This lecture charts the meteoric rise to prominence of the artist Raphael (1483 - 1520). In 1500, aged seventeen, Raphael entered the workshop of the successful Umbrian artist Pietro Perugino and so began his emergence as one of the greatest masters of the High Renaissance. While lacking his older rivals’, Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519) and Michelangelo Buonarroti’s (1475 - 1564) advantage of being born and trained in Florence, he was generally admitted to be their equal. Raphael’s early work will be analysed, together with his commissions in Florence and for the Papacy, which demonstrate the genius of his extraordinary talent.

2024 -2028 marks one hundred years since Winnie-the-Pooh was introduced to children of all ages in the four books created by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard. First seen in ‘When We Were Very Young’ (1924), Winnie-the-Pooh and the characters of the Hundred Acre Wood had their own adventures in ‘Winnie-The-Pooh’ (1926), with ‘Now We Are Six’ (1927) and ‘The House At Pooh Corner’ (1928), giving us more wonderful poems and stories which include the introduction of  Tigger, Kanga and Roo and Poohsticks. This lecture tells the story of how these much-loved books were created by the genius of Milne and Shepard’s groundbreaking collaboration and why they remain embedded in our national identity.

Before he was a famous artist - or indeed an artist at all - Vincent Van Gogh was a disgruntled art salesman, a failed suitor and a would-be teacher. We glimpse Vincent’s life through his letters, which illuminate his inner thoughts, passions and preoccupations. Focusing on a few short months from late 1875 to the middle of 1876, we find Vincent’s life at a crossroads, having lost his job at the Paris branch of respected international art dealership, Goupil & Cie. The main focus of this talk is how he found himself working in a small school in Ramsgate on the Kent coast.

In this hour- long talk we look at snippets of classical music from Mozart’s ‘A Musical Joke’ and Saint-Saens’ ‘Carnival of the Animals to Malcolm Arnold’s ‘Grand Overture for Three Vacuum Cleaners, a Floor Polisher and Four Rifles’, taking in along the way footage of Charlie Chaplain, Dudley Moore and Victor Borge, to uncover the techniques composers use to make us chortle.

The architecture and horticulture of the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission inspire awe and wonder at their beauty. In this talk the design details inherent in the ‘house style’ of the Commission are explored, with particular reference to the signature facets of the horticultural planning, of the Principal and Assistant Architects  and the cultural inheritance they brought to their work for the Commission. 

This lecture considers how and why our art, even in our modern homes, owes so much to the Romans. When the Romans invaded in AD 43, they came to stay and they brought with them not just their soldiers and their language, but their culture, way of life and art. We will tap into what archaeology can tell us about the lives of ancient Britons as they adapted to Roman rule. As town life became the way ahead, art and skills flourished and became embedded in our society. We will look at our own modern lives too, to explore and bring to life the continuing impact of Rome’s invasion of Britain.

The British Crown Jewels are an unchanging jewelled anchor, whilst all around us changes. This lecture will delve into the history and beauty of the crowns, sceptre, orb and other royal jewels used during the coronation ceremony. Diamond industry expert Laurie Wickwire will take us to the front row of the coronation with details of the diamonds, rubies, sapphires and pearls used in the newly crafted royal regalia used by Kings and Queens since 1661. Secrets and mystery abound within these priceless jewels, seen by millions, worn by one.

The mansions built during America’s ‘Gilded Age’ came in all shapes and sizes, but a significant number of them were inspired by - some may say copied from - a varied selection of classic English houses. They were all resurrected and lived in by an eclectic mix of millionaires, all with their own aims and ambitions staked within. Through the splendour of the architecture on both sides of the Atlantic we will dive into the characters, quirks and stories behind these truly international treasures. We will also discover that in almost every case - though centuries apart and unbeknownst to them - the builders of the English and the American houses shared remarkably similar backstories.

This lecture explores the various ways in which potters, over the centuries, have looked to the natural world for their inspiration - from the famous Tang horses of the seventh century to the botanical plates produced at Derby in the early nineteenth. It will include dishes swarming with realistic snakes and lizards, the great animal and bird figures made for Augustus the Strong of Saxony, tureens in the form of rabbits and chickens and the incredibly life-like bunches of porcelain flowers carried by ladies at the court of Louis XV of France.

London’s history is fascinating and full of colourful characters, from William Shakespeare to Dick Whittington’s cat! In this lecture we will gallop through almost 2,000 years of London’s history, brilliantly illustrated through the stained glass windows found in the city churches and livery halls. Often overlooked, these provide a unique insight into the milestones which have made up London’s story. As well as 18th , 19th and 20th century windows, we will look at some of the most up-to-date and contemporary glass makers. Anna Warrillow will also provide a list of windows and where they can be found, so that those interested can undertake a self-guided walk.