Liverpool.

What other city can match the glories of the Three Graces along the waterfront? Inland there are monumental Egyptian ventilation shafts, banking palaces, dock warehouses, and the finest neo-Classical hall in the country. Oh, and two Cathedrals.

Manchester.

There is nothing to equal it since the building of Venice,” said the Builder magazine about Manchester. Okay, that was in the 1850s, but many of the Italianate cotton palaces and Gothic glories remain, particularly Manchester Town Hall and the John Rylands Library. 

Ed Glinert is a much-published author, cruise ships speaker and Britain's most prolific tour guide, working in Manchester, London and Liverpool as New Manchester Walks, New London Walks and New Liverpool Walks. He has written more than a dozen books for many major publishers, including The London Compendium (Penguin, 2003), The Manchester Compendium (Penguin, 2008) and 111 Places in Yorkshire You Shouldn’t Miss (Emons, 2021). He has also edited the entire Sherlock Holmes canon for Penguin Classics. He specialises in music (most genres), literature, architecture and art. 

Jewellery has been worn by humans for thousands of years.  It not only adorns and decorates, it is a useful way to hold wealth secure,  and it provides wonderful opportunities for the skilled craftsman to show off his artistic skills and creativity. By the 1550s London was one  of the foremost European centres of goldsmithing and jewellers trade.  Fashion expected fantastic jewels to be worn by men and women, enhancing the dress of the time.  From Tudor ‘bling’ to sombre and discreetly worn Royalist favours, from the glamorous glitter of 18th century new style gemstones  (and fakes) to the restraint of Neo-Classical elegance we see trends and themes,  changing fashions, and conclude on the eve of mass-production and global influences.  Glamour, artistry and craftsmanship at its most colourful.

Amanda Herries

Read Archaeology & Anthropology at Cambridge. 1978-1988 Curator at Museum of London specialising in the decorative arts 1718 to present day, exhibitions, lectures, booklets, broadcasts. 1988-1995 moved with family to Japan, lecturing and writing on Oriental / Western cross-cultural and artistic influences. 1995 returned to UK, fundraising for arts companies, writing, lecturing and guiding tours to Japan. Most recent publications on Japanese plant and garden influences in the West.

This lecture tells the multifaceted Ukrainian story through the shared culture which binds its diverse people together, including the sacred art and architecture of Kyiv inherited from Byzantium, the rich legacy of the Cossacks, and a treasury of poetry, painting and song. We will also look at the key role played by folk culture in the years before Ukraine's emergence as an independent nation, whether "red icons" on glass or the country's remarkable embroidery tradition, which had a surprising influence on avant-garde art.

Rosamund Bartlett a writer, lecturer and translator whose work as a cultural historian ranges across the arts. She completed her doctorate at Oxford and is the author of several books, including biographies of Chekhov and Tolstoy, and a study of Wagner’s influence in Russia. She is currently writing a history of the Russian avant-garde. Her new translation of Anna Karenina for Oxford World’s Classics was published to acclaim in 2014. She has written on art, music and literature for publications such as The Daily Telegraph and Apollo, and received commissions from institutions including the Royal Opera House, Tate UK, and the Salzburg Festival. Her lecturing work has taken her from the V&A and the National Theatre in London to the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, and she contributes regularly to Proms events and opera broadcasts on the BBC.

The horrors of the coronovirus epidemic have, just as in previous centuries, being a source of inspiration to countless artists. In contrast to the altarpieces and the secular paintings of the plague and previous epidemics our pandemic has led to an outpouring of remarkable street art. This lecture looks at the fascinating similarities and differences in pandemic artistic output over the centuries. It also looks at how such art can provide great comfort and consolation.

James Grant is a retired country doctor with a lifetime of working in the NHS both in hospital and in rural practice and passionate about all aspects of medicine, its history and its relationship to art and artists. He feels very strongly that lecturing should be stimulating, informative and entertaining. He feels very privileged to be able to share his interests with others lecturing to a variety of different groups and now as a lecturer for The Arts Society

This lecture is devoted to an exploration of colour. It is built on the premise that our appreciation of colour and how we see it, is at the very core of our common interest in art and the arts.  Sometimes colour is referred to as ‘the secret influence’ as we are often unaware of how it significantly affects the choices we make every day. But what is colour? Do we all experience colour similarly? What is a colour scheme and why do some colours go well together and others not?

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

Gavin Plumley

A writer and broadcaster, appearing on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 and contributing to newspapers, magazines and opera and concert programmes worldwide. Lectures widely about the culture of Central Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries. Recent talks include the Royal Opera House, the National Gallery, the National Trust, the National Theatre, the British Museum, the V&A, the Southbank Centre, the Tate and the Neue Galerie, New York, as well as for history of art societies and The Art Fund.

The Festive Season brings with it the familiar nativity scenes, winter landscapes and of course Father Christmas, but how did these images become synonymous with Christmas?  This lecture takes the audience on a journey from the Medieval to the modern era explaining the development and important iconography of these Festive favourites. You may never look at a Christmas card in the same way ever again. 

Born in Hong Kong in 1894, Betty, the daughter of the Colonial Secretary, went on to run one of the leading furniture and interior design companies in the inter war years in London. Her list of clients and contacts was incredible, from The Queen Mother, Lord Mountbatten, and Sir Winston Churchill to eminent surgeons, hotels and factories, as well as taking in visits to Paris where she met Gertrude Stein, Picasso’s great friend and collector. The talk discusses her life and work, and focuses on the few remarkable survivals in London, Nottingham and Harrogate.

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 my guided tour of Windsor Castle where several of Van Dyck’s most celebrated portraits of Charles 1st and his family are on display. 

The kimono, literally meaning ‘wear’ (ki) and ‘thing’ (mono), is a traditional garment worn by both men and women in Japan. But it is so much more than that. Rich in symbolism and encapsulating the best in textile design and techniques through the ages, the kimono has a fascinating history that reflects wider aspects of Japanese life and culture. From everyday kimono to wedding kimono to the elaborate dress of Japanese geisha, this lecture will trace the story of the kimono, its past and its present, and the place that it occupies in the world of contemporary fashion. 

Tamara de Lempicka was a Polish Art Deco painter and “the first woman artist to be a glamour star”.She had a very distinctive and individual style.  Her art and her name have become synonymous with the hedonistic lifestyle of the Roaring Twenties and the Art Deco movement, of which she was the leading representative across two continents. She combined a heavy workload with a frenetic social life and much of her behaviour was considered scandalous at the time. She was a favourite artist of many Hollywood stars and she was the most fashionable portrait painter of her generation among the haute bourgeoisie and aristocracy, kings and queens. As a result of her connections she was able to display her paintings in the most elite salons of the era: Madonna is an admirer and collector of Lempicka’s art and other notable collectors include Jack Nicholson and Barbara Streisand. Both her lifestyle and her artwork make her a fascinating subject for a lecture. 

What was the public reaction to jazz when it began to appear in Britain in the aftermath of the First World War? What did early jazz sound like and how did British musicians learn to play in the style? How did British artists and designers react to the new rhythms and colours of the music? Following on from The Arts Society/Two Temple Place Rhythm and Reaction exhibition which I curated in 2018, this lecture explores how jazz arrived in Britain and the impact that it had on musicians, artists and the wider public. The lecture is illustrated with examples of visual art, including works not shown in the exhibition, and recorded music examples.

Expectations have always been high when it comes to the line of succession. The health and survival of the child would shape history.  A few became the casualties of political conflict, groomed for a kingship they never enjoyed, while others rose to take their place. This lecture explores the historical significance of some of these royal babies - the heirs and the spares - from the Wars of the Roses to the present day.

This lecture tells the story of men's tailoring over the past 200 years, told through the lives of the men who commissioned and created and wore it. Tailors, shirtmaker, hatters and other craftspeople in London’s west end, especially around Savile Row & Jermyn Street have shaped the way men dress since the Regency. How did men such as Beau Brummell, The Duke of Windsor, Tommy Nutter, Montague Burton, Alexander McQueen and John Stephen create their signature looks which influenced the mens fashion? This lecture also looks at the wider cultural shifts since the early 19th century to the present day and how they affected the way that men present themselves.

In the 11th and 12th centuries, when the so-called ‘Cult of Saints’ was at its peak, the idea of a physical journey towards a spiritual goal was extremely popular, and the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in north-western Spain, was one of the three most important Christian pilgrimage sites of the medieval period, after Jerusalem and Rome. The ‘camino’, or pilgrimage road across northern Spain thus became one of the most widely-used of medieval times, dotted with Romanesque churches and monasteries, designed to incorporate the veneration of saints into sumptuous architecture, replete with religious sculptures and elaborate reliquaries, and thus to attract the many pilgrims and their money.

