Become an instant expert with our spring Study Days

Upcoming Study Days, courses and events from The Arts Society.

LONDON

Between the mountains and the river (art and culture of the Piedmont)
3 May, 10.30AM-3.30PM

Tutor: Dr Margaret Knight

Known for its Romanesque and Gothic architecture, Piedmont has a rich cultural history. Spanning the Roman occupation to Italian industrialisation, this Study Day showcases the art of this diverse region.

Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly
£30
E: Jenny Mulholland – jenny.mulholland@live.com

Shutterstock 

The English Parish Church: An Architectural and Social History
8 MAY, 10.30AM-3.30PM

Tutor: Andrew Davies

Back by popular demand, this Study Day explores the stories of England’s parish churches, from spires and stained glass to Doom paintings.

All Saints House, Marylebone Passage, 83 Margaret Street
£36 (coffee and biscuits)
E: Tricia Savours psavours@gmail.com

Georgian Delights: From Sheridan to Sense and Sensibility, and Soup to Syllabub
17 MAY, 10.30AM-3.30PM

Tutor: Jane Tapley

Explore the world of Georgian Britain, starting with the theatre and the emergence of celebrities, before looking at the rise of the novel and the origins of the dining room.

The Art Workers’ Guild, 6 Queen Square, Bloomsbury   
£36 (coffee and biscuits)
E: Tricia Savours psavours@gmail.com

Looking at the Underrated: Women Artists from the Later 16th to the 17th Century
20 MAY, 10.30AM-3.30PM

Tutor: Clare Ford-Wille

From the Italian Renaissance painter Lavinia Fontana to the Dutch Golden Age artist Judith Leyster, discover some of the era’s pioneering women artists.

The Linnean Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly
£36
E: Judith Leon studycourses.gla@gmail.com

New York, New York: An Architectural and Social Discovery
4 JUN, 10.30AM-3.30PM

Tutor: Andrew Davies

Bustling, noisy and vibrant, New York continues to inspire awe and fascination. This Study Day explores the city’s architectural story, from Art Deco to Modernism, looking at masterpieces including the Chrysler Building (left) and Grand Central Terminal.

The Art Workers’ Guild (as before)
£36 (coffee and biscuits)
E: Tricia Savours – psavours@gmail.com

The Exquisite World of Johannes Vermeer
7 JUN, 10.30AM-3.30PM

Tutor: Dr Margaret Knight

One of the leading Dutch masters, Vermeer is renowned for his paintings of domestic scenes, but little is known about his life. From painting techniques to family history, this Study Day explores the world of the great artist.

Society of Antiquaries (as before)
£30
E: Jenny Mulholland  jenny.mulholland@live.com

The Good Life – Gimson and the Barnsleys: inventing the Cotswold Style
17 JUN, 10.30AM-3.30PM

Tutor: Anne Anderson

Discover the talents of Ernest Gimson and Ernest and Sidney Barnsley, influential figures of the Arts and Crafts movement. From setting up workshops to establishing ‘the Cotswold style’, these men have inspired generations of designers and makers.

The Art Workers’ Guild (as before)
£36 (coffee)
E: Susan Branfield susanbranfield@waitrose.com

The Mysterious Language of Paintings – More than Meets the Eye
21 JUN, 10.30AM-3.30PM

Tutor: Valerie Woodgate

From Manet and Matisse to Rubens and Kandinsky, this Study Day reveals how leading artists have used perspective, colour, composition and more to engage and captivate. 

The Art Workers’ Guild (as before)
£36 (coffee and biscuits)
E: Tricia Savours psavours@gmail.com

Artists and Architects In Depth: Agnolo Bronzino, Court Painter to Cosimo I de’Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany;and Painting in Mid- 16th-Century Florence
28 JUN, 10.30AM-3.30PM

Tutor: Clare Ford-Wille

The court painter to Cosimo I de’Medici, Agnolo Bronzino is celebrated for his  elegant and intense portraits of the Grand Duke and his court. This Study Day also explores his lesser-known works, including religious art and allegorical paintings.

