This year’s season of exciting illustrated talks

Now in its 16th season, this eight-lecture series offers a rich and immersive journey through art, culture, and history, exploring centuries of creativity, craftsmanship, and visual storytelling. Each illustrated talk begins with a welcoming gathering, where members and guests can meet like-minded people while enjoying a juice or glass of wine, creating a convivial atmosphere and setting the stage for an engaging and memorable evening.

The series opens by bringing to life Britain’s medieval and early modern treasures, from goldwork, jewels, and silverware to illuminated manuscripts and cathedral art, celebrating the skill, vision, and dedication of the nation’s finest craftsmen and patrons. It then explores the remarkable contributions of women artists, from Renaissance portraitists and still-life pioneers to Impressionists, modern sculptors, and contemporary innovators, uncovering the enduring influence of those whose talents were long overlooked. The cultural and visual history of festive foods is traced from medieval boar’s heads and 17th-century mince pies to the almost forgotten Twelfth Night cakes, illustrated through manuscripts, paintings, and cookbooks. Jewellery is explored as a deeply personal and symbolic art form, while post-WWII Parisian haute couture is celebrated through the luxurious, creative, and glamorous designs of Dior, Balenciaga, and Fath. The series also examines a famously witty and irascible artist through his iconic works, reveals how Spanish masterpieces by Velázquez, Murillo, and Goya came to British collections, and concludes with the depiction of parties, dances, and merrymaking in Western art, from Greek mosaics to twentieth-century paintings.

Across all eight lectures, participants will enjoy not only insightful and beautifully illustrated talks but also the opportunity to connect with fellow art enthusiasts, making this 16th season a celebration of both learning and community.

Where we meet

We are very honoured to hold our meetings at the Garrison Library.

We meet the 3rd Wednesday of every month October to May (except December – 2nd Wed) at 7:30pm.

Membership fee – £70.00 per person per annum or £130.00 per couple per annum.
Corporate – £150 per annum, for which a company can have 2 of their employees attend at each lecture.
A  guest fee for a single meeting is £15 from 6:30pm.

 

This year’s programme

15 October 2025

Lost Splendours. Unfortunate Events and Extravagant Monarchs

by Andrew Prince

 

19 November 2025

Women in Art

by Alejandra Carazo

 

10 December 2025

The Curious History of Christmas Food

by Peter Ross

 

21 January 2026

Jewellery in Portraits.  The Glittering Canvas 1750 to 1850

by Clare Phillips

 

18 February 2026

Balenciaga, Dior & Faith. Haute Couture’s Holy Trinity

by Scott Schiavone

 

18 March 2026

James McNiel Whistler and the Gentle Art of Making Enemies

by Jennifer Toynbee-Holmes

 

15 April 2026

Spain in England(UK): How Spanish Paintings found Their Way into UK Collections

by Gail Turner

 

20 May 2026

The Art of Partying. A Feast for the Eyes

by Alice Foste

 

For more information on the Arts Society Gibraltar, please visit http://www.theartssocietygibraltar.org/