GETTING THE DRIFT: SNOW IN THE HISTORY OF ART

Do you remember that magical childhood feeling on the morning after a night of snowfall? As a child you were probably experiencing a thrill as deep and pure as the snow itself. Art history tells us a lot about that feeling and the many other emotions that snow provokes. In European art, snow arrived in 1565 with The Hunters in the Snow by Bruegel being the first serious, large-scale consideration of snow and its spirituality. Following Bruegel, the painters of the Dutch Golden Age specialised in depicting skating, snowball fights and sledging. Michelangelo’s career was advanced by a snowman he made which was so “beautiful” that it snared the loyalty of the powerful Piero de Medici in 1493.

N.B. Coffee from 11.00. Lecture begins at 11.30.

Christmas Lunch at 1.00 for members only.

Please inform Freda if you are attending the lecture only.

Tel: 01829 751613 / 07702 184495 Email: chairman@tastarporley.uk

How to book this event:

Please contact Ruth Ford on 01606 872689 / 07871 769432 or email guests@tastarporley.uk

THE ARTS SOCIETY ACCREDITED LECTURER

Mr Matthew Wilson

Secret symbols, Nazi-fighting, cultural love affairs, the ‘nude’, snowmen, and artistic espionage are among the diverse interests of art historian Matthew Wilson. Matthew studied History of Art at the Courtauld Institute and is an author, lecturer, and educator. As a freelance journalist he writes for numerous publications including BBC Culture, The Spectator, The Economist and Aesthetica Magazine. He has written two books on symbolism – ‘Symbols in Art’ (Thames & Hudson, 2020) and ‘The Hidden Language of Symbols’ (Thames & Hudson 2022) and his latest book – a introductory guide to art history – is due for publication in September 2023.