The earliest cars were purely functional and lacked even the most basic of passenger
comforts, such as doors or even windscreens to protect passengers from the elements.
However, progress was rapid and by the mid-1920s we entered a golden age of automobile
design. A new generation of stylish cars were influenced by the art deco movement and the
‘Great Gatsby era’ included some of the most famous and fabulous cars ever built. This
period was followed by the Streamline Moderne influenced cars of the 1930s and 40s, with
aerodynamic shapes and lots of chrome detailing. This talk covers some of the most beautiful
cars ever built, and focuses on the work of the coachbuilders, who were inspired by the art
movements and created ‘mobile works of art’.

Christmas spectacles, slapstick, and beanstalks have been drawing crowds to Covent Garden since 1737. John Rich, the first manager of what is now the Royal Opera House, was a fine dancer, mime, and special effects man and he (and his successors) developed all the well known features of the  London Christmas season. Even now principal boys, fairies, and Harlequin are alive and well on  the ROH stage. This lecture pulls together the whole performing tradition and brings it up to date with the latest Christmas offerings at the Royal Opera House.

Too Many Cooks! The secret world below stairs:  food, fashion and fine dining in art and architecture

This lecture considers how we encounter kitchens and cookery in art and architecture. We consider the development of kitchen architecture from castles to country houses and examine how food and feasting are presented in art from the Medieval period to the modern era. We will also encounter historical personalities connected with cuisine,  examining through art and literature how food, fashion and drama featured in their lives.

This lecture considers the influence of the art from the Low Countries on Italian Renaissance art. Generally considered a one-sided cultural exchange from the South to the North, this talk demonstrates the significance of Flemish art for its innovations in the medium of oil, landscape painting and portraiture. Focusing on the example of Florence, the impact of Netherlandish art is considered from the perspective of the Medici and leading patrons together with painters including Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Leonardo. The extent to which Flemish art was valued, economically and aesthetically, is underlined by its frequent appearance in household inventories and the stylistic changes adopted by Florentine artists to satisfy the increasing demand. 

London’s sumptuous Victorian and Edwardian department stores changed the capital – and changed its women. Shoppers of every rank were lavishly wooed, seduced and often undone by the temptations laid out before them in these new ‘cathedrals of desire’.  

Starting on Oxford Street’s ‘golden mile’, we’ll set off on a cultural tour of the capital’s big stores – from snooty Marshall & Snelgrove, to Pontings, ‘House of Value’; from Kennards’ wart-removal service, to the live flamingos atop Derry & Toms; from Bodgers of Ilford, to Bon Marché of Brixton. How did it feel to enter a great store in 1850 – and in 1950? What was it like to serve? From shoppers to shop girls, publicity stunts to wow factor window dressing, a fascinating slice of social history, with wonderful period images. 

The wide reproduction of paintings by Georges Seurat and Vincent van Gogh has led to a sense of familiarity and, potentially, a diminished desire to look closely at the real art itself. Yet when van Gogh visited Seurat’s studio, he remarked upon the ‘fresh revelation of colour’ in Seurat’s work. This presentation aims to rejuvenate our interest in looking slowly with a curious eye to discover how works by both artists were both extraordinary and pioneering.

Despite their short artistic careers, both Vincent van Gogh and Georges Seurat made extraordinary contributions to the development of modern art, each through their own distinctive and experimental approaches to picture making. Discussing the terms Post-Impressionism, Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism, we consider the suitability of such labels when faced with unique work and we compare paintings by both artists with those made by their Impressionist contemporaries to discover potential connections.

The birth of the hoax in the eigtheenth century.

The 1700s was a period when the people of England seemed to be especially gullible. They believed a woman could give birth to rabbits; a man could climb inside a two pint bottle and sing inside it; and where a blond-haired European could write a book claiming that he was born in Taiwan. These hoaxes weren't just written about extensively in newspapers and journals but also brilliantly and amusingly depicted by satirical artists such as William Hogarth and James Gillray. In this entertaining talk Ian demonstrates how 18th century hoaxes are memorable not only for their imaginative nature but also because of the differing motives of the tricksters.

A short sample video of our lecturer  https://youtu.be/RFQ6UQL0Zwg

Investigating the process of creating, through the collaboration between A A Milne and E H Shepard, the iconic images for one of the leading worldwide children's all-time favourite books. This was the first time that author and illustrator worked together feeding off each other’s creative input and reaction to words and pictures – with never previously published drafts and drawings of Winnie-the-Pooh and friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.

In the aftermath of World War II art, architecture, fashion, film, music and theatre changed radically. Through the Abercrombie plan to remake London and create new towns, architects remade cities in modernist, brutalist ways. Angry young men and new forms of musical theatre emerged. In Soho, rock’n’roll was born and artists flocked to the Colony Rooms. After the gentle Ealing comedies came social realism. The Festival of Britain highlighted the artistic communities and showcased a brighter future for every citizen. In fine art, Hepworth and Heron, Bacon and others were forging bold new directions. From buttoned up deference to ‘fings aint wot they used to be’ this lecture will take you from the the end of WWII to the dawn of the Swinging Sixties. Unburdened by the expectations of the past, a new Elizabethan age was one of unlimited possibilities.

Why is it that so many icons appear so similar, so dark, so primitive even? It takes a trained eye to reveal the fascinating language of icons, the symbolism of colour and line, the meaning of reverse perspective, elongated fingers and faces and desexualised features. Combine this with an understanding of the process of creating or 'writing' an icon and the many variations of a particular theme, and suddenly it all makes sense. Through a close look at their construction, common themes and characteristics of Russian icons in particular, this lecture will help de-mysticise these intriguing artworks and help explain why they are so central to Orthodox belief.

From the earliest days of photography, women claimed this new art for their own.  This lecture offers a new vision of the Victorians, seen through the lenses of pioneering women.  It includes the intimate fantasies of Clementina, Lady Hawarden; the soft-focus story-telling and images of Empire made by Julia Margaret Cameron; and radical portraits captured by the Suffrage campaigner Olive Edis. 

Early Christians celebrated Christmas at the same time as the ancient Romans were feasting and partying for their pagan Saturnalia festival. Many of the pagan habits were therefore absorbed into our Christmas traditions. Present-giving, holly and even party-hats all have their origins in this 2000-year-old party. This talk will revel in artwork that is ancient and modern as we unwrap the images and stories behind our festive season.

A potted history of the display of flowers and plants in the home.

The desire to bring plants indoors for decorative purposes, has been a practice for many centuries, and one supported by the ceramic, glass and metalwork artist. This talk follows the story of using plants in the home, through the influx of exotics, the changes in technology, and the fashions in interior design. From the conservatory to dressing the dinner table, all will be explored, including the wonderful works of art used to support such plant displays. 

Since its foundation in 1925, Faber and Faber has built a reputation as one of London’s most important literary publishing houses. Part of that relates to the editorial team that Geoffrey Faber and his successors built around them - TS Eliot was famously an early recruit - but a large part is also due to the firm’s insistence on good design and illustration. This lecture traces the history of Faber and Faber through its illustrations, covers and designs. Early years brought innovations like the Ariel Poems – single poems, beautifully illustrated, sold in their own envelopes. In the 1950s and 1960s, there was an emphasis on typography, led by the firm’s art director Berthold Wolpe; his Albertus font is still used on City of London road signs. In the 1980s, the firm started its association with Pentagram, responsible for the ff logo. Along the way, it has employed some of our most celebrated artists as cover illustrators – from Rex Whistler and Barnett Freedman to Peter Blake and Damien Hirst. Slides will range from book covers, advertisements and photos of key individuals, to illustrations of the concepts behind the designs. The talk will also be peppered with personal insight and anecdote. Faber and Faber is the last of the great publishing houses to remain independent. As the grandson of its founder, I grew up steeped in its books. I was managing director for four years and I remain on the board. I am passionate about the firm’s success, and intensely proud of my association with it. 

The landscape of Paris changed dramatically with the arrival of Louis Napoléon and his prefect, the Baron Haussmann. Ramshackle medieval streets were replaced by elegant apartment blocks and broad boulevards. Vast structures of cast iron and steel from the Gare du Nord to the Eiffel tower vied with Notre Dame for attention, and what were once sleepy villages like Montmartre quickly became as popular with pleasure seekers as they were with artists seeking cheap studio. Windmills that once ground corn were turned into dance halls and quiet spots by the river invaded by day trippers who now had access to the whole of Paris via its burgeoning railway network. All this and more besides is recorded in fascinating detail by artists such as Pissarro, Renoir, Sisley, Monet and Caillebotte to name but a few, so why not take a walk with the impressionists through the changing streets of this iconic city?

