top of page

Hattie Bennett

Please find all Hattie's past and upcoming events below:

  • Sir Joshua Reynolds: the most important English portrait painter of the late 18th century.
    Sir Joshua Reynolds: the most important English portrait painter of the late 18th century.
    Fri, Jan 12
    Jan 12, 2024, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM GMT
    Richmond Library Annexe (and online), Quadrant Rd, Richmond TW9 1DH, UK
    Founder & 1st President of the RA, his Grand Manner style looked at art of the past, to create idealised portraits of the British aristocracy. With little tradition in England for homegrown artists, Reynolds obtained royal patronage to train British artists & display their works annually. more below
  • Versailles' Glory
    Versailles' Glory
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Recorded lecture
    The elevation of LouisXIII hunting lodge outside Paris into the Palace of Versailles -the most magnificent of palaces- was done on the back of Nicholas Fouquet, Superintent of Finances, overstepping his position. See below for more on this talk covering who &what was involved in Versailles' creation
  • Berthe Morisot
    Berthe Morisot
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online Recorded Talk
    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.
  • Little Luxuries: 18th century English Ceramics
    Little Luxuries: 18th century English Ceramics
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online Recorded talk
    This week Hattie will show us the wonderful variety of ceramics produced in 18th century England: From Chelsea to Wedgewood!
  • Little Luxuries: The Lure of Cathay
    Little Luxuries: The Lure of Cathay
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online recorded lecture
    This lecture will give you an overview of the objects imported to Europe from Asia from the 16th century. We will look at textiles, furniture and porcelain and discuss their impact on European interiors, dress and artistic movements.
  • Little Luxuries: 18th century Parisian Shopping
    Little Luxuries: 18th century Parisian Shopping
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online recorded lecture
    The Marchand Merciers of Paris provided the wealthy aristocrats of France with luxury goods. From small shops merchants sold exquisite & costly objects often imported from Asia but given a distinct French taste. We'll discuss the importance of women patrons like Mm de Pompadour & Marie Antoinette.
  • Porcelain Mania
    Porcelain Mania
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online Recorded Lecture
    Marco Polo bought the 1st tiny example of porcelain to Europe in the 13th century. This tiny exquisite object, so unlike European ceramics precipitated the pursuit of European-made porcelain which would pre-occupy powerful men, potters & scientists for centuries. more info below
  • John Everett Millais' astonishing artistic talent
    John Everett Millais' astonishing artistic talent
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online Recorded Lecture
    Millais' talent gained him entry to the RA schools at the age of 11. At 19, he rejected a dazzling academic career in favour of the aims of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, which he would eventually abandon as well. More info below
  • Nicolas Poussin Explained
    Nicolas Poussin Explained
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online Recorded Webinar
    Poussin's great multi-figured paintings are beautifully composed, highly coloured evocations of classical & religous subjects. They can be a little daunting and it is heartening to know that even Poussin's learned patrons sometimes struggled with their meaning! Join Hattie as she guides us through.
  • Spanish Art, the Beginnings: the Rise of Catholic Power
    Spanish Art, the Beginnings: the Rise of Catholic Power
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online Recorded Webinar
    Art produced in the 15th century by Spanish artists blends fierce images of conquest with precise Netherlandish techniques of oil paint and the gold ground background to glorify the power of the church. Hattie will look at The Reconquista, the Inquisition, and Isabella's court painters.
  • 16th & 17th century Spanish Art: The Church Triumphant
    16th & 17th century Spanish Art: The Church Triumphant
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online Recorded Webinar
    Forced conversions, expulsions & the Inquisition carried out in the name of the Catholic Church required powerful religious images highlighting the suffering of Christ & His martyrs. This provided significant opportunities for artists like ElGreco, Zurbaran, Ribera, Sanchez-Cotan and Fernadez.
  • Spanish Art: the Beauty of Murillo and Velázquez
    Spanish Art: the Beauty of Murillo and Velázquez
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online Recorded Webinar
    Seville flourished as a centre of the arts. Here Murillo created soft religious images of the Holy Family replacing drama with domesticity, and Velázquez started a career in which his subject matter, technique & composition broke with conventions.
  • Spanish Art: Suffering - Goya & Sunshine - Sorolla
    Spanish Art: Suffering - Goya & Sunshine - Sorolla
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online Recorded Webinar
    Goya's artworks show his personal approvals & dislikes, and his despair with Spanish politics. While Joaquín Sorolla focusses on leisure beautiful Spanish coastal scenes, reflecting a Spain on the brink of a new era.
  • The English Impressionists!
    The English Impressionists!
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online Recorded Webinar
    This talk will focus on artists who settled in & around Newlyn, Cornwall, at the end of the 19th c. and who were inspired by French landscape paintings of the "Barbizon" school, their subjects & techniques. Painting outside in the glorious Cornish light they captured the every day.
  • The Art Scene at St Ives, Cornwall
    The Art Scene at St Ives, Cornwall
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online Recorded Webinar
    In 1928 artist Ben Nicholson met local St.Ives artist & fisherman Alfred Wallis, whose naive works had a profound effect on him. Nicholson & his wife Barbara Hepworth soon moved to st.Ives. Attracting other artists st.Ives became an artist colony and the centre for modern & abstract British Art.
  • Vincent Van Gogh, part 2
    Vincent Van Gogh, part 2
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online On Demand Webinar
    Van Gogh's style is instantly recognisable and his tragic life-story has inspired films, books and songs. This talk will discuss the work carried out by his young widowed sister in law, Joanna, who played a key role in the appreciation of Vincent's work and whose collection forms the Van Gogh Museum
  • Frames in Focus
    Frames in Focus
    On Demand
    On Demand
    Online Recorded Webinar
    It is extremely rare for an old master painting to remain in its original frame. This talk will look at the evolution of the picture frame, from the gothic "engaged" frame, to the renaissance "tabernacle" frame, French carved & gilded frames to the artist's designed frames of the 19th & 20th cent.
  • Vincent Van Gogh, part 1
    Vincent Van Gogh, part 1
    Time is TBD
    Time is TBD
    Online On Demand Webinar
    Van Gogh produced over 900 paintings & 1000 works on paper in his short career. His close relationship with his brother Theo, is documented in a series of letters. Drawing on these letters we will trace Vincent's career and and artistic development and his tragic descent into mental illness.
bottom of page