London Luminaries Lecture Series

You don’t have to be an academic to appreciate the long, rich, and diverse history of London. In this series of lectures, the London Luminaries take us on a trip along the Thames, looking at the buildings and gardens which make up so much of London’s cultural fabric.

Taken from the London Luminaries website:

“The London Luminaries is a group of historic organisations who collaboratively work together to share knowledge and ideas about heritage.

London was the epicentre of commerce and wealth, thanks to the River Thames which attracted royalty, aristocrats, artists, writers and wealthy property owners. A legacy of these luminaries is an area exceptionally rich in heritage buildings, gardens and landscapes. Drawing on the success of our Thames and Twickenham Luminaries virtual lecture series, Pope’s Grotto Preservation Trust and English Heritage’s Marble Hill, with other local heritage organisations, have organised a series of twelve free virtual talks over two seasons beginning in October. Acknowledged experts will explore, explain and offer insights about a luminary and their connection to Poets, Princes, Politicians or Painters. There will be talks about the occupants and their relationships with Kew Palace, Garrick’s Temple, Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery, Ham House and Garden, Boston Manor, Orleans House, Pope’s Grotto, Chiswick House, Marble Hill, Hogarth’s House, Strawberry Hill and Turner’s House.

Each 20-minute talk will be delivered using Zoom and will begin at 7 p.m. They will be chaired by Professor Judith Hawley of the Department of English, Royal Holloway, University of London. Time will be allowed for questions and answers at the end. The events will end at or before 8 pm. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link by email about an hour before each talk begins.”

Find the full calendar of talks below.

London Luminaries: autumn series

20th October: Kew Palace
George III: the mind behind the myth

21st October: Garrick’s Temple
David Garrick: an actor and his time

27th October: Ham House and Garden
Wilbraham, 6th Earl of Dysart: Patron and collector of the art

28th October: Chiswick House and Garden
The private life of Chiswick House

3rd November: Pitzhanger Manor
Painters, printers and personalities: Soane the entertainer at Pitzhanger

4th November: Pope’s Grotto
Poetry, painting and Alexander Pope

 

London Luminaries: winter series

19th January: Orleans House
The People’s Collection: the story behind Richmond Borough’s art
collections

20th January: Marble Hill
Capricci and Conversations. The painting collection at Marble Hill

26th January: Strawberry Hill.
Patron and Painter: Horace Walpole and John Giles Eccardt

27th January: Hogarth’s House.
Hogarth vs everyone

2nd February: Turner’s House.
J.M.W. Turner and the ‘sister arts’: poetry and painting

3rd February: Boston Manor House.
The benefits of befriending a Prince

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