Tony has been a showman, researcher and teacher for over 35 years: he has run theatre venues, companies, festivals and events for and with a wide range of diverse communities. He specialises in historical popular entertainment forms and their application to contemporary contexts and in 2017, he was awarded a doctorate by Exeter University for his research into itinerant British performance forms and where he is now a part-time lecturer. He regularly broadcasts for both radio and television – most recently for Lee Mack’s episode of ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ However, he is perhaps best known by families throughout the country, as ‘Uncle Tacko!’ - ringmaster of his extraordinary flea circus and the founder of ‘The Pierrotters’, Britain’s last professional seaside pierrot troupe.

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. 

As an art historian, curator, and lecturer with over 20 years’ teaching experience, Jeni is not only interested in historical art movements but also what is referred to as the ‘new art history’ which focuses on non-Western art, new media, aesthetic ideals, and their cultural interpretation(s). A graduate from Falmouth University (MA in Art History, and an MA in Curatorial Practice) and gained her doctorate from the University of Plymouth. Jeni served as Chair of Examiners in Art History for AQA and Chair of The Arts Society, Truro. Currently, Jeni is co-presenter for The Arts Society South West Area's art history course.

As 2020 marked the 250th anniversary since Captain Cook and HMB Endeavour charted the east coast of Australia, this lecture invites you to explore the connection between the land and the cultivation of identity by looking at the art of both cultures from 50,000 BC to the mid-19th century. 

Mark is a writer, the founder of HouseHistree.com, and lectures regularly at societies, festivals and clubs in both Europe and the United States. After leaving Stowe School, Mark worked for twenty years as a plumber in London. However, his real passion has always been for history, particularly the history behind houses through the characters that conjoin to create them. His special interest lies with the great American houses and their relationships with those in Europe, both socially and architecturally. 

Between 1870 and 1914, at the height of America’s Gilded Age, no less than 454 heiresses exchanged their crisp new American dollars for musty, old European titles. Aside from the new lease of life those dollars now afforded the previously cash-strapped aristocrats, they were primarily put to use restoring their crumbling ancestral piles – many of which today we count among our best-loved national treasures. In this talk, we’ll take a look at some of the more prominent of those stately homes and their fairy-dollar godmothers. We’ll discover the frequently eye-opening stories surrounding how the dollars were made; how the couples were matched; and, how the money was spent on the houses that are their often-overlooked architectural legacy. 

Patrick Craig is a Vicar Choral at St Paul’s Cathedral. For twenty years he combined this with an international career singing over a thousand concerts with the world-renowned early music consort The Tallis Scholars. He also sings with the award-winning group The Cardinall’s Musick. He founded and conducts this country’s leading all-female professional choir, Aurora Nova. He has conducted concerts for the BBC Proms, the Brighton, Lichfield and Aldeburgh Festivals, and with the City of London Sinfonia. As a Cambridge history graduate with a lifelong interest in the arts, he has gone on to lead choral workshops for amateur singers across the world, where he places music in its historical and cultural context. He regularly lectures for the St Paul’s Adult Education programme and for John Hall’s Venice Courses, which have allowed him to incorporate his interests in theology, art and poetry. In 2020, when his singing and conducting work disappeared overnight as a result of the Covid pandemic, Patrick poured all his experience into online presentations which have raised vital funds for the Help Musicians Charity.

 1685 was an extraordinary year for music. Two of the world’s greatest composers were born 130km and just one month apart. Much of their childhood development mirrored the other – including the tragedy of losing their fathers at the age of ten. Their careers took very different directions, and they never met, despite several near misses. Patrick will reunite these two giants, tracking their lives across six decades, with a special focus on their vocal music, which has inspired his career as both a countertenor and a conductor.

Christopher Bradley will now deliver his lecture
The Queen of Sheba --Empress or Enigma?

She is one of the most intriguing and exotic figures in history.

Three thousand years ago the Queen of Sheba travelled with a caravan of hundreds of camels,
laden with unimaginable riches, through the Arabian deserts to meet King
Solomon in Jerusalem. Their coming together is one of the world’s oldest love
stories, as told by poets in Ethiopian and Arabian folklore, which also covers the legend of the Ark of the Covenant.
Freed from historical constraints, the imaginations of classical artists have run
wild with fabulous palaces and surreal landscapes. Finally, we look at the real
evidence of the Kingdom of Sheba, the ruins of its capital Marib and see what
the queen might really have looked like - and it isn’t Gina Lollobrigida!

Julia has loved looking at art since discovering the work of Gustav Klimt while teaching English in Austria as part of her German degree course at the University of Durham. She spent the first part of her career teaching German, then did a Master’s in Teaching English at the University of Manchester, and went on to teach international students in the city. She became a tour guide at Manchester Art Gallery and knew at once that this was what she really wanted to do, spending every spare moment learning about art history. She eventually left language teaching in 2018 and since then has loved spending all her time sharing her passion for art as a speaker to many different groups. She and her astronomer husband love to travel around Europe and take every opportunity to visit art galleries wherever they go, but Scotland has always been their favourite destination!

It wasn’t just L.S. Lowry who was inspired to paint Manchester, the northern powerhouse that burst onto the world stage as Cottonopolis during the Industrial Revolution. This lecture explores the history of the city as seen through the eyes of artists, from George Cruikshank, a Londoner who was moved to put pen to paper by a great event which unfolded here - the Peterloo Massacre – to Adolphe Valette, the Manchester Impressionist, and ending with Halima Cassell, a contemporary sculptor whose fascination with the buildings of the city began with childhood visits here and inspired her later work. 

Jane Gardiner has an MA History of Art, University of London. She trained at the V&A and continues to lecture there. Was Senior Lecturer at Sotheby’s Institute of Art for 17 years, becoming a Deputy Director of Sotheby's, UK. Has also lectured for the National Trust, the Art Fund, London University, Buckingham University, l'Institut d'Etudes Superieures des Arts in Paris, a private women's college in Saudi Arabia, on cruise ships and at antiques fairs and interior design conferences in America.

A pictorial history of drinking glasses through the ages, studied through images of actual objects and through paintings. The lecture will focus particularly on the development of the wine glass, but will also look at glasses designed for other beverages, such as: beer, cider, ale, cordial etc. It will consider the drinking habits of different countries and the types of glass associated with those countries, e.g. the Venetian wingstemmed glass, the German roemer, the Dutch flute and the English balusterstemmed glass; and will discuss the association of fine glass drinking vessels with feasting and conviviality.

Clive studied on the Sotheby's Works of Art course and has now been working in the fine art world for 47 years. Until recently he was a Director of Woolley and Wallis, the UK's leading regional firm of auctioneers, in Salisbury, and was a specialist on the BBC Antiques Roadshow for 25 years between 1991 and 2016. Has also lectured on cruise ships as well as for many other groups, and recently published a major article in the Journal of the Decorative Arts Society on Betty Joel. He is now an independent art advisor.

Horace Walpole said, in 1783, that ‘No man ever went to the East Indies with good intentions’ and George Chinnery was certainly that man. Running away from debt and his wife, who he charmingly described as ‘the ugliest woman I have ever seen’, he settled in India for 23 years before running away from debt again to China. This talk covers his portraits of many of the leading figures of the East India Company, most notably Colonel James Kirkpatrick, his 14 year old Indo-Persian wife and their children, key figures in William Dalrymple’s White Mughals, as well as his beautiful scenes of everyday life and landscapes.

Stella Grace Lyons is a freelance Art History lecturer, speaker and writer accredited with The Arts Society. She has lectured across the UK, Ireland, Spain, Norway, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Malaysia and will soon embark on a lecturing tour in Australasia. Stella gained her BA in the History of Art with a 1st class in her dissertation from the University of Bristol (2007-2011), and her MA in History of Art from the University of Warwick. She spent a year studying Renaissance art in Italy at the British Institute of Florence, and three months studying Venetian art in Venice. In addition, she attended drawing classes at the prestigious Charles H. Cecil studios in Florence, a private atelier that follows a curriculum based on the leading ateliers of nineteenth century Paris. Stella runs her own Art History lectures both in person and online. She is a regular lecturer in the UK and Europe for The Arts Society, Tour companies, and the National Trust, amongst others. Stella is also a part-time lecturer for the University of South Wales. She has written about art for several publications and her article on Norwegian art was featured on the front cover of The Arts Society magazine. In addition to her lecturing work, Stella works as an artist’s model for the internationally renowned figurative artist, Harry Holland.

Gardens have been, and continue to be, a great source of inspiration for artists. Looking at imagery from diverse centuries, we'll explore how portrayals of gardens have given us insight into our relationship with the natural world and helped us to define what it means to be human. This talk will explore beautiful, symbolic and sensual paintings, including Hieronymus Bosch’s shocking ‘Garden of Earthly Delights’, Fragonard’s erotic ‘Swing’ and John Singer Sargent’s enchanting ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily Rose’.

