John Iddon, Lecturer and Guide at Tate Britain and Tate Modern, will talk on ‘Walpole and Strawberry Hill’.

John is a freelance lecturer for P&O Cruises, NADFAS and art societies abroad.  He has run an MA course at St Mary’s University College and when involved in lecturing or teaching he deals in Modern British Art.

This lecture is linked to the major exhibition at the V&A ‘Horace Walpole & Strawberry Hill’ (6 March – 4 July) – see below

(This item updated on 19 October 2009)

Anna Jackson, Deputy Keeper of the Asian Department at the V & A,  will lecture tonight on the ‘Maharaja: the splendour of India’s royal courts’ exhibition, of which she is the curator.

Her research interest is the cultural relationship between Asia and West, a subject on which she has published widely.

As reported below, demand for this excursion has been high.  This means that this lecture should also be well attended.  The advice is to come along well before the 7.30pm start to get a good seat.

(This item updated on 26 November 2009)

Anne Woodham will lecture on ‘Turner and the Masters’.  

Anne is a practising artist and a Tate Guide at both Tate Britain and Tate Modern.  She is also Tate Talks speaker for P&O Cruises and local Art societies like Richmond.

As reported below, the excursion to this exhibition is full.  This means there will a lot of interest in this lecture.  Please be sure and arrive early to get a seat!

(This item updated on 15 September 2009)

Today we visit the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery for the Matthew Boulton – Selling What all the World Desires’ exhibition, then on to Soho House and the Lunar Society

To mark the bicentenary of the demise of Matthew Boulton (1728-1809), Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is hosting a major exhibition focusing on his life and times.  In addition to being a great entrepeneur his Soho House became a meeting place for the so-called Lunar Society which counted the titans of the Enlightenment, Josiah Wedgwood, Joseph Priestley, Erasmus Darwin, and James Watt among its members.

(This item updated on 23 July  2009)

The Friends have recently helped purchase two new watercolours of Bristol life in the early 1800s.

‘Rownham Ferry’

This watercolour and bodycolour on plaster of Paris, was painted by John M Field in 1820.  It is a very detailed and unusual watercolour showing the New Inn and Rownham Hill from near Freeland Place, Hotwells.

John Field was one of the most successful silhouette artists in London in the early nineteenth century.  Several of his rare paintings on plaster were exhibited at the Royal Academy.

The painting cost £2200, which was shared equally between the V&A Art Grant Fund, and The Friends.

This item is included in the current ‘What’s New?’ exhibition in the Watercolour Gallery

‘Frederick Strachan’

This watercolour was painted c. 1832/3.  The painter is unknown, but was probably one of the ‘Bristol School’ of artists.

Frederick Strachan (1807-1862) was the son of an outfitter and habit maker of 52 Park Street.  He emigrated to Australia in April 1833, and this painting may have been done for his family just before he left.

The cost of this work was £550 paid in full by The Friends.

To see the pictures enlarged, just click once on each.

Both of these items are included in the current ‘What’s New?’ exhibition in the Watercolour Gallery