The Ballets Russes and the Astonishing 1913 premiere of The Rite of Spring.

Michael Sittow of Tallinn was one of the great masters of his time. It only takes a glance at a couple of his works to wonder why he is not more famous.

Théodore Chassériau, a fascinating artist of his time, followed a path between the leading art movements of the mid 1800’s  – rich, colourful, imaginative and utterly distinctive.   

At 7:00 pm on

Wednesday 18th December 2019

at the Memorial Hall, Old Windsor

We shall be holding our

Christmas Quiz

And

Christmas Raffle

All are welcome,

Members and Non-Members

Form your own Teams of up to 6

Bring your own Drinks and Nibbles

Prizes!    No Entrance Fee

Free Parking at the Memorial Hall

A History of Panto from its Greek and Roman roots through the Centuries to the peculiarly British institution it is today. 

A hilariously told story illustrating arguably the ugliest episode in England's architectural history

Grinling Gibbons developed a virtuoso style of carving during the late 17th Century. Much of it commissioned by the Royal Family, for public buildings and for churches.

It was with the creation of Peter Rabbit that Beatrix Potter’s private world became the key to her future independence.

Hindu architecture, with its myriad variations in sculptural decoration runs through this overview of 2,500 years of Indian art

The Antiques Road show has been one of the BBC’s most perennially popular programmes for over 40 years

A master of fin-de-siècle art and design in Britain

The Nazis looted over 20% of Western art during WWll and the effects of this looting are still evident today

There are many illustrious gardens on the shores of Lakes Como and Maggiore in the mountains far north of Italy. We look at the history of some of the great gardens of Europe, from the 16th Century through to the Edwardian Era.

On Wednesday 19th December 2018

We shall be holding our

Christmas Quiz

And

Christmas Raffle

All are welcome,

Members and Non-Members

Form your own Teams of up to 6

Bring your own Drinks and Nibbles

No Entrance Fee

Prizes

Doors open at 7:00 pm, Quiz starts at 7:30pm

Players may either set up a team of up to 6 of their own, or may apply to join a team, by filling in the form below.

A light-hearted look at the Christmas Cheer through the work of the popular 20th century American illustrator 

The careers of two American expatriate late 19thC artists, equally well known in England, Europe and the United States

We look at the history of Kensington Palace through the lives of Kings, Queens, Princesses and Courtiers.

As part of the Windsor Autumn Festival 2018, and to help to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of NADFAS, the Arts Society Windsor (Evening) has joined forces with four other local Arts Societies, Windsor (Afternoon), Runnymede, Englemere and Ascot, to promote a prestigious lecture to be given in St Georges Chapel, Windsor at 7:30 on Monday 17th September.

The lecture, entitled

“St George’s Chapel: Its Origins and Inspirations”

will be given by Art Historian Jonathan Foyle, former Chief Executive of World Monuments Fund Britain and a Curator of Historic Buildings at Hampton Court.

A limited number of tickets for the lecture is being sold for the benefit of, and on behalf of, each of the Societies, in advance of general public booking by the Festival Box Office, strictly on a First Come, First Served basis. Additional tickets may be available from the Box Office in due course.

Bookings and payment can be taken now, and tickets will be issued after the Festival Box Office has opened in July. Seats are unallocated.

Preceded by our AGM, Simon Inglis guides us through winners and losers of pub games, and reveals some of the extraordinary artefacts to be found in the nooks and crannies of Britain’s historic hostelries.

Wine can be a civilising influence upon us and it is made to be shared and enjoyed. As a consequence there are numerous wonderful paintings of wine being made and wine being drunk in celebration but it also lends itself to wicked cartoons and striking posters. In addition we shall examine wine labels from around the world which now display such style and creativity.

Caravaggio was a man out of step with his time. Scorning the traditional idealised interpretation of religious subjects, he took his models from the streets, painting them realistically and heightening the emotional intensity by his dramatic contracts of light and shade. Condemned by many, and for his equally dramatic personal life and uncontrollable temper which involved him in endless brawls and even murder.

Of exquisite design and unfailing ingenuity, the Easter Eggs made by Fabergé for the Russian Imperial Family rank amongst the most extravagant and wonderful examples of the goldsmith’s art.  Each year, from the mid-1880s to 1917, different events or themes were commemorated in these eggs. This lecture will be a celebration of these great works and the techniques by which they were created.

