to provide a freeze-frame of a moment in time and space. This lecture examines some of the most important images and photographs of the past century.

A Rebel on the Run:

Caravaggio’s Final Years

This lecture explores the last four years of Caravaggio’s life. A period of extraordinary creative activity when the artist was forced to leave Rome.