Part 3: A Mirror of Society - New Patrons, Portraits and Satire
Eighteenth-century London was squalid, drunk, foul-mouthed, and dominated by scandal. It was also a great place to achieve success whether in business, trade, entertainment, or art.
In London and elsewhere, new stately homes and townhouses needed decoration, and both old money patrons and the nouveau-riche vied to demonstrate their status and good taste by buying art.
By the end of the eighteenth century, a recognisably British style in landscape and portrait painting had developed, and the foundation of the Royal Academy of Arts set the seal on the prestige of British art.
In this series of five lectures, Julia Musgrave - an Art Historian many of you are familiar with - will look at some of the social, political, philosophical and scientific background to these changes, and the impact of the Grand Tour on art, architecture and the decorative arts.
Together we will explore the work of William Hogarth, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough, as well as their competitors and colleagues, George Romney, and Joseph Wright 'of Derby'. We will also look at the continuing contribution of non-native artists: from Germany, Switzerland, America and Ireland, many of whom were Royal Academicians.
There are 3 sessions left in the 5 part series on:
Wed 24 February: Part 3 "A Mirror of Society - New Patrons, Portraits and Satire"
Wed 10 March 2: Part 4 "Influences from Abroad - The Grand Tour and Other Travels"
Wed 24 March: Part 5 "Imagination, Introspection and Industry - How the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution Shaped British Art"
Please join us from 9:30am for coffee.
For further information, please contact activity leader Susan Alloun at arthistory1@kcwc.org.uk