Marguerite Duncan-Sutherland studied singing with Laura Sarti, David Bacon and the great coach Paul Hamburger with whom she made her debut in Vienna. Since then, she has sung in Germany, Austria,Italy and France, both in opera and concerts and recitals. 

Stephen Baron studied piano with Celia Arieli, Bernard Roberts and Mary Peppin. He has performed widely as both accompanist and soloist. He has appeared at London's Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room and played in many UK festivals, as well as performing in France, Belgium and Finland.  

Marguerite and Stephen have worked together on many occasions, as singer and accompanist, however their mutual appreciation of the works of Chopin inspired Marguerite to create the present lecture/recital, using Chopin's own letters to highlight his beautiful music.

DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE HAS HAD TO BE A CHANGE TO THIS MONTH'S LECTURE.

This will now be 'And So To Bed', presented by Janusz Karczewski-Slowikowski 

Janusz is a freelance lecturer and researcher in English furniture history and also an antique dealer.

This lecture traces the significance and use of beds from the medieval period through to the 18th century, both in terms of their association with the highest level of society as expressed through the great ‘State Beds’ and also the history of their construction, decoration and the, often costly, textiles associated with them. The significance of beds through the ages can be judged by the prominence given to them in wills and inventories - Shakespeare, in his will, left his wife Anne “my second best bed” - and modern day audiences may be surprised to learn that in times gone by, married or single, rich or poor, one never slept alone… 

Formerly a lecturer at the University of Bath, where he was Director of Studies in the School of Education with responsibility for the professional development of teachers. John Ericson has worked extensively overseas as an educational consultant, and this has given him the opportunity to give lectures and presentations at conferences all over the world.  As well as the talks he has developed from his professional background, he offers presentations on an eclectic range of topics that are derived from his diverse interests and enthusiasms such as, Pub Signs, Children’s Book Illustrations and the Shakers of North America.

In this talk John tells the extraordinary story of the Shakers of North America, exploring their beginnings, what they believed and how they lived their lives, before examining examples of their wonderful buildings and furniture. It is only with such an understanding of their devout faith and way of life that we can begin to appreciate their intriguing legacy.

Jane E. Choy-Thurlow is a docent and enjoys giving lectures and tours at the Mauritshuis, Prince William V gallery and Huygens Museum Hofwijck in The Hague, The Netherlands. A few of the many exhibits in the Mauritshuis she has been part of are: the legendary Johannes Vermeer exhibit, Rembrandt by Himself and Holbein, Portraitist of the Renaissance.

An active member of The Arts Society, she is a founding member of DFAS of The Hague and has fulfilled committee positions including chairman and Mainland Europe Area Chairman and presently is Area Trainer and a New Societies committee member. She received her BSc from Salem State University, USA, her Med from Trinity College Dublin and continued art history studies at Leiden University. 

In 2018 she was given the honor of Knight in the Order of Oranje Nassau by the Dutch King Willem Alexander of Orange for her knowledge and work in the field of the Arts esp. 15th to 17th century Dutch and Flemish art.

This lecture explores this phenomenal artist, who, through his portraits - especially of Henry VIII, his wives and courtiers - has done so much to determine our image of this turbulent time. It examines the life and career of this 16th century ex-pat who travelled to many countries in pursuit of his career. But what makes his work so special? Why are his portraits so intriguing and fascinating for so many people? Is it his unbelievably refined technique and the beautiful use of colour which he used to make his paintings come to life? Or is it his talent to reveal the characters of these people so mercilessly? His portraits of Swiss Citizens, famous scholars. traders and Henry VIII and his marriage candidates and courtiers show us people of flesh and blood: powerful personalities, erudite, good natured, industrious or vulnerable, but also people who radiate cunning and deceit.

Tony Rawlins was educated at Highgate School, starting his career in advertising in 1965 as a mail boy in J. Walter Thompson. He graduated through the training system there to become an account director and subsequently worked in a number of agencies before setting up on his own in 1985. There he handled primarily Guinness advertising in Africa and the Caribbean, where he produced many commercials and print ads for them over a period of 15 years. He remains active as a consultant in the industry, but now concentrates on more philanthropic projects - producing a film in the rural villages of Nigeria for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. More recently he has completed a sanitation project in Haiti after it was devastated by Hurricane Matthew in 2016.  

In this lecture, Tony Rawlins focuses on the increasing popularity of classical music, especially amongst young people.

It includes examples of:

• how classical music enhances the mood - the drama, the tension, the romance - of feature films;
• how classical music has made many TV commercials truly memorable.

It describes how a piece by an obscure 17th century German Composer has become our No. 1 favourite at weddings and funerals.

It shows how classical melodies and chord sequences have been borrowed for a huge number of popular hit records.  (The lecturer plays guitar and sings for this part of the talk.)

Anthony Russell has travelled much of the world, combining painting with tour lecturing - principally to American university students on bespoke tours. Spent six years as a consultant for Luke Hughes and travelled the country advising on the furniture needs of prestigious buildings, including museums, palaces, schools and cathedrals. Now based in London, spends much of his time lecturing and undertaking research, while assisting at the British Museum with outreach events and visiting lecturers. As an advocate of non-violence, he is the author of the book 'Evolving the Spirit - From Democracy to Peace', commended by Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Laureate, as meaning a great deal to her.

It is often argued that Britain possesses the finest collection of ‘living’ stately homes in the world. It is hard to deny that they represent one of the country's greatest assets and its greatest contribution to the decorative arts worldwide. This lecture goes back in time to explain their origins in British history, the changing nature of society and the way country houses have evolved. This journey through their history illustrates the most magnificent examples in all their grandeur and beauty, while considering the impact they have had on society and its development. Consideration is given to changing roles and if they can still exert a powerful hold on society. How should we look on them today and how are they to survive and evolve in the future? 

THIS LECTURE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE ATKINSON STUDIO, RATHER THAN THE MAIN THEATRE

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, our previously scheduled lecturer is unable to join us, but we are delighted that Roger Mitchell is joining us with a lecture on Thomas Moran.

Roger Mitchell has been teaching history for more than 50 years – first in schools and then at King George V College in Southport, where he was Vice-Principal in the 1980s and 1990s.  He has also worked for Continuing Education at Liverpool University.  Of this lecture, he says: “I admire Moran, both as a painter and as a man, and I enjoy sharing my knowledge of his life and work.”  He says he finds it particularly gratifying when people say “I’d never even heard of him before, but now I want to know more”.

The great landscape painter, Thomas Moran, deserves to be as well known here as he is in America. Influenced by his study of Turner's paintings, he is an explorer as well as an artist.  He was a member of the first expedition to Yellowstone and accompanied John Wesley Powell to the Grand Canyon.  His great paintings of these extraordinary places were purchased by Congress, and for the first time showed the grandeur and the colour of the West, helping Americans to understand and appreciate their heritage.

THIS LECTURE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE ATKINSON STUDIO, RATHER THAN THE MAIN THEATRE

For eight years the Church of England’s Director of Church Buildings and Secretary of the Church Buildings Council and Cathedrals Fabric Commission, Janet has written two illustrated paperbacks to encourage greater enjoyment of these amazing buildings, 'Director's Choice, Churches of the Church of England' and 'Director's Choice, Cathedrals of the Church of England' and produced and presented on a TV series on cathedrals for PBS.

A Cambridge graduate in History and History of Art, Janet worked at Sotheby’s for nine years, was a trustee at the Churches Conservation Trust, the Museum of Fulham Palace and the Friends of the V&A and guided and lectured at the V&A. Janet set up and ran an architectural history course around visits to significant buildings. Janet has also given tours and lectured on secular architecture and fine and decorative arts.

Currently a trustee of the Priory of St John (Hospitallers) and a commissioning editor for Scala Heritage Publishers, Janet received an OBE for services to heritage in January 2017.

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.

An historian of British art with a particular interest in the work of JMW Turner, on whom he has published widely, including the volume on Turner in Phaidon's Art & Ideas series, and several catalogue essays for exhibitions in the UK, Germany, Italy and Poland. He was the BBC's script consultant on 'Turner's Fighting Temeraire' and took part in a BBC documentary called 'The Genius of Turner: Painting the Industrial Revolution'. He has also published a study of John Constable's paintings. His interests and his teaching extend from medieval architecture to contemporary British art. He is currently Associate Lecturer with the Open University and lectures on a freelance basis for The Arts Society, Christie's Education and other organisations.

