A History of British Portrait Painting - session 3
Friday 29^th January at 11.00am
A talk with Val Woodgate 

Depicting the great, good, heroic or plain evil – the portrait is one of the most popular and enduring genres in the history of art. The subject has its own fascinating and complex history, from its mythological origins and links to religious art to its presence in every gallery, palace and country house.  In the modern era even the most humble home will display portraits in the form of photographs.

Historically, portrait painting has been more prolific in this country than anywhere else in Europe.  In this course we will explore the reasons for this, and consider how artists reveal information about their sitters and, frequently, the social, political and historical circumstances in which they were painted.  At the same time we will examine artistic changes to portraits and sitters over several centuries.

We will also question how the background can be manipulated to place the viewer in an implicitly lowly position, what the sitter expected the portrait to convey beyond mere likeness, why there was such a scandal surrounding a portrait of Myra Hindley, and what is the significance of setting, format, pose, costume and viewpoint.

This session - Portrait Painting in the Modern World - the New Face of Tradition

In the modern world portraits can be traditional or highly experimental, using a variety of media, reflecting new trends in modern art, and depicting a wide range of social classes in a subject which was once the preserve of the ruling classes.

Places: 100
This talk is offered free to members - please register your attendance. 

Applications for this event will close at 5.00pm on Thursday 28th January and Zoom details will be emailed to each individual.