This group of young artists came together in 1848 to shake up an art world they considered stultified and untruthful, because they were encouraged to copy only the old masters. Consequently, they sought inspiration from artists that came before Raphael with more truthful and honest subject matters.

Sarah Ciacci has an MA in History of Art (Late 19th century French Painting and 20th Century Art) from University College London. She has been a Blue Badge Guide for London since 2008, specialising in art, museums and galleries.  Since 2008 she has trained Blue Badge Guides in the National Gallery and is an art lecturer for trainee guides in Tate Britain, Tate Modern and for a period in the National Portrait Gallery. From 2008-2023 she was Adjunct Faculty at Richmond University teaching the History of British Art, the History of Museums in London and the History of London. She is a gallery educator and runs regular courses and independent lectures on a variety of art historical periods.    

AGM at 10am – Doors open at 09:30

British sculpture enjoyed a renaissance in the 20th century with Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Elizabeth Frink leading the way. But who came afterwards and with what effect? Whiteread, Gormley, Hamblin, Kapoor, Long and Nash. After examining their work we review the adornments to the fourth plinth and the rising stars of British Sculpture.

Raymond Warburton has had a life-long love of art. However, in his twenties, Ray studied social sciences at the London School of Economics and the School of Oriental and African Studies. These studies led to a career in health and social care, with art being an evening and weekend passion. But all that changed in 2011, when Ray became a guide at Tate Britain and Tate Modern. Then from 2014 to 2017, he studied art history at the Open University, and then at the University of Buckingham, from where he gained an MA in the History of Art. And to cap it all, Ray became an Arts Society lecturer in 2017. Ray also knows what it’s like to be on the receiving end of lectures as he is a member of his local Arts Society in Blackheath.

Since the early Romans and Greeks alcohol has been an important subject for artists. We examine the way drink and drinking are depicted, the social messages portrayed, happy and unhappy consequences and how alcohol affected the lives of many artists, their families and friends.

Followed by:

FESTIVE DRINKS AND MINCE PIES