This is a journey through the 60s in music and images, following the Beatles from the Hamburg Reeperbahn in 1960 to Abbey Road in 1969. The band was always fascinated by the visual arts - the ‘fifth Beatle’, Stuart Sutcliffe, was a prodigiously talented painter - and they also learned very early on that artists and designers could help promote their image and their music. Their rise to global fame was aided and recorded by an impressive roster of photographers, including Astrid Kirchherr, Bob Freeman, Robert Whitaker, Angus McBean and Linda McCartney. The innovative covers for releases such as 'Rubber Soul' (Bob Freeman) 'Revolver' (Klaus Voormann), 'The White Album' (Richard Hamilton) and 'Sgt. Pepper' (Peter Blake & Jann Haworth) turned album design into an art form in its own right. 

Nirvana Romell has 20 years of lecturing experience on 3 continents. Since arrival in the UK in 2003, she has been working as a freelance lecturer, public programmes consultant and tour director. She has regularly presented art history courses and lectures, as well as trained staff and volunteers, at the Manchester Art Gallery, the Walker Gallery in Liverpool, University of Manchester and other art and learning institutions. She also organises and presents tours of permanent and temporary exhibitions across the UK and Europe, and study tours to the Balkans, Italy, France, Switzerland, Sweden and South Africa.

This talk explores the causative connection between the political, social and economical history of this famous city and its arts. The uniqueness of the city’s history and people reflects itself in the revolutionary and innovative character of Venetian arts – both in positive and negative ways. The lecture highlights, in particular, the contribution that the Venetian colonies made to the famous school of art.

Venice has been highly romanticised in the past two centuries and the lecture tries to separate facts from sentiment.

Richard is a professional artist who graduated in English and Art History from York University in 1986. From 1988-1994 he lectured at the adult education departments of Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities, and then went on to become a full-time figurative artist, executing large-scale public commissions, and exhibiting widely throughout the UK. He now lives and works in Chichester, West Sussex. 

The High Renaissance saw the seamless integration of art and architecture, the pinnacle of a tradition extending back thousands of years. So how was it that by the mid-20th century, mainstream Modernist architects saw painting and sculpture as anathema to their designs?

This lecture tells the fascinating story of how painting and architecture went their separate ways, exploring the complex reasons behind their dramatic divorce, including:

• the 'special status' of painting as the heralded product of artistic genius;
• a change in the form and function of the picture frame;
• the emergence of the commercial art market;
• the rise of the public 'Art Exhibition'.

Embracing the likes of Michelangelo, Watteau, Whistler and Matisse, this broad-ranging survey culminates with the Bauhaus and its legacy in the USA – and ends by asking whether the partnership between art and architecture might be revived in the 21st Century.

Viv Lawes is a lecturer, curator, author and journalist, with over twenty years’ experience in the art market. She works at several prestigious Higher Education institutions in London, leading the Modern and Contemporary unit of the Asian Art & Its Markets semester course at Sotheby’s Institute and the History of Decorative Style (c.1400-1970) course at the City & Guilds of London Art School. She also lectures for the University of the Arts and IESA (Institut d’Etudes Supérieures des Arts), London. As Senior UK Consultant to Singapore gallery One East Asia since 2011, she has co-curated many exhibitions of Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art in London and Singapore. Her current project is a book is on themes in equine sculpture, commissioned by the Sladmore Gallery, London.

The change of name from the East Indies to Indonesia in the post-war period is indicative of the changes in fine art practice that accompany notions of independence. The period covered in this lecture is one during which artists began to look away from Western (particularly Dutch) fine art traditions and towards the native artisanal and ritual practices that represent notions of national identity.

Ancient Indonesian architecture and religious motifs are briefly introduced at the start of the lecture, but the focus is on the effects of colonialism and post-colonialism in the evolution of fine art in the archipelago. These range from the imitative Western-style practice of a 19th century Indonesian painter like Raden Saleh, through the embrace Western Modernism together with traditional, pre-colonial motifs, to the internationalism that now defines contemporary art.

The journey weaves through the ‘Mooi Indies’ school of the inter-war period, the radical paintings of Indonesian mid-century modern masters such as Affandi, Hendra Gunawan and Sudjojono, and the political commentaries leading up to the pro-democracy revolution of 1998.

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Jacqui Carey has been a practicing craftsperson since completing her BA(Hons) degree in Textiles at West Surrey College of Art and Design in 1985. She is renowned for her work in kumihimo, and has been instrumental in introducing this Japanese technique to the West. In 2005, Jacqui became a QEST scholar for her work in analysing historic structures and techniques, and was awarded an MA (distinction) in the History of Textile & Dress from the Textile Conservation Centre. Jacqui’s willingness to share her expertise has seen her exhibit and teach worldwide. She is also the author of over ten books.

Research from books and text-based archives tells a story about needlework from the past, but the detailed examination of surviving artefacts in museum collections has provided a new ‘story’ - challenging our ideas about how embroidery was produced during this era. This lecture looks at the process of Jacqui’s object-based detective work, and her discovery that historic stitches have been misinterpreted for over a hundred years. By taking a new approach, Jacqui looks at some of the secrets that these beautiful items have to reveal.

Previously Assistant Director of the British School at Rome from 1998 to 2002 and since 2004, Associate Professor at the University of L'Aquila. Part of his PhD (Courtauld Institute 1995) on Venetian architecture was awarded the Essay Medal of 1996 by the Society of Architectural Historians (GB). A Fellow at Harvard University's Villa I Tatti in Florence in 2003-2004, and in 2009 was the Paul Mellon Senior Visiting Fellow, Center for Advanced Studies in the Visual Arts, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Amongst his many publications are, with Arnold Witte, 'Alois Riegl, The Origins of Baroque Art in Rome' (2010), and Baldassare Longhena and the Venetian Baroque' (Spring 2012). 

The Guggenheim family managed to amass extraordinary art collections, and design or acquire astounding buildings to display their art, their name even becoming a brand.  This talk, based on my experience working at the Guggenheim in Venice, examines the celebrated museums in New York, Venice and Bilbao, as well as the stunning works they display.

Roger Butler is a landscape architect and an experienced writer, photographer and lecturer. He has a particular interest in the unique history, architecture and traditions of our canal network and worked on some of the UK’s major canal restoration projects. He has also acted as a consultant to bodies such as Waterways Ireland, Natural England and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.  He regularly contributes to waterway and heritage magazines and writes and provides images for a range of countryside and outdoor titles. Roger is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society and a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute.

This lecture examines the unique buildings and structures associated with the UK’s canal network, with a vast array of distinctive designs, landmark features and unusual artefacts: only the National Trust and the Church of England have more listed structures than our canals. Look out for lock flights and lighthouses; cottages and clock towers; warehouses and lots of whimsical architecture - our canals delight the eye and refresh the spirit. 

Roger was a chorister at Wells Cathedral School and a choral scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he graduated with an honours degree in English.  He combined a teaching career with professional singing in London, and after obtaining a further degree in Music became Director of Music at Daniel Stewart’s and Melville College in Edinburgh.  After retiring in 2003 he returned to the south of England.  He is President Emeritus of The Stoke Poges Society and Chairman of Windsor and Maidenhead Decorative and Fine Arts Society.

This lecture will examine how the peculiar geniuses of these two very different men, W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, came together under the guiding hand of the impresario, Richard D’Oyly Carte, to create one of the most individual and enduring forms of theatrical entertainment. The Savoy operas, with their gentle satire, celebrate the quirks and foibles of the British nation, and are as alive today as in the 1880s. The lecture is fully illustrated with musical examples. 

Bertie Pearce has a BA (Hons) in Drama from Manchester University, and a Diploma Internationale from the École Internationale du Théatre, Jacques Lecoq.  A member of the Inner Magic Circle, with Gold Star.  Past experience includes lecturing and performing on cruise ships, and to U3A, historical societies, festivals, schools and colleges. In addition, has toured the world with a magic cabaret show and a one man show entitled ‘All Aboard’.  Has written articles for newspapers and magazines on entertainment and theatre.

Mr Punch – the most famous puppet character of all time. His comic irreverence gave “Punch” magazine its title. His anarchic vitality has inspired opera, ballet and punk rock and his enduring popularity has seen his likeness on goods ranging from Victorian silverware to computer video games. Appearing in England in 1662, Punch is descended from the Italian Clown Pulcinella of the 15th C Commedia Del’Arte tradition.  Even today This Lord of Misrule uses his slapstick to dispense with oppressive authority, be it politicians, political Correctness or the devil, while proclaiming his notorious refrain: ‘That’s the way to do it!”

NOT ORGANISED BY ARTS SOCIETY SOUTHPORT

Video lecture at 1.00 p.m. The lecture will be broadcast live on the Arts Society's YouTube  Channel (youtube.com/c/theartssociety) and will only be available to watch at the advertised time.

This lecture is open to members and non-members.  

