E-News Bulletin October 2026
SOCIETY EVENTS
Next members’ lecture:
The next members’ lecture is this month – Arcimboldo at the Court of the Alchemists with Rupert Dickens. This is an online Zoom event at 18.00 on the 19th of October. It is free for members but booking is required.
All members’ lectures for 2026-2027 are now available for booking by clicking here.
Places are available on our upcoming study events:
Barbizon and the Making of Modern Landscape a three-day online course on 6th, 7th and 8th October 14:00-16:00 with Jo Rhymer.
Byzantium’s Capital: Constantinople, the New Rome, the Queen of Cities a study day led by Dr Cecily Hennessy on the 28th October from 11:00-16:30 at Lettsom House. This event is now waiting list only for in-person attendance.
Vienna 1900: Surface and Depth a short course at the Art Workers’ Guild with Dr Niccola Shearman on Wednesday 11th November and Wednesday 18th November from 11:00-16:00. This is a wide-ranging short course which will consider both fine art and the applied arts as well as architecture and the influence of early psychoanalysis and socialism on this fast-growing and changing city and its creative endeavours. It will also set the scene for the 2027 National Gallery exhibition on German Expressionism.
London Interiors – Style and Taste in Interior Design, 1660-1940 a three-day online course on 24th, 25th and 26th November 10:00-12:00 with Dr Steven Brindle.
Design for Performance: Art on the British Stage a study day led by Jane Pritchard MBE on 2nd December from 11:00-16:30 at Lettsom House.
Super-splendid: Medieval Marian Art a study course led by Dr Sally Dormer at Lettsom House, every Friday from the 8th of January to the 5th of February 2027, 11:00-13:00.
NEW Still Life in the Dutch Golden Age, a study day led by Clare Ford-Wille at Lettsom House on Tuesday 26th January, 11:00-16:30.
NEW The Italian Renaissance Villa, an online study course led by Dr Dorigen Caldwell. Every Thursday from 11th February – 11th March, 11:00-13:00.
NEW From Flanders to Italy: The Impact of Netherlandish Painting in the Renaissance an in-person study day led by Dr Paula Nuttall at Lettsom House 11:00-16:30 on the 23rd of February.
NEW Velázquez’s Seville: The Birth of Spanish Golden Age Art, an in-person study day led by Dr Nicola Jennings on the 9th March 11:00-16:30 at Lettsom House.
NEW Thames-side Idylls – Creating Houses and Gardens in the 18th Century, an online study day led by Dr Matthew Morgan on the 16th March, 11:00-16:00.
NEW Modernism and the sovereign state: Indigenous Australian Art, an online study day (held over 2 days) led by Dr Arjmand Aziz on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th of April, 10:30-12:00.
All the above are in-person study events (except Barbizon and the Making of Modern Landscape, London Interiors – Style and Taste in Interior Design, The Italian Renaissance Villa, Thames-side Idylls and Modernism and the sovereign state) and are also offered on a post-event recording only basis, with recordings available to all attendees for 4 weeks.
There are also many upcoming study visits and walks:
Simon Gillespie Fine Art Restorers and Conservators Study Tour on Monday 2nd November. Now waiting list only but a second visit has been arranged for 27th April.
Visit to Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery on Friday 4th December at 11:00 or 14:00. One place remains for the morning guided tour; there is good availability for the afternoon tour.
Please bear in mind that in order for these events to go ahead, we need to cover their costs. We kindly ask that members book as early as possible to ensure that events do not need to be rescheduled or at worst cancelled.
Dates for your diary:
Friday 9th April 2027 – Etruscan Art, a study day led by Dr Steve Kershaw at Lettsom House (booking opens 1st December.
Tuesday 27th April 2027 – Simon Gillespie Fine Art Restorers and Conservators Evening Study Tour (booking opens 1st November).
Tuesday 18th May 2027 – German modernist women artists: in and against the avant-garde, a study day led by Dr Emily Christensen at The Linnean Society of London (booking opens 1st November)
Friday 25th June 2027 – Georgia O’Keeffe, a study day led by Kathy McLauchlan at Lettsom House (booking opens later this year). PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE FROM 2nd JULY 2027. The Courtauld has recently announced that it will be delivering a major Georgia O’Keeffe Exhibition in the Autumn of 2027.
Volunteering
We still need volunteers for the events team. Any assistance is welcome and training is provided. If you’d like to learn more, please contact our Chair, Jeanette McCauley, via the email link on the website or speak to her or one of the other Organisers in person at one of the upcoming events.
Current Exhibitions and Lectures in London
Strawberry Hill House Flower Festival 2026 at Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham. From 10th – 13th September.
Sacred Treasures from Kyiv display at the V&A South Kensington. On now until 17th September 2027
The Wallace Collection at War at The Wallace Collection. On now until 25th October
With thanks to Eva Bigalke, you can access and download a listing of current and future exhibitions showing in London from now until March 2027 here.
Overseas Exhibitions
Cezanne et Nous, Grand Palace, Paris, France. Opening September 23rd until January 17 2027
Cezanne et nous at Paris’s Grand Palais explores Paul Cézanne’s profound influence on modern art, bringing together nearly 180 works by Cézanne and artists including Gauguin, Matisse, Picasso, Mondrian, Joan Mitchell, Bridget Riley and Peter Doig.
If you wish to recommend other overseas exhibitions that may be of interest to fellow members please contact our Communications Coordinator.