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Live and Recorded talks relating to:

the 19th Century

  • A magnificent legacy: the culture of collecting Islamic art in Victorian London
    A magnificent legacy: the culture of collecting Islamic art in Victorian London
    A magnificent legacy: the culture of collecting Islamic art in Victorian London
    In this talk we explore the cultural ecosystem of Victorian London and the Burlington Fine Arts Club, and how these lead to the development of the fields of Islamic and Persian art, looking in particular at the collection in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
  • Master Pieces: Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne, by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres
    Master Pieces: Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne, by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres
    Master Pieces: Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne, by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres
    Not a public commission, but Ingres’ own invention, this painting is a reference to the cult of Napoleon and the use of every single piece of iconography available to show of his legitimacy as a ruler. Please join this talk on Napoleon, neo-classical art, propaganda, borrowing motifs & more!
  • Inside Kelmscott Manor, William Morris's 'heaven on earth'
    Inside Kelmscott Manor, William Morris's 'heaven on earth'
    Inside Kelmscott Manor, William Morris's 'heaven on earth'
    The doors of Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire, the beloved country home of William Morris, have finally reopened its doors to the public on 1/4/23. The perfect trip for a Bank Holiday weekend, join Mariska as she introduces some of the characters that made Kelmscott Manor.
  • Berthe Morisot
    Berthe Morisot
    Berthe Morisot
    In this talk we will trace Berthe Morisot's biography, her influences and the development of her style, and discuss how Morisot was able to thrive within the most radical group of artists, The Impressionists, in 19th century Paris. More info below.
  • Art of Ukraine: 'The Art of a Nation'
    Art of Ukraine: 'The Art of a Nation'
    Art of Ukraine: 'The Art of a Nation'
    We will consider how international popularised styles in the late 19 & 20th Centuries were used to define the characteristics of a Nation. more info below
  • Van Gogh's Self Portraits
    Van Gogh's Self Portraits
    Van Gogh's Self Portraits
    The first ever exhibition devoted to Vincent van Gogh’s self-portraits across his entire career will take place at The Courtauld Gallery London from 3/2 – 8/5/22. Inspired by this exhibition, Mariska will give an introduction to the subject and works you might expect to see. more info below
  • Hokusai’s influence
    Hokusai’s influence
    Hokusai’s influence
    Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾 北斎) was a prolific artist whose influence has stretched across international borders & centuries. This talk will introduce his artistic practice and some of his most famous artworks before discussing his impact on art in the West, particularly the work of Monet and Van Gogh.
  • American Impressionism
    American Impressionism
    American Impressionism
    American Impressionism was inspired by the tonal & stylistic effects of the French, but was uniquely linked with the changing face of America, often depicting the super wealthy, and painted by much more cosmopolitan artists than their European counterparts. More info below
  • Fauvism & La Belle Epoque
    Fauvism & La Belle Epoque
    Fauvism & La Belle Epoque
    After Realism & Naturalism, Impressionism & Post-Impressionism, Henri Matisse will break all the rules by applying furious pure colours deserving the mote “fauve” (wild beast) given by the art critic Louis Vauxcelles. Please join us to learn what happened in Paris after 1905. more info below
  • Master Pieces: Ilya Repin's Religious Procession
    Master Pieces: Ilya Repin's Religious Procession
    Master Pieces: Ilya Repin's Religious Procession
    Highlighting 19th century European artistic &political influences, important 19th century Russian historical events &movements, nationalist feelings, and the complexities + mysteries of the Russian imperial territories by 1 of Russia's best loved artists, who was born in Ukraine and died in Finland.
  • The Birth of Cinema: first films, soap-operas and detective stories ever filmed
    The Birth of Cinema: first films, soap-operas and detective stories ever filmed
    The Birth of Cinema: first films, soap-operas and detective stories ever filmed
    The concept of “motion-pictures” later called “cinema” was born during la Belle Époque. In 1892, the first “cinématographe” camera was invented by Leon Bouly. It was able to record, develop & project motion pictures. We will enjoy the oeuvre of those great pioneers in this 1 hour talk more inf below
  • The Inventors of Christmas
    The Inventors of Christmas
    The Inventors of Christmas
    Everyone knows the ingredients of a traditional Christmas, but where did they start? This lecture looks at the characters and personalities of the people who began those traditions or introduced them to this country. more info below
  • Les Ballets Russes: a Russian flavour in Paris
    Les Ballets Russes: a Russian flavour in Paris
    Les Ballets Russes: a Russian flavour in Paris
    Due to the political instability in Russia, many noblemen and aristocrats had to leave. Among them was the impresario Sergei Diaghilev who will become the father of Les Ballets Russes. A transformative force in music, dance and the visual arts, join Maria to explore! more info below
  • LA BELLE EPOQUE RHYTHMS: From waltz to tango
    LA BELLE EPOQUE RHYTHMS: From waltz to tango
    LA BELLE EPOQUE RHYTHMS: From waltz to tango
    Since the Middle Ages, Paris was a centre of music production: choral music, ballets & operas were premiered in Paris. La Belle Epoque will bring a different perspective. Cabarets & bistros, casinos & music halls were opened for those “nouveau riches” who wanted to have fun. more info below
  • Woman who made Modernism
    Woman who made Modernism
    Woman who made Modernism
    Cindy Polemis looks at the work of 4 extraordinary women artists working in Germany in the 1900s-Paula Modersohn-Becker, Kathe Kollwitz, Gabriele Munter and Marianne Werefkin, all of whom played a central role in the development of radical new directions in European art at the turn of the century.
  • Belle Epoque Literature: From Romanticism to Naturalism. the birth of the scientific novel
    Belle Epoque Literature: From Romanticism to Naturalism. the birth of the scientific novel
    Belle Epoque Literature: From Romanticism to Naturalism. the birth of the scientific novel
    Victor Hugo said: “Anyone who contemplates the depths of Paris feels invaded by vertigo. Nothing is more fantastic. Nothing is more tragic. Nothing is more sublime”. La Belle Epoque will produce writers as dissimilar as Colette & Marcel Proust, inaugurating de so called “modernism” in literature.
  • Futurism and the Belle Epoque
    Futurism and the Belle Epoque
    Futurism and the Belle Epoque
    Futurism is a movement with a manifesto written by poet & journalist Filippo Tommaso Marinetti who will be its engine, attracting many other Italian artists. In Britain, the Futurist movement became the Vorticist. Maria will introduce this often controversial movement. More info below
  • The New English Art Club
    The New English Art Club
    The New English Art Club
    Founded in 1885 as an alternative to the RA, the club encouraged techniques & subjects of French Impressionists. Members incl P.W.Steer & W.Sickert steered art away from RA conventions, whilst Roger Fry promoted post-Impressionism in his own London exhibitions in turn influencing Bloomsbury painters
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