Matthew Denney has worked with the fine and decorative arts all his life. He has worked as an auctioneer and valuer with a number of firms. He is currently a senior valuer and head of department at Lawrences in Crewkerne, one of the countries leading provincial auctioneers. Matthew has also worked in Higher Education as Course Leader and a Senior Lecturer on the no longer extant Fine Arts Valuation Degree at Southampton Solent University. He taught on a range of subjects including furniture, silver art and design history. He completed a PhD in the Arts and Crafts Movement and has written on design history for a number of publications. He has current research interests in ‘Great Exhibitions’, ‘Post War Design and Architecture’ and ‘The Crafts in Post War Britain’. 

From the very first Great Exhibition in London held in the magnificent Crystal Palace, to the awe-inspiring events in Paris, New York and across the world there have been many exhibitions that we would consider Great Exhibitions or World’s Fairs. We won't consider all of these events in this talk, but we will consider the most important exhibitions such as London 1851, Paris 1900 and 1925, Brussels 1958 and New York 1964.  

Tracing the development of Great Exhibitions from their birth in London in 1851 at the heart of a thriving Empire, to Europe, in particular Paris where many wonderful events were held, across the Atlantic to America and New York in the post-war period and further East to China, Japan and beyond in recent times. These events all tell of a city and people at a certain moment in history holding a huge and elaborate fair for the world to attend.

Rosamund Bartlett is a writer, lecturer and translator whose work as a cultural historian ranges across the arts. She completed her doctorate at Oxford and is the author of several books, including biographies of Chekhov and Tolstoy, and a study of Wagner's influence in Russia. She is currently writing a history of the Russian avant-garde. Her new translation of ‘Anna Karenina’ for Oxford World’s Classics was published to acclaim in 2014. She has written on art, music and literature for publications such as ‘The Daily Telegraph’ and ‘Apollo’, and received commissions from institutions including the Royal Opera House, Tate UK, and the Salzburg Festival.

Where better to spend yuletide than in snowy Russia? Imagine yourself wrapped in furs, speeding along in a troika, bells ringing, as you come home from church after celebrating the end of the 40 day Christmas fast. This lecture explores the traditional religious and folk customs associated with Christmas in Russia before the Revolution, the secular celebrations introduced to Russia by Peter the Great, the drastic changes introduced in Soviet times by Stalin, and what Christmas means to Russians today.

NOT ORGANISED BY ARTS SOCIETY SOUTHPORT

Video lecture at 1.00 p.m. The lecture will be broadcast live on the Arts Society's YouTube  Channel (youtube.com/c/theartssociety) and will only be available to watch at the advertised time.

This lecture is open to members and non-members.  

Georgina Bexon is an art historian specializing in South Asian art who has lived and worked in the UK, USA and Singapore. She discovered and developed her passion for art history whilst working as a researcher at the National Museum of Singapore. Since then she has expanded her practice to include collecting and consulting and has developed a network of gallery and artist connections in Europe, the USA and India, which she visits regularly. 

An official tour guide at Tate Modern in London, Georgina is also a guest speaker on luxury cruise ships for whom she has developed a series of art talks related to Asian and Pacific destinations. She also enjoys talking on a range of modern and contemporary art subjects based on her research and talks given at Tate Modern.

At the birth of Indian Independence in 1947, a group of talented and determined artists set out to create a new art for a new country. They drew on ancient artistic traditions but also had a radical view of how Indian art could speak to its audience. This movement, known as the Bombay Progressives Artists' Group, created an art very much for and of its time – acting as witness to a country in turmoil and relating the fascinating story of transition and growth of the new India. This talk offers an exploration of how art in the subcontinent threw off the yoke of colonial influence to create modern masterpieces and a thriving global business. 

James Taylor studied at the Universities of St Andrews and Manchester, and is a former curator of paintings, drawings and prints, and co-ordinator of various exhibitions and galleries, at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, also lecturer and ships' historian on board cruise ships. Publications include illustrated histories of 'Marine Painting' (1995) and yachting art 'Yachts on Canvas' (1998), 'The Voyage of the Beagle: Darwin’s extraordinary adventure aboard FitzRoy’s famous survey ship' (2008), 'Careless Talk Costs Lives: Fougasse and the Art of Public Information' (2010) and 'Your Country Needs You: the Secret History of the Propaganda Poster' (2013).

The vision and genius of Isambard Kingdom Brunel underpins this global story of hopes and dreams, disasters and triumphs. This talk features a wide range of ships, including Great Britain and Great Western, Lusitania and Mauretania, Olympic and Titanic, and arguably Britain’s most popular liner the Queen Mary, brought to life through historic and contemporary artworks, including striking Art Deco posters. A selection of interior views of the famous liners are featured. 

NOT ORGANISED BY ARTS SOCIETY SOUTHPORT

Video lecture at 1.00 p.m. The lecture will be broadcast live on the Arts Society's YouTube  Channel (youtube.com/c/theartssociety) and will only be available to watch at the advertised time.

This lecture is open to members and non-members.  

Peter Ross has a History of Art degree, an MA in London history, a PhD in the cultural history of an English Criminal, and qualifications in the teaching of adults. Currently Principal Librarian at Guildhall Library, he has for 20 years lectured on a broad range of topics including the history of English books, portraiture, and London history. Peter has appeared on TV and radio as a consultant on the 18th century criminal Jack Sheppard and on the history of English food. His most recent publication, The Curious Cookbook, was published by the British Library.  

Across a thousand years of manuscripts and over five hundred years of publishing, English recipe books have reflected the eating habits of Kings and courtiers, the merchant classes, inn-keepers and restaurant owners, as well as home cooks and even the paupers who visited the soup kitchens of Victorian London. Cookbooks are full of extraordinary food but also extraordinary illustrations from medieval illuminated manuscripts, via the engravings of the eighteenth century and the colour lithographs of Mrs. Beeton, to the high-end life-style images of the modern TV cook. This lecture tells the story of the development of the cookbook and along the way will tempt you, or indeed disgust you, with a few choice recipes.  

Julian Richards Studied archaeology at Reading University and has since worked as a professional archaeologist, in commercial archaeology, for English Heritage, for the BBC and as an independent. Elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1992.  A career in broadcasting involved researching and presenting ‘Meet the Ancestors’ and ‘Blood of the Vikings’ for BBC2, and ‘Mapping the Town’ for Radio 4. Author of a number of English Heritage publications on Stonehenge, including the previous and current guide books to the monument and landscape.

William Morris led a revolution against the products of the machine age. The first of our ‘passionate potters’, William de Morgan, was a friend of Morris who rediscovered the secrets of Near Eastern lustre glazes. In contrast, the eccentric and argumentative Martin Brothers created a range of elaborate salt glazed pots unparalleled in their imaginative breadth. Sir Edmund Elton, the ‘potter baronet’, made pots which combine startling glazes with exotic forms. And finally, Bernard Leach, the father of English studio pottery, not only married the arts of Japan and England but created a legacy that is still alive today.   This lecture explores the lives of these truly passionate potters and celebrates their extraordinary and beautiful creations.

Video lecture at 1.00 p.m. The lecture will be broadcast live on the Arts Society's YouTube  Channel (youtube.com/c/theartssociety) and will only be available to watch at the advertised time. 

This lecture is open to members and non-members.  

Mary Sharp is an experienced broadcaster and teacher with particular expertise in literature and drama. She worked for many years for BBC Radio 4 producing some of its most popular programmes including Start the Week and Woman’s Hour before joining the senior management team as a Commissioning Editor. Mary has subsequently worked as a teacher and Director of Sixth Form at a leading girls’ grammar school. She now runs her own company 'Opening Up Literature' which offers literature courses for adults including studies of Shakespeare and Creative Writing. Her most popular course is 'Telling Tales' which explores how writers and artists have reinvented classical stories. She is also a professional bridge teacher and lecturer.  

Prometheus was a Titan who, according to Greek legend, created the human race and then famously incurred the wrath of Zeus by stealing fire from the gods to preserve it. The punishment that Zeus devised was both cruel and ingenious. This lecture goes back to original sources to re-tell the story, explore the remarkable parallels with Adam and Eve and trace its influence from Reubens to Henry Moore and from Frankenstein, through Great Expectations to the Alien movies. Mary will explore our enduring interest in the ideas that thread their way through the numerous adaptations and reflect on what they reveal about our changing attitudes to religious belief.   

Paul Jagger is a Court Assistant of The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists and author of ‘The City of London Freeman’s Guide’, the ‘History of The Worshipful Company of Marketors’ and the ‘Pitkin guide to the Square Mile’.  He has a particular interest in the treasures and heraldry of the City’s Livery Companies. In April 2016, Paul received the City’s prestigious Root and Branch Award from the Lord Mayor of the City of London for his work in promoting awareness and understanding of the City of London and its Livery Companies, particularly their beneficial impact on wider society.

