20
January 2026

The Medieval Paradise Garden: Nature in Art and Architecture c. 1250-1500

Welcome to The Arts Society Newbury
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 - 10:30
Newbury Rugby and Football Club
Monks Lane Newbury RG14 7RW
Online Event

Have you noticed how many medieval paintings are set in May?

The language of plants evolved over the centuries to create a lexicon of creation that paved the way to Paradise, a perennial early summer where all the flowers and all the fruits emerge at the same time - but each tells us something different.

This lecture explores paintings, tapestry, manuscripts, and architectural sculpture to re-learn a lost language that spans the medieval arts.

THE ARTS SOCIETY ACCREDITED LECTURER

Dr Jonathan Foyle

Dr Jonathan Foyle is not an 'establishment' academic, but uses the original research he has gained over a 25-year practical career in the world of historic buildings and applied arts to inform architectural conservation projects, broadcasts, books, articles, and talks for groups including the Arts Society. A former Curator at Hampton Court, and Chief Executive of World Monuments Fund Britain for eight years, he has authored seven volumes on great cathedrals and castles, and is best known for presenting series such as BBC2's Broadcast Award-winning Climbing Great Buildings and contributing to series like Channel 4's Time Team and currently Channel 5's Secrets of the Palaces. His talks combine humour with personal insights to offer in-depth and fresh analyses of architecture, furnishings, sculpture, paintings and their all-important symbolism, through which we can better understand them.