A fresh perspective on the art of Renaissance Italy through a focus on depictions of creatures of all kinds and their meanings
Beasts are everywhere in the art of the Renaissance. Lambs, elephants, dogs, camels, cats, weasels, and monkeys, not to mention unicorns, dragons and angels. Real and imaginary creatures populate nativity scenes, accompany saints, sit on the laps of noblewomen, decorate furniture, and sculpture and hide on stairways. Why are they there? What do they mean? And how did artists visualise animals they might never have seen, such as elephants, or imaginary creatures like dragons? This talk offers a fresh perspective on the art of Renaissance Italy through a focus on depictions of creatures of all kinds and their meanings
THE ARTS SOCIETY ACCREDITED LECTURER
Dr Lydia Goodson
Dr Lydia Goodson is an art historian and lecturer specialising in the art and material culture of Renaissance Italy. After a career in television production and raising a family Lydia returned to academia and now holds a BA in Renaissance History, an MA in History of Art and was awarded her PhD in 2020 from the Warburg Institute of the University of London, for her thesis on painting and patronage in Renaissance Perugia. This return to study as a mature student has given Lydia a passion for the benefits of life-long learning and she hugely enjoys writing and delivering lectures for audiences of all ages. She is an art history tutor for CityLit and regularly speaks to other adult learning groups. Lydia’s research interests centre on painting production in Central Italy in the Renaissance. Lydia lives in Kent and the Umbrian region of Italy.
GALLERY 
OTHER EVENTS
Society
Mr Harry Venning
21 Jan 2026 - 10:45
Stamford Arts Centre
27 St. Mary's Street
27 St. Mary's Street
Online Event
Harry will be tracing the history of his profession and drawing live
Society
Dr Jacqueline Cockburn
18 Mar 2026 - 10:45
Online Event
The work of Antonio Gaudi (1852 - 1926)