The City of London is home to no fewer than forty Livery Company Halls, almost as many as existed immediately prior to the Great Fire of London. Many of the Halls succumbed to the fire, others to the Blitz, and several to the property developer, but they all contain a wealth of treasures in art, sculpture, stained glass, silverware and furniture. Collectively the Livery Companies are custodians of an immense array of treasures of national significance including many Royal portraits such as that of HM The Queen during her Golden Jubilee year, commissioned by the Drapers’ Company which with the Sandringham Branch of the Women’s Institute is one of only two organisations of which HM is a member.

Linda Smith holds two first-class degrees in Art History. Experienced guide and lecturer at Tate Britain, Tate Modern and the Dulwich Picture Gallery. Lectures to secondary school audiences and independent arts societies.

The Camden Town Group was a small, short-lived group of artists which flourished between about 1911 and 1914. Key members of the group were Walter Sickert, Harold Gilman, Charles Ginner, and Spencer Gore, and it was named after the area of London in which several of them lived and worked. Inspired by the work of artists like van Gogh, Gauguin and Cézanne, these painters adapted the Europeans’ brilliant use of colour and energetic brushwork to very British subject matter, creating a vibrant visual style in the process.

One of their principal subjects was London, and these artists were certainly interested in the fast-changing cityscape of glitzy modern buildings and spectacular new kinds of entertainment like the cinema; but they were also drawn to the quieter, more prosaic world of the suburbs, and occasionally their pictures focussed on the downright sleazy. 

Formerly a Fellow and Director of Studies in History at Christ's College, Cambridge, Max now teaches at the University of Manchester and is a recent winner of the university’s ‘Teacher of the Year’ award. He specializes in the cultural history of war and heroism, and is currently writing a new history of British heroes. Public lecturing is Max’s passion. Alongside lectures at Manchester and other universities, he has spoken about his research to public audiences throughout the UK and beyond, from the Isles of Scilly to Hobart, Tasmania.

Captain Scott and his four companions died in the Antarctic in 1912. Although they had lost the race to the South Pole to Norwegian Roald Amundsen, their deaths unleashed an astonishing wave of tributes not only in Britain but around the world. This lecture will examine the different ways in which artists represented death in the polar wasteland and portrayed failure as heroic sacrifice.

Claire Walsh MA V&A and RCA; PhD European University Institute, Florence. Having previously worked at the V&A and lectured there and for the University of Warwick, now lectures for the Open University. Has lectured widely in Britain; at the Courtauld Institute of Art and Museum of London amongst others, and to specialist groups including the Art Fund, the Ceramics Society, the Costume Society and the Ancient Monuments Society. She has also lectured in Europe, the USA (including Yale and the Huntington) and Canada and has numerous publications.

The Christmas Tree presents us with over five centuries of art and meaning. Vital to the imagery of both the pagan world and Christianity, its significance emerges in Norse yuletide, ancient Rome and with the early-medieval saints, before its diverse strands were drawn together to symbolize the modern Christmas. It is wrapped in legend, from the Icelandic sagas to St Boniface, from the Mystery Plays to Martin Luther. In art, the forest fir has made the transition from Viking rock carvings to German Romanticism and Scandinavian naturalism, on its way to finding its place as an icon of our modern festival. Decorated and shimmering with light, it has brought Christmas from outside the home into the heart of the family, it has drawn soldiers together across No-Man’s Land, and it continues to symbolize its essential, timeless message of Peace on Earth. 

Rosalind Whyte, BA and MA from Goldsmith’s College, and an MA (distinction) from Birkbeck College. Experienced guide at Tate Britain, Tate Modern, the Royal Academy and Greenwich. Lectures at Tate, Dulwich Picture Gallery, to independent art societies and on cruises. Leads art appreciation holidays.

In 2018 The Royal Academy of Arts celebrates its 250th anniversary, so it is an opportune time to explore its history and the role it has played in the development of British art.  We will look at the position of artists in London before and after the formation of the Academy in 1768 and some of the characters involved, from the first President, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and other establishment figures, to artists who have taken a more oppositional stance, whether individually, such as Reynolds’ great contemporary and rival Gainsborough, or as a group, such as the (initially) clandestine Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of young rebel artists who sought to subvert the Academy from within.  Like any important institution, the Academy has been embroiled in intrigue and controversy over the course of its history and no scandal or outrage will remain unexposed as we trace the history of one of Britain’s most important cultural bodies, from inception to the present day.

Colin Davies, Professor of Architectural Theory, former editor 'Architects Journal' and contributor to magazines worldwide. Books: 'Thinking About Architecture', 'Key Houses of the Twentieth Century', 'The Prefab Home', 'High Tech Architecture', 'A New History of Modern Architecture' (published by Laurence King) and monographs on work of Foster, Hopkins, Grimshaw.

Dame Zaha Hadid died on March 31st 2016 at age of 65. Architectural historians of the future will surely recognise her as one of the most important architects of the early 21st century. She was born in Iraq and her reputation was global, but she made Britain her home. This lecture tells the story of her career from the visionary projects of the 1980s, through the years of frustration when her designs were considered unbuildable, to the prolific crop of successful projects built all over the world in the last decade of her life.

Sarah is a graduate and prize-winner from the Royal Academy of Music and in 2015 was elected an Associate. She performs, writes and lectures about the harp regularly in America, Australia, Europe and UK. All lectures are presented digitally and include live music and songs on harps and other instruments depending on subject matter. 

Using illustrations from carvings, wall paintings, pottery, mosaics, sculpture, stained glass, illuminated manuscripts, and 18th and 19th century paintings, Sarah traces the history of one of the world’s most ancient and beloved musical instruments from thousands of years BC, to its arrival in northern Europe, including the huge developments and improvements during the renaissance and 19th centuries that created the highly mechanised and beautiful instrument we see played in orchestras and as solo instruments today. Performing on her own reproduction and antique instruments, Sarah will demonstrate the development and evolving sound and repertoire of the harp throughout its history. 

Adam Busiakiewicz is an Art Historian, lutenist and lecturer.  After completing his Bachelor's Degree in History at UCL in 2010 he held the position of Head of Historical Interpretation (curator) at Warwick Castle.    He left the castle in 2013 after winning a full AHRC studentship to persue a Master's Degree in Fine and Decorative Art at the Sotheby's Institute of Art, London.  

Musical instruments are found throughout the paintings of the Dutch Golden Age.  Despite this, knowledge of their symbolic meaning and how they sounded to their original participants is often lost on modern audiences.   The associations of music with love and intimacy, enlivened by the sound quality and tone of the instruments of the period, help unravel their meaning.   From Jan Steen's brothel scenes to the solemn interiors of Vermeer and Pieter de Hooch, this lecture charts the vast meaning and rich significance of music in Dutch art.

Mark Spencer has been fascinated by plants since he was a small boy.  Originally a horticulturistm he studied horticulture at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.  In addition he studied botany and mycology at university, after which he as a field botanist for a regional conservation organisation. 

Nigel Bates is the Musical Administrator of the Royal Ballet and has been a performer for nearly forty years in and out of the Royal Opera House, including seventeen years as Principal Percussionist with the Orchestra.   He has worked with many of the leading figures in the classical music industry and was also a producer for both the BBC's Maestro at the Opera and Pappano's Classical Voices documentary series.

This lecture takes a look at life backstage at London's Royal Opera House and the tribulations and triumphs of working with the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet companies.   We look at the way artistic inspirations, the people involved and the very special Victorian building all function together to create world-class opera and ballet in a unique environment.  It includes several performance video clips. 

Focussing on the role of posters and poster artists in the history of advertising, this global-award winning Creative Director of international advertising agencies has lectured extensive on design, illustration and photographic styles as they have influenced the building of brands.  

The Flying Scotsman, Golden Arrows, Belles and Pullmans;  no wonder Betjeman still stands in awe at St Pancras.  Covering the golden age of British Railways, the era of the Big Four 1923-1947, this lecture celebrates the most romantic period of our British travel history.  You'll see how the best travel posters connect with your heart and your mind, and how they have closely reflected the evolution of British holidays.  

Harry Fletcher tutored three courses for the Open University - the History of Modern Art, Art & the Environment & Design and Processes & Products.   He has worked as an OU examiner and A level examiner in the History of Art and is a practising artist who has had work shortlisted for the Royal Accedemy Summer Exhibition.

In the 1880s and 1890s Europe and America saw the rise of artistic colonies, such as the Newlyn School, practising a form of painting known as "naturalism".  Another such colony, the Glasgow Boys, siezed the mantle of Bastien-Lepage and their paintings became the toast of Europe.   The Glasgow Girls were their contemporaries.  Painters such as Bessie MacNichol and designers such as Margaret and Frances Macdonald, influenced the development of the Glasgow Style and achieved international recognition, contributing to the development of the modern movement.

