12th September 2011
Michael Howard
A certain generosity of spirit, the art of
David Hockney
This lecture will explore the intriguing work of one of Britain's best known artists - an artist whose work is instantly recognisable and speaks directly to us of the joys and challenges of being alive. We will share the journey of his life from Bradford to London; to New York and Los Angeles and back to Yorkshire - the art a sounding board of his vivid and colourful life.
Image: The London Times April 8, 2008
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10th October 2011
Claire Walsh
The Benin Bronzes:
Masterpieces of African Art
Among the most important and valuable works of art from Africa, these antique bronze sculptures from the West- African kingdom of Benin astounded critics when they were first seen in Europe in the late 1890s. They could hardly believe that such technically accomplished sculptures were created by African artists. The superb workmanship and outstanding aesthetic quality of Benin's royal sculptures rivals the very best work of the Italian Renaissance. This lecture reveals the sophisticated production processes, the symbolism and ritual use of the bronzes, as well as investigating the response of avant-garde artists of the early 20th century, such as Picasso and Matisse, who struggled to place them within their category of 'the primitive'. One of the richest collections of the Benin bronzes is in the British Museum, but many examples are on show in museums across Britain and Europe.
Michael Wheeler, who was scheduled to speak, was indisposed.
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14th November 2011
Charles Hajdamach
A Victorian splendour: the golden age of British glass
In the 19th century British glassmakers created a kaleidoscope of shapes, colours and decorative techniques which far outstripped any other country for the sheer genius of their technical virtuosity and aesthetic sensibility. In 1800 England was the foremost exponent of exquisite cut glass. By the end of the century factories in London and Stourbridge created Art Nouveau masterpieces to rank with the best in Europe. Images of the factories and working condition, and portraits of the glassmakers and designers complete this view of one of the greatest periods in British glassmaking.
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Festive Gathering
All CAMdfas members are invited to a
pre-lecture drink
on Monday 12 December from 7 pm
Juliet Heslewood
Toulouse Lautrec, from Albi to Paris
The painter Lautrec was born of an old aristocratic family in Albi, south-west France. His unfortunate physical disabilities led him, as a child, towards drawing as a pastime. As an adult he was keen to learn more and in Paris in the 1880's he discovered an art world that was reeling from the daring achievements of the Impressionists. Lautrec was to be even more daring - in his subject matter. He frequented brothels and cabaret shows and made of the people he met there some of the most unforgettable images of a specific time and place. This lecture leans on our biographical knowledge, helping to reveal Lautrec as a serious and extraordinarily innovative artist.
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9th January 2012
Mary Alexander
Wigs, waistcoats and weepers, the role of the
18th century artist, tailor and dressmaker as fashion and image
consultant
Where to start in achieving the right look? How to avoid that unforgivable sartorial faux pas? 'Power Dressing' in the latest fashion from France and the finest fabrics from Italy was essential to the status of the C18th English gentleman and gentlewoman in polite society. In a period of rapid social change and immense entrepreneurial activity in the arts and luxury trade market, the tailor and dressmaker often fulfilled a vital role of researcher of trends, adviser, and sensitive diplomat on public image. Similarly the high society portrait painter was expected to advise on such matters and show his patron as a connoisseur of taste and style. A visual feast of illustrations from portraits, caricatures, clothing and accessories will be explored with extracts from contemporary letters and journals to bring the players to life.
Image from Wikipedia
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13th February 2012
Geoffrey Toms
Bridges, the aesthetic achievement of practical need
The bridge is one of the outstanding features of human achievement with its combination of practical function, architectural and engineering design, and pure aesthetic delight. This lecture traces the development of the bridge (and its extension into the aqueduct) from Roman times, both as existing in the city of Rome and the wider Roman Empire; the ways in which the prime feature of the arch was enhanced by the elements of wood, stone and brick will be demonstrated.
The revival of bridge-building in medieval times will be illustrated, in which the history of London Bridge as the greatest bridge of its day in Europe will be emphasised. In fact the great sequence of bridge-building across the Thames in London from the 18th century and its great variety, leading to Tower Bridge and the latest addition to Hungerford Bridge today, will be a key feature.
The world importance of the use of cast iron from the prototype of the Iron Bridge in Shropshire will then be featured as will its influence on the needs of canal and railway construction. The coming of the suspension bridge with which the name of Brunel is so centrally associated will be taken though to the present day from the Clifton bridge to the Golden Gate in San Francisco and then to the Severn and Humber crossings.
The lecture will include remarkable bridges of sheer aesthetic design in China, Venice and America as well as garden landscaped designs in the parks of 18th century English country houses.
Clifton Suspension Bridge from Bristol Past and Present [1882]
Image from Wikipedia
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12th March 2012
Zara Fleming
The sacred art of Mongolia
Mongolia is a vast country of rugged mountains, rolling steppes and awesome desert, lying in the heart of Central Asia. The homeland of Genghis Khan (1162-1227) who founded an Empire which stretched from the Yellow Sea to the Mediterranean. Its people are predominantly nomadic herdsmen and yet they have produced a highly sophisticated artistic tradition which reflects their nomadic and spiritual culture.
The most profound and long lasting influence on Mongolian art is that of Vajrayana Buddhism, which inspired a rich and vibrant artistic tradition. This flourished for centuries under the patronage of the Khans, but in the C20th it was all but annihilated by Soviet-inspired communism. This lecture explores the rich tradition of sacred art and comments on the extraordinary renaissance present in Mongolia today.
Image from Himalayan Art
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16th April 2012
Twigs Way
Not just standing around: understanding statuary
in the 17th and 18th Century garden in England
There is nothing adds so much to the beauty and grandeur of gardens as fine statues': so said Batty Langley, garden writer and designer in 1728. But the choice and placement of statues was no simple matter. From Atlas to Venus via Diana the Huntress your garden statuary indicated to your visitors not only your grasp of the Classical world but your political and religious sympathies and even your aims and ambitions. Modern visitors all too often overlook this fascinating and essential element of garden design and this talk will add a whole new dimension to garden visiting!
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14th May 2012
Jonathan Hinden
Mozart's magic flute, more than meets the eye
'A non-technical and not-too-serious account of this masterpiece, its
characters and story, with musical illustrations on the piano,
focusing on the composer's ability to express character and mood
through music and with a brief look at the circumstances and context
of its composition.'
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