The Linnean Society (as before)
£36
E: Susan Branfield susanbranfield@waitrose.com

West Surrey

Pierre Bonnard Exhibition at Tate Modern
29 MAR, 11AM-late afternoon

Tutor: a Tate speaker

Bonnard was one of the leading colourists of the 20th century. This event includes a visit to Tate Modern’s The C C Land Exhibition: Pierre Bonnard: The Colour of Memory, and a lecture by a Tate speaker.

Tate Modern, Bankside, London
£25.60-£42 (includes refreshments, buffet  lunch, lecture and exhibition entry)
E: Geraldine Corbitt wsasid1@gmail.com

Pierre Bonnard’s The Studio With Mimosa, 1939–46 Centre Pompidou, Paris, Musée national d’Art moderne/Centre de création industrielle

Two Desert Emporia: Palmyra and Petra
26 APR, 10AM-3PM

Tutor: Sue Rollin

Discover the cultural history of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Marvel at the rock-cut site of Petra, the city of the Nabateans during classical antiquity, and explore Palmyra, known for its Graeco-Roman and Persian influences.

High Cross Church, Knoll Road, Camberley, Surrey
£35 (refreshments and buffet lunch)
E: Geraldine Corbitt wsasid1@gmail.com 

West Mercia

Music on the Grand Tour
8 MAR, 10AM-3.30PM

Tutor: Peter Medhurst

During the 18th century, the Grand Tour was an important rite of passage for young nobility, who travelled to places such as Paris, Rome and Venice, to marvel at art, architecture and antiquity. For some, music formed a key part of this experience. This event explores 18th-century Italian music-making, and why British travellers were drawn to Italy. 

Cawley Hall, Leominster
£30 (refreshments and two-course lunch)
E: Avis Denny  revdenny1@btinternet.com

The Sistine Chapel before and after Michelangelo
15 MAR, 10AM-3PM

Tutor: James Lindow

The Sistine Chapel is filled with artistic treasures, including Raphael’s religious tapestries (left). This Study Day explores the history of these works, and the patrons who commissioned them.

The Walton Suite, Guildhall Winchester
£38 (coffee, lunch and wine)
E: Marilyn Wright – marilyn.studydays@gmail.com

Late Romanticism and Beyond: The Arts and Music between 1848 and 1900
11 MAY, 10AM-3.30PM

Tutors: Peter Medhurst, Jeremy Limb

From political turmoil to industrial change, the events of the Romantic period shaped the work of many artists, composers and writers. This Study Day explores how creatives responded to these changes.

Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, 10 Parabola Road, Cheltenham
£40 (buffet lunch)
E: Alexandra Davies theartssociety.westmercia@gmail.com

South West

Lands: Chinoiserie in European Art and Design
4 APR, 10AM-3.30PM

Tutor: Anne Haworth

During the 18th century, chinoiserie – a European decorative style inspired by Asian art – rose in popularity. Encompassing garden design, decorative arts and architecture, this Study Day explores its origin, along with British examples of the style.

St Cuthbert’s Conference Centre, Buckfast Abbey, Devon
£39
E: Sheila Hughes sheilaswstudydays@gmail.com

Essex

Raphael: A master in the making
8 APR, 10AM-2.30PM

Tutor: Sian Walters

To mark the 500th anniversary of Raphael’s death in 2020, this Study Day charts the development of the painter’s work.

Little Baddow Memorial Hall, Little Baddow, Chelmsford
£35 (coffee, lunch and soft drinks)
E: Megan Bashir meganbashir@btinternet.com

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
1 APR, 10AM-3PM

Tutor: Nigel Bates

A look at the history and architecture of the Royal Opera House, with insights into its performance and rehearsal schedules.

The Walton Suite (as before)
£38 (coffee, lunch  and wine)
E: Marilyn Wright  marilyn.studydays@gmail.com