Saving from destruction and the restoration of some of our best loved buildings.

Art, music, youth culture and mass media in Britain and the USA.

We explore their remarkable partnership and work. Be in good voice and ready for some audience participation.

To be followed by THE CHRISTMAS RAFFLE DRAW.

We will examine some of his most endearing images and compare his work with that of some of his contemporaries.

We learn of the views and aims of the 7 young artists who formed this group and of the art critic John Ruskin who became their friend.

We examine the world's first underground system, its architecture, design, calligraphy and posters.

Paintings decry obsessions with money and fame, telling moral tales of lust and debt, and portray fashions for landscape. We will explore works of meaning, works for decoration and even porcelain as garden history.

Twigs is a garden historian, author, researcher and lecturer. She presented Lost Gardens for Channel 4 and has appeared on Gardeners World.

An introduction to the Senior Livery Companies of the City of London. Their medieval origins and their role in modern society.

Fenella has had a lifelong interest in history and lectured in History of Art at University of Liverpool. She has guided for Cox and Kings Art Treasures tours in Rome and Florence, and is a guest speaker on Swan Hellenic and Hebridean Cruises.

The rise of Las Vegas, the distinctive Casinos and their spiralling construction costs. This lecture brings the unique art and architecture of Las Vegas to life.

Sarah Pearson lectured for 10 years at Reading and the Univeristy of East Anglia, Sarah now works as a freelance lecturer in Architecture.

Influenced by Japan and contemporary French and Dutch painting the Glasgow Boys brought a breath of fresh air to Glasgow. They adopted en plein air painting and escaped to the countryside to find scenes of everyday life.

Anne Anderson graduated in Art History and Archaeology from Leicester University in 1978. She has published books on Roman pottery, Art Deco teapots and Edward Burne-Jones. Anne lectures on cruises, her TV credits include BBC's Flog It!

The formal drawing rooms of Mansfield park, Northanger Abbey, Barton Park and Rosings will be compared with the lesser Georgian drawing rooms in the country, London and Bath. Tables, chairs, sofas, window seats, paintings, fireplaces, wallpaper, clocks, vases, china, glass and much much more!

Diana Lloyd is a freelance lecturer in ceramic, glass and the history of interior decoration in Europe, North and South America.

Having driven the Mille Miglia route in 2014, Libby allows us to sample architecture and art, food wine and music with titbits about cars and characters involved in the race since its conception in 1927.

Libby Horner is a freelance art historian, curator, film producer, lecturer and writer.

We explore the evolution of Christmas customs and folklore down the ages, examine holly, mistletoe, fir trees, glass balls, robins, reindeer, Yule logs, puddings, cakes and St. Nicholas. The 16th century story of Jack Horner is retold, we experience the times when under Cromwell Christmas was abolished and mince pies were made illegal!

Jeanne Dolmetsch, granddaughter of Arnold Dolmetsch and pioneer of early music renaissance. Jeanne studied violin and piano at the Royal Academy of Music, and is a specialist in the interpretation and performance of 16th, 17th and 18th century music. She has given concerts and lecture recitals worldwide.

Experience the power of the red of the Tudors, the utopian white of Abstraction, the secret formula of Klein blue and Mondrian's dynamic combination of all three.

Alexandra Epps has a BA from St. Martin's school of Art, and an MA from the London College of Printing. She is a guide and lecturer at both Tate Britain and Tate Modern. A Freeman and official guide to the City of London. Co-author of the book Lord Mayor's Portraits 1983-2014.

Timothy Wilcox read Modern Languages at Cambridge and History of Art at the Courtauld Institute. A curator at the V&A, in Liverpool and Hove and also worked in the British Museum department of Prints and Drawings. Since 1997 he has been a freelance curator and lecturer, taught at the Universities of Brighton and Surrey and has curated numerous exhibitions for the Tate,The Lowry and Dulwich Picture Gallery.

Mark HIll is an antiques and 20th century design specialist, author, publisher, TV presenter, lecturer, dealer and appears as a miscellaneous expert on the BBC Antiques Road Show.

Bertie Pearce has a BA (Hons) in Drama from Manchester University and a Diploma Internationale du Theatre Jacque Lecoq and is also a member of the Inner Magic Circle, with Gold Star.

