Monday 22 April 2013

An Introduction to the History of European Art - At the Bishopsgate Institute


Lysippus, copy after original (Head of Alexander the Great, c325-300BC) Istanbul, Turkey


Can't get enough of my guided tours of the National Gallery and want to further explore with me more fascinating works of art with fascinating  stories and histories? Then why not join me at the Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street, London for a short six week evening course that will give you more in depth view of art and enhance your visits to art galleries.  

My Introduction to the History of European Art the course combines appreciation with the history of the principal movements in European art.  

The next intake for the course starts this Friday 26 April running until Friday 14 June, at a cost of £73.00 - £97.00, but if you cannot make this intake there are further opportunities later in the year, read on for more information.

The Introduction to the History of European Art course will explore the differences between Medieval and Renaissance art, and between Baroque and Neo-Classicism. Over five classes and a guided visit to the National Gallery, you will look at a selection of masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Jan van Eyck and Jan Vermeer among others.  

As mentioned previously this course also includes, in the penultimate week, an exclusive two hour tour, with me, of the National Gallery, where you get to ask all those questions you have always wanted to ask about art, such as: what are the hidden messages in art and how do I find them? Why did the artists' chooses to paint particular pictures? How long did it take them to paint the pictures, and did they have any help? And just how much were they paid, and how much are these paintings worth now?

This course is open to all those with an inquiring mind and requires now prior knowledge of art history, so come and extend your interest and have fun exploring paintings in the classroom and in front of the actual works of art on my six week Introduction to the History of European Art course at the Bishopsgate Institute.

The course is run every year in six week intervals from January through to March and June, and again in September through to December.  For details do check the the Bishopsgate Institute website: Bishopsgate Introduction to the History of European Art  

The next course starts on Friday 26 April and runs until Friday 14 June the cost is £73.00 - £97.00.

Saturday 20 April 2013

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 14:30 afternoon tour: 20-04-13


Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings of Western European art.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Saturday 20th April enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend.


Here is a list of those paintings:

We began in room 54 of the Sainsbury wing with The Annunciation (about 1450-3) by Fra Filippo Lippi (1406 - 1469): National Gallery web link here 

While here (in room 54) we also looked at the pendent painting to this picture the Seven Saints  (about 1450-3) also by Fra Filippo Lippi (1406 -1469): National Gallery web link here

In room 61 we looked at The Introduction of the Cult of the Cybele to Rome (1506) by Andrea Mantegna (about 1431/1-1506): National Gallery web link here

In room 8 we looked at one of the largest paintings in the National Gallery's collection, The Raising of Lazarus (1517-19) by Sebastiano del Piombo (about 1485 - 1547): National Gallery web link here

This was followed by a visit to room 14 to look at the Adoration of the Kings (1510-15) by Jan Gossaert (active 1503 - 1532)National Gallery web link here

Finally we ended in room 29 and looking at the Judgement of Paris (1532/5) by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640)National Gallery web link here


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be at 11:30 and 14:30 (Sunday May 5th & Wednesday May 22nd).
  

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 11:30 morning tour: 20-04-13


Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings of Western European art.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Saturday 20th April enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend.


Here is a list of those paintings:

We began in room 58 of the Sainsbury wing with A Satyr Mourning over a Nymph (about 1495) all by Piero di Cosimo (1462 - 1522): National Gallery web link here 

While here (in room 58) we also looked at the wedding chest or Cassone feature the story of the School Master of Falerii (late 15th century) attributed to the Master of Marradi (active late 15th century): National Gallery web link here

Just next door in room 59 we looked at The Annunciation with St Emidius (1486) by Carlo Crivelli (active about 1459 - 1516): National Gallery web link here

In the north wing of the Gallery we looked at the Dutch Caravaggist painting of Christ Before the High Priest (1617) by Gerrit van Honthorst (1492 - 1656): National Gallery web link here

This was followed by a visit to room 14 to look at the Adoration of the Kings (1564) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1550/1 - 1569)National Gallery web link here

Finally we ended in room 35 and looking at the six paintings collectively known Marriage-a-la-Mode (1743) by William Hogarth (1697 - 1764)National Gallery web link here


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be at 11:30 and 14:30 (Sunday May 5th & Wednesday May 22nd).