GEORGE NEWS - A series of lectures on the history of art was introduced on 29 June with a discussion on "Discoursing the canon: revolution to realism" by Dr Brendan Cole.
Although this sounds very academic, it was an extremely interesting talk on how we, the public, view art and on how arbitrary the guidelines are for the classification of works of art.
The talk was appropriate for general public consumption and easily understood. Anyone could follow the arguments and participate in the ongoing discussion.
Cole planned these talks on art history topics as an introduction to the field. The first looked at aspects of the nineteenth century, particularly the work of young avant-garde artists who reacted against the traditional artistic methods and practices, leading to the birth of modernism.
The second talk focuses on one particular work by Agnolo Bronzino from the sixteenth century to understand better how to analyse and interpret a work of art.
The final lecture will deal with aspects of early modern and modern art and the way artists approached issues of form and content in painting during the twentieth century.
These talks are presented in collaboration with the George Library, where books on the various art topics will be on display and available to the public.
Manet's Déjeuner sur l'herbe (1862-1863).
The next two talk titles are:
- 27 July: 'Interpreting Bronzino's Allegory with Venus and Cupid: a discourse on love and beauty'
- 31 August: 'Modes of Modernism. Art of the Now'.
The talks last 40 minutes plus discussion time.
The talks start at 11:00 and are held in the conference room at the George Civic Centre at 71 York Street.
All are welcome and entrance is free.
Judgement of Paris by Marc Antonia Ramonde (1510).
The group who attended the first art lecture with the presenter, Dr Brandan Cole (third from right).
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