LECTURES 2019-20 17

th September 2019 Iran: Land of Great Kings, Shahs

and Ayatollahs. John Osborne explores the Persian Empire and architectural remains of the palace at Persepolis; the rich artistry of the Islamic period; and finally present day Shi’a Islam.

15th

October Paul Nash: A War Artist Even in Times

of Peace? Best known as a war artist, Nash also depicted the battle between mankind and nature, his own personal wars with ill health, loss and love. Ray Warburton will explain how Nash incorporated abstraction and surrealism into his work. 19

th November Edward Lear: Landscape Painter and Poet. Denis Moriarty presents a

fascinating biography drawing on the poems, paintings and present day locations to evaluate a colourful and creative life. 21

st January 2020 The Wind in the Willows revisited through its Illustrators. Originally

published without illustrations, the book went on to be illustrated by over 90 artists. John Ericson will compare and contrast the work of different artists; how the story came to be written for Grahame’s son Alistair and the ultimately tragic life of Kenneth Grahame.

18th

February Royal Jewels & the American Heiress: Antique Treasures for the New World. Andrew Prince follows the provenance of art and jewels from their origins with European and Russian monarchies, to wealthy American heiresses, to the British aristocracy and finally to museums around the world where they can be enjoyed today by all.

17

th March The Georgian House Around the World. We travel with Roger Mitchell from

England across the Irish Sea and then to the American Colonies. We go on to the far side of the world, looking at Georgian buildings in Australia and New Zealand before heading for home with a brief stop in Cape Town. 21

st April Marathon!. The Battle of Marathon, even as an

event in English history, is more important than the Battle of Hastings. Rupert Willoughby re-creates the background and the battle itself in thrilling detail. He looks at the various ways in which ancient Athens has influenced our art and culture, and argues that Marathon was, indeed, the battle that saved Western Civilisation.

19

th May ‘So They Do Cook, After All!’. Ravilious, Bawden and

The Great Bardfield Artists. Jo Walton relates how, in 1932 the artist Edward Bawden and his wife Charlotte moved into Brick House, in the Essex village of Great Bardfield, initially sharing the house with another artistic couple, Eric Ravilious and Tirzah Garwood. It was to be the beginning of a fascinating artistic community.

16th

June A Highland Thing? 18th

to 20th

Century Scottish Art. From the late 18th

Century an independent art scene became possible in Scotland. Artists such as Sir Henry Raeburn and Sir David Wilkie became early exporters of truly Scottish art. Rosalind Whyte looks at the parallels between Scottish and other European art, as well as periods of divergence.

SPECIAL INTEREST LECTURES (Prices to be confirmed) 1

st October 2019 # Art Crime and the International Art Market. Tom Flynn

28

th January 2020 # A Beginner’s Guide to Opera, Part 2: 20

th-21

st Century. Simon Rees

3

rd March # Cathedrals, safe places to do risky things and how to pick a favourite Church.

Janet Gough 28

th April Edward Seago: from the Circus to Sandringham.

Seago is a fine painter who should be better known than he is. James Russell explores some of his oil paintings and watercolours in detail, looking at his choice of subject, design and technique. 23

rd June Chinese Imperial Court Costume: a journey

through the Imperial Wardrobe. David Rosier focuses on informal wear and on costume and dress accessories worn for formal occasions. In particular he looks at highly decorative clothing of high ranking ladies and considers the design of items such as robes, outerwear, headwear and ornamental accessories

.

VISITS (Prices to be confirmed) 26

th September 2019 Hampstead village and Kenwood House with Andrew Davies.

11

th October # Kings Lynn, including Clifton House.

30

th April 2020 Elton Hall, Elton Church and Longthorpe

Tower. 6

th May # Henry Moore Foundation, Perry Green,

Hertfordshire. 3

rd June Kew Palace and Gardens. 9

th -14

th July 6 day holiday to Cheshire.

# Event organised by The Arts Society South Suffolk (afternoon society)

Charity No 1125294 www.theartssocietysudbury.org.uk