Martin Lloyd previously worked for HM Immigration Service, an author who has broadcast on local and national television and radio.

The Coffee house was a 17th century institution of Levantine origins that encouraged literary and artistic debate. This lecture will explore the history, art and culture of coffee.

Christopher Bradley is an expert in the history and culture of the Middle East. As a film producer and cameraman he has made documentaries for the BBC, National Geographic TV and Channel 4.

Frances Hughes after 38 years in education, 18 as a head teacher Frances is now a tour guide at the Garrick Club, and Chairman of the Irving Society and the Henry Irving Foundation.

Jackie Marsh-Hobbs a lecturer, specialist guide and teacher working at the Royal Pavilion Preston Manor and Brighton Museum.

Barry Venning is a historian of British Art whose interests extend from medieval architecture to contemporary British Art.

Sarah Lenton regularly writes articles for Royal Opera House programmes, she has written and directed over 20 shows for the Royal Opera House Linbury Theatre and also does commentary for BBC radio 3 Opera broadcasts.

Exploring the Shakers, their beginnings, what they believed and how they lived their lives before exploring examples of their wonderful buildings and furniture.

John Ericson retired from the University of Bath where he was a Director of Studies in the School of Education and is now a freelance lecturer drawing upon his eclectic range of interests and enthusiasms.

Brian Macdonald is one of a few Western dealers to have lived and worked amongst tribal groups in Iran and Afghanistan. Brian is a dealer and consultant specialising in antique Eastern rugs, carpets and tribal dowry weaving.

Jonathan worked at Glyndebourne for more than 40 years, where he was a principal coach and for some time Head of Music Staff. He taught at the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio. He has performed widely as pianist, harpsichordist and conductor.

Janet Canetty-Clarke is a lecturer in Music for the centre for Community Engagement at Sussex University. She also gives individual lectures for Cambridge University at Madingly Hall, for London University Birkbeck College and for the U3A and WEA.

Diana Lloyd is a Freelance Lecturer in Ceramic, Glass and the History of Interior Decoration in Europe, North and South America. She guides groups through Museum Collections and Country Houses. Collects Ceramics and Glass.

Vivien Heffernan is an Art History tutor for continuing education departments of Essex and Cambridge Universities, colleges and adult education organisations and is a long-standing lecturer with the Open University. She has a wide experience as a freelance lecturer since 1988 and is a practicing artist.

Shirley Smith is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, has lectured at the University of East Anglia, is a tutor for the Board of Continuing Education at the University of Cambridge and lectures to various individual art societies.

John Ericson retired from the University of Bath where he was a Director of Studies in the School of Education and is now a freelance lecturer drawing upon his eclectic range of interests and enthusiasms.

Bertie Pearce has a BA(Hons) in Drama from Manchester University and a Diploma Internationale from the Ecole Internationale du Theatre, Jacque Lecoq and is also a member of the Inner Magic Circle, with Gold Star.

Brian Stater has been a part-time College Tutor in architectural history at the Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL) since 1997. He has a wide-ranging interest in photography and UCL staged an exhibition of his photography in 2004.

Japan has perhaps the most exciting textiles of any country. Japanese textiles developed into a huge industry between the early 17th and late 19th centuries. From tiny craft shops to large mechanised industries, Japanese artisans spun, wove, dyed, painted and embroidered fine silks and other materials for an increasingly demanding and wealthy market - a craftsmanship that produces exquisite designs.

Suzanne Perrin is a Visiting lecturer at University of Brighton Art & Design School, Huron University USA in London, and University of Cape Town, South Africa. Lectures for British Museum Asian Arts course, universities, schools. Work includes promoting cultural and educational exchange between Japan and the UK, and organizing Japanese cultural events in UK.

The English language is rich in idioms, phrases and sayings which are part of everyday speech yet seldom do we consider their original meanings. This is an exploration of historical etymology, often traceable to the City of London. Even if it’s ‘raining cats and dogs’ you’d be ‘barking mad’ to miss this lecture.

Alan Read holds a masters and a first class honours degree in the History of Art from Birbeck College. He is a gallery guide at Tate Modern, Tate Britain and the National Portrait Gallery. He is also a London Blue Badge Guide and City of London Guide.