Category: Art

  • Artemesia and Giovanna Women of Rome

    Artemesia and Giovanna Women of Rome

    Our Women in Art Course, led by Jennifer, continued with its last session before the break on Friday 13 December 2024 with an investigation into the work of Artemesia Gentileschi (c1593-c1656) and Giovanna Garzoni (1600-1670). Both grew up in Rome, and it is likely that they met as professional artists in Florence when they were…

  • Exciting Morning of Creativity

    Exciting Morning of Creativity

    Our Monthly Meeting for November was once again a showcase for the creative talents of our members. There was a gallery of watercolour paintings, an oil painting, and a plentiful portfolio of 16 short stories and poems. Not to be outdone, there was a selection of home-baked culinary masterpieces being sold as part of our…

  • Female Artists – Where it all began

    Female Artists – Where it all began

    Our course on Female Artists before 1800 continued on Friday 15 November with our lecturer Jennifer Mills guiding us through the work of Prosperzia De’Rossi, Suor Plautilla Nelli and Sofonisba Anguissola. All of these women have left their mark on the art collections of the world. Jennifer was using The Lives of Artists (2nd Edition)…

  • ‘Female Artists Before 1800’ Launch

    ‘Female Artists Before 1800’ Launch

    On Friday 18 October 2024, we saw the return of Jennifer talking about the role of women in art before the year 1800. Asked why that year, Jennifer replied that setting the limit at 1900 would probably take a whole year to complete the course! Jennifer also reminded us that she would be asking again…

  • Knitting Colour Squares for Charity

    Knitting Colour Squares for Charity

    One of our Knit and Chat Group members reports, “In 2008 I started knitting for the charity Knit-a-Square Gauteng South Africa.  Knitted squares are sent to a collection of grandmothers (gogos) who sew them together to make blankets.  These gogos come from an extremely vulnerable population who care for their orphaned grandchildren.  The temperature at…

  • Visit to Kenwood House Gets Doubled!

    Visit to Kenwood House Gets Doubled!

    So many members wanted a guided visit to Kenwood House, the former home of several Lords and the home of the Iveagh Bequest (a collection of famous works of art) that two visits had to be organised. Members had enjoyed an Art History course run by Jennifer which featured many of the artists to be…

  • Putting Digital into Photography

    Putting Digital into Photography

    Our photography group met on Tuesday 07 May 2024 for a session dealing with the digital aspects of photography in the 2020s. One of the key inputs came from Simon D’Entremont, a professional wild life photographer based in Eastern Canada, who has an extremely useful and informative YouTube Channel. We chose his video on choosing…

  • Photographers Frame a Story

    Photographers Frame a Story

    Our group of keen photographers met on Tuesday 02 April 2024 for another discussion session which covered the differences between photography as a hobby versus a useful activity, and whether the amateur photographer is more interested in the pictures or in the equipment used to make the pictures. Several award winning photographs were shown. We…

  • The Role of Art in War

    The Role of Art in War

    Our course of lectures delivered by Jennifer came to a close on 22 March 2024 with an investigation of the role of art in the various wars we have seen in history. Many of the examples were taken from the Art Gallery within the Imperial War Museum, which itself has an interesting history. We started…

  • Discovering Art in the Guildhall

    Discovering Art in the Guildhall

    Our series of talks on British Art got a boost on 08 March 2024 with two speakers addressing our members. First was our member Diana who, as a guide to the Guildhall Art Gallery, spoke about the history of the gallery. The Guildhall has been at the centre of the City of London since 1411,…