The Scottish colourists had direct contact with French Post-Impressionism, particularly Matisse and the Fauvres.  As a result their paintings are considered some of the most progressive in British art of the early 20th century.  During his talk, Mr Fletcher will discuss the lives, the times and the work of these artists.

Zara Fleming is a freelance lecturer, art consultant and exhibition curator specialising in the art and culture of Tibet, the Himalayan areas and Mongolia.  Initially based at the V&A, she also worked with the Central Asian Department of Bonn University, the Orient Foundation and the Royal Accademy.

Isolated from the outside world for centuries, Tibet is the home of rich artistic tradition, inspired by the teachings of Buddhism.   Buddhism began in India during the 5th century BCE and over the centuries developed into three distinct paths - the Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana.  Both the Mahayana and the Vajrayana introduced an extraordinary system of visual imagery and it was these two traditions that permeated Tibet from the 7th century onwards.  

This lecture explores the wealth of this sacred artistic tradition - and explains how the paintings and sculptures are created and the diverse ways in which they are used.

No Ordinary Christmas.

An exploration of Western art in the depiction of The Nativity in Western Art.

Andrew Prince has had a passion for jewellery since he was a small child.  In fact his enthusiasm can be traced back to the time when, at the age of three, he swallowed one of his mother's pearl earings having found her jewel box hidden from him in a cupboard.  The very first piece of jewellery he created was a ring of copper wire pulled from the back of a television.  He presented it to his grandmother (it turned her finger green and gave her a rash). He then created a necklace for his mother using beads taken off her wedding dress - she was not at all happy !

In this talk Andrew shows how the rise of the cinema and Hollywood had such an important impact on fashion and jewellery design.

From Dietrich to Grace Kelly, he guides you through the Screen Goddesses and how they were portrayed.

He discusses that, with the devlopment and leisure time, people had more oppotunities to enjoy themselves and spend money on the finer things in life and how later political events influenced what was worn.   He also shows how the Edwardian and Art Deco styles did not in fact end with the outbreak of the Second World War, rather, they slowly combined to finally flower again in the late 1940's and 1950's with Christian Dior's "New Look".  

Ms Isaac studied at the Courtauld Institute  and Birbeck College, London and regularly lectures at the Southeby's Institute of Art.   Currently she is managing an art recovery company and is serving on the Looted Art Working Group for the Holocaust Era Assets Conferance in Prague, where she was instrumental  in drafting the Terezin Declaration on Nazi looting, which was ratified by 46 countries.

Gail Turner is an historian, art historian and painter.  Lecturing for The Arts Society since 1992, she also regularly lectures for the V&A High Renaissance and Baroque course, Art Pursuits and the Art Fund.

She has also taught on Cambridge UniversityInternational Summer Schools.

Ms Marsh-Hobbs is a lecturer, specialist guide, researcher and teacher, working at The Royal Pavilion, Preston Manor and Brighton Museum.  She has taught on adult education courses on behalf of the University of Sussex, covering architecture, decorative arts, local history and research skills.  she initiates, researches and runs own tours of Brighton Station, Palmeira Mansions and the Old Ship Hotel. 

The British Seaside Holiday started in the 18th century when wealthy people began going to coastal town like Scarborough and Brighton to partake in the sea water cure.   Like Spa Towns it was the health benefits that enticed society, sea bathing became popular as well as promenading along seafront or pier to breathe fresh air.  It was the building of the railways and the earlier steam boat excursions that opened up the seaside resorts to the masses, small towns on the coast rapidly expnaded to cater for the ever increasing crowds of visitors.

Old photographs reveal the fashions and the styles used used in seaside architecture which have constantly changed from elegant Georgian terraces to grand hotels and onto 1930's lidos. 

Mr Pickford, a Freeman of the Goldsmiths' Company, Freeman of the City of London, Lecturer of the Universities of London and Surrey, he has lectured at the V&A, The National Trust and The Art Fund.  He broadcasts on both Television and Radio. is an Author and Editor 'Jackson's Silver and Gold Marks.'   

A London based freelance lecturer, Ms Bohm-Duchen has lectured for The Tate, the National Gallery, the Royal Academy of Arts, the Open University, Southerby's Institute and the Courtauld Institute of Art. 

Ever since the late nineteenth century, seduced by its inrtense light and sensual colours, visual artists (most of them from the North) have been irresitibly drawn to the Mediterranean coast of France.  Claude Monet painted in Antibes in 1888; while in the same year, van Gogh, dreaming of setting up a "Studio of the South", persauded Gauguin - with disasterous results - to join him in Arles.   Cezanne's roots, of course, lay in his beloved Midi, to which he returned for good in 1899.   Meanwhile, in 1892, Paul Signac sailed into the unspoiled port of St.Tropez, settling there and attracting large numbers of younger srtists to the area - among them, his Neo-Impressinist disciples and members of the future Fauvre group.  In the early 20th century, Renoir would make the Midi his home, as would Bonnard and Matisse.  And after the second World War, so too would Picasso and Chagall. 

Roger Mitchell studied History at Oxford and Fine Arts at Leeds.  He was awarded the Churchill Fellowship to travel and study in the USA.  A former College Vice-Principal, he now lectures for the University of Liverpool and for other Adult Residential Colleges. 

Between 1750 and 1850 one of Britain's most successfil exports was the Georgian House.  It was elegant and versatile, particularly suitable for hot climates and a wide variety of building materials.  British and local architects might provide plans but a carpenter or bricklayer equipped with a pattern book could produce a satisfactory product.

In this lecture we travel from England, across the Irish Sea and then across the Atlantic to the American Colonies.

Diana lloyd is a lecturer in ceramics, glass and the history of interior decoration in Europe, North and South America. She lectures at the Inchbald School of design, the Interior Design School and for American University groups. 

The first serious use of wallpaper in Britain began in the late 17th century and the designs were influenced by the more costly fabrics, cut velvet and damask, which inspired flock wallpaper.

The arrival of the first handpainted Chinese Wallpaper is thought to have helped develop the softer pastel shades used in interiors after 1730.London was the centre of production, although later in the 18th century Leeds and York also created wallpapers. 

An historian of British art with a particular interest in the work of JMW Turner, on whom he has published widely, including the volumes on Turner in Phaidon's Art & Ideas series, and several catalogue essays for exhibition in the UK, Germany, Italy and Poland.  He was the BBC's script consultant on Turner's Fighting Temeraire.

The late Christopher Hitchens, who knew a thing or two about feuds, once wrote that a really first rate bust up requires one of at least two things;  a clash of string personalities and a conflict of principle.  The history of art is peppered with first rate bust-ups;  between the great early Renaissance artists, Brunelleschi and Ghiberti, between Constable and Turner in the early 1830's and most recently, between the graffiti artists Banksy and 'King' Robbo, who painted out and aemnded each other's works.   There are many more,  they are highly entertaining but they tell us a great deal about key issues in art history. 

An Expert in the history and culture of the Middle East and North Africa, Christopher Bradley has operated as a professional tour guide and lecturer throughout the MIddle East and Asia.  He has written extensively on Arabia and is the Author of The Discovery Guide to Yemen.

The Adoration of the Magi was one of the most popular religious subjects for the great artists and we follow their work over nine centuries. The term "Magi" refers to the Zoroastrian priest-sages, anonymous wise men who specialised in medicine, religion and astronomy.  We investigate how they travelled from "The East" - variously identified as any country from Arabia to Persia. Tradition has placed the number of Magi at three, relating to gold, frankincence and myrrh, with Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar becoming universal symbols and representatives. 

Educated at New College, Oxford and formerly Senior Curator of the Wallace Collection, Stephen Duffy had particular responsibility for exhibitions and nineteenth-century paintings. 

The Wallace Collection, a National Museum containing an outstanding array of paintings, furniture, porcelain, arms and armour and other works of art, was brought together by five generat5ions of one family between about 1780 and 1880.

All the Founders were remarkable - and sometimes rather strange - men in their own right but the greatest collectors were the 4th Marquess of Hertford and his illegitimate son, Sir Richard Wallace, who lived most of their lives in Paris. 

With her Doctorate from Oxford, Dr Bartlett has held senior university posts, most recently at the European University Institute of Florence. 

Catherine II is one of only two Russian rulers who is referred to as "The Great".  This lecture tells the remarkable story of how an obscure German princess, Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, fended off accusations of murder and illegitimacy and rose to become one of the most illustrious monarchs in history.

Dr Sally Hoban is an honarary Research Fellow at the University of Birminghamand has lectured extensively on art, design and antiques throughout the UK. 

Sally has broadcast on BBC2 BBC4 and BBC Radio 4.

This lecture looks at the life and work of the Danish silversmith Georg Jensen (1866-1935) and the work of designers such as Namma Ditzell and Henning Koppel who worked with Jensen in the mid-20th century.