E-news bulletin October 2023

 SOCIETY EVENTS

Society Lectures
The first lecture of the season is Sir Christopher Wren’s Architecture given by Dr Steven Brindle on 9 October at 5pm online. This is followed by Sacred Art and Women’s Visions: Julia Cameron and Paula Rego as Modern Interpreters of Renaissance Art, given by Revd Dr Ayla Lepine on 20 November at 6pm which will take place after the AGM at 5pm at The Art Workers’ Guild. And the final lecture in 2023 is Art, Style and Design in the Service of King and Church: the Bologna Cope, a masterpiece of ‘opus anglicanum’ given by Dr Michael A. Michael on 11 December at 6pm online. There are no fees for lectures but booking is required.

Events
There are still places available this month for the following events: Nicolas Poussin: ‘Peintre Philosophe’ in the Age of the Baroque, a five-week online course led by Giulia Martina Weston starting on 12 October; Istanbul: City of Faith, Power and Beauty, a two-part online study event led by Antonia Gatward Cevizli on 16-17 October; and Guston Now, an online study day led by Ben Street on 30 October which coincides with a major retrospective of the artist’s work at Tate Modern.

You are encouraged to book events as soon as possible so that we can confirm that we have sufficient participants to make the event financially viable to run.

Non-members attending events
We have extended the trial period until the end of the year, so events which are undersubscribed two weeks before the occasion will continue to be open for non-members to attend. Guest attendance will involve contacting the organiser by email to express interest (go to our website, select an event, if the green places available sign is showing click the booking button, and then select the organiser’s name under Contact to access the email address). It is important for administrative reasons that requests for guest attendance is arranged via the organiser. Please do not try to book guest places directly via the online booking system. Guests may only attend one event during the trial period.

NOW SHOWING IN LONDON

GUILDHALL ART GALLERY, until 12 November 2023
Treasures of Gold and Silver Wire
A collection of decorated embroidered fabrics to mark the four-hundredth anniversary of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers. The display of two hundred items ranges from the Bacton Altar Cloth to the Jubilee cope and includes many historical items of royal regalia, ecclesiastical, military and theatrical costumes.

ESTORICK COLLECTION, until 17 December 2023
Lisa Carmi: Identities
This exhibition presents the works of the Italian photographer who started life as a concert pianist and subsequently devoted her time to addressing social issues during the 1960s to mid-70s.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION, until 21 April 2024
Turner and Bonington: watercolours in the Wallace Collection
A one-room display bringing together landscapes by the two artists providing  a rare opportunity to view works which have not been on show for seventeen years.

COMING SOON

THE COURTAULD, Vernon Square, 2 October 2023, 6.30-8.30pm
R.B. Kitaj: From Tipperary to Westwood
The lecture proposes that Kitaj and Walter Sickert echo each other through personality and artistic merit and considers whether Kitaj might have been influenced by Sickert.

SIR JOHN SOANE’S MUSEUM, 4 October 2023-7 January 2024
Georgian Illuminations
The exhibition will concentrate on well-publicised spectacular light shows mounted during the period and the elaborate temporary structures erected to show them, often designed by leading architects and artists including Soane.

BRITISH MUSEUM, Room 91a, 5 October-15 November 2023
The Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies
The Chinese scroll, c. 1500 years old, depicts aspects of life of palace ladies. Due to its age it is only on show for six weeks each year. Booking is essential since it  is a popular event.

GUILDHALL LIBRARY, 5 October 2023, 2-3pm in person and online
‘Everything is Art. Everything is Politics’: Ai Wei Wei
This lecture examines the artist’s work in the context of dissident art in China, Europe and South America and explores his sources of influence.

MAYFAIR ART WEEKEND, 12-13 October 2023, 6-8pm
Art After Dark
To celebrate the variety of art and culture in London on Thursday 12 independent galleries across Mayfair will be open late with self-guided maps available at participating galleries, and on Friday 13 the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery and the RA will also be open late.

WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY, 21 October 2023-18 February 2024
Radical Landscapes: art inspired by the land
An exhibition inspired by William Morris’s love of land exploring how British landscapes have been viewed, accessed and used. Works on display include JMW Turner, Derek Jarman and Jeremy Deller.

GUILDHALL LIBRARY, 25 October 2023, 2-3pm online
Sutton Hoo and the Anglo-Saxons at the British Museum
A talk exploring the life and culture of Anglo-Saxons in England over 600 years through the extensive collection of artefacts in the British Museum.

EXHIBITIONS AT MAJOR LONDON GALLERIES IN OCTOBER

New exhibitions starting this month include a retrospective of Philip Guston’s work at Tate Modern (Ben Street will be leading a Society study event on the artist on 30 October). Also showing: Hiroshi Sugimoto at the Hayward and Sarah Lucas at Tate Britain. You can access and download a listing of current and future exhibitions showing in London from now until March 2024 here.