online events
Join us for regular online events with artists, art historians and curators, to learn more about different periods of pre-modern art history. You can follow us on Eventbrite here to get a notification as soon as our next event is announced.
UPCOMING EVENTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON
PAST EVENTS
Edmonia Lewis, Margaret Foley and the White Marmorean Flock (25th October 2023)
The African American and Ojibwe sculptor Edmonia Lewis - best known for her iconic Forever Free - was one of a remarkable group of American women sculptors working in mid-19th century Rome. Dubbed 'the White Marmorean Flock' by novelists Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry James, the group also included Margaret Foley, Anne Whitney and Harriet Hosmer.
Hear Charmaine Nelson, Provost Professor, Black Diasporic Art and Visual Culture, University of Massachusetts Amherst and Ramey Mize, Assistant Curator of American Art, Portland Museum of Art, discussing these women, what drew them to Rome, and their legacy for women artists of succeeding generations.
Giotto & his Legacy (5th October 2023)
In this online event, we discovered the remarkable influence of the legendary Italian painter, Giotto, and explored his lasting impact on the art world. Artist Andy Pankhurst delved into Giotto's masterpieces, discussing the innovation and revolutionary techniques he introduced to the art scene. From his groundbreaking use of perspective to his unprecedented realism, Giotto's legacy continues to inspire artists to this day. Through this captivating talk, you'll gain a deeper understanding of Giotto's artistic journey and the lasting impression he left on subsequent generations of painters, such as Michelangelo, Cézanne, Matisse and Rothko.
Image: Giotto di Bondone (c.1266-1337) - attributed with the works of the Legend of St Francis c.1297-1299 : Preaching to the Birds, Fresco, 270 x 200 cm, Upper Basilica, San Francesco, Assisi.
Meet the curator: Dr Lois Oliver on "Berthe Morisot: Shaping Impressionism" (7th September 2023)
In this online talk Dr Lois Oliver, curator of 'Berthe Morisot: Shaping Impressionism', an exhibition now on at Dulwich Picture Gallery and soon to be at the Musée Marmottan Monet, talked to Nicola Jennings about how the exhibition came to be, why Morisot - one of the most influential figures in the Impressionist movement, was largely overlooked until the turn of the 21st century -, and how she reimagined the work of François Boucher and Joshua Reynolds in her own beautiful creations.
Conversation: Hallmarks of Mughal Art with Dr Ursula Weekes (24 August 2023)
Dr Ursula Weekes and Han Parker discussed all things Mughal Art, exploring some of the mesmerising artworks that defined this era and intricate details and techniques that made it art unique.
Meet the curator: ‘Paul Gauguin: The Other and I’ at MASP (20 July 2023)
We were joined for an exciting online event where we engaged in lively conversation with the curator of the Paul Gauguin: The Other and I exhibition recently held at MASP in São Paulo. We discovered the fascinating stories behind Gauguin's artworks and gained exclusive insights into his artistic journey.
Meet the artist: Volker Hermes at James Freeman Gallery (16 June 2023)
We were joined for an exclusive online talk with German artist Volker Hermes, live from his first London solo exhibition at James Freeman Gallery. It was a chance to virtually explore the gallery space with the artist himself and Dr Nicola Jennings (Director of Athena Art Foundation), learning more about the works on display and about Volker’s own artistic practice. Volker is internationally renowned for his ‘Hidden Portraits’ that make digital interventions into historical portrait paintings. Taking textures and patterns from within the antique image, he creates masks and new adornments that obscure the sitters’ faces and in the process sheds new insight on how fashion functions in historical imagery. This solo exhibition RUFF HOOD is a chance for new audiences in London to engage with his artworks and, in turn, with traditions of historical portraiture.
Meet the curators: The Courtauld’s Drawing on Arabian Nights (24 May 2023)
We spoke with the curators of Drawing on Arabian Nights, now on at London's Courtauld Gallery. Dr Nicola Jennings (Director of Athena Art Foundation) talked to curators Dr Emily Christensen and Dr Ambra D’Antone about the role that this book of fantastical stories played in Victorian artists' representations of the Middle East and North Africa. We also took a closer look at some of the stunning 'orientalist' drawings and prints in the exhibition.
An Easter Story in 12 artworks (11 April 2023)
Richard Jacques (Zurbarán Doctoral Scholar at Durham University) and Dr Nicola Jennings (Director of Athena Art Foundation) took us on a visual journey through the key events of the Easter story. We explored how Italian and Spanish artists between the 15-17th centuries grappled with presenting the events of Easter, considering the different iconographies and artistic techniques, as well as how these artworks responded to the religious and cultural concerns of their patrons and audiences.
Women’s History Month: The Gold Drawings of Evelyn De Morgan (23 March 2023)
We were joined by Sarah Hardy, Director of the De Morgan Museum, to learn more about the remarkable artist Evelyn De Morgan (1855-1919). After an introduction to her training, key works, and overarching themes, we learned more about the exhibition Evelyn De Morgan: The Gold Drawings, which explores the unusual technique - invented by Evelyn herself - of mixing gold pigment with paint and pastels.
Digital Innovation and Pre-Modern Art History: Panel Discussion and Q&A (8 February 2023)
Digital innovation is a varied and powerful tool for engaging new audiences with pre-modern art history, however it also presents potential challenges. How can we stay true to the original artworks? How do we ensure accessibility in digital projects? What can we learn from recent projects which combine digital innovation and pre-modern art history?
To try and answer some of these questions, we hosted a panel discussion with Katherine Biggs (Head of Digital at National Portrait Gallery), Gaëlle Mourre (immersive film writer and director) and Quentin Darras (animator and director). Gaëlle and Quentin are the creators of the Artemisia Gentileschi Virtual Reality Experience 'Light in the Shadow' at Burghley House in Summer 2022, which used VR technology to explore the life and works of the 17th-century Baroque painter. Katherine was part of the team (alongside Athena Art Foundation, Megaverse, Edem Kelman and the National Youth Theatre) which created 'Living Portraits: James 'Jem' Belcher', combining cutting edge technology, historical research and script writing to bring a portrait to life in a short video.
John Blanke in Tudor England: In conversation with Michael Ohajuru (12 January 2023)
We were joined by cultural historian Michael Ohajuru to learn more about John Blanke, the Black trumpeter in the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII, and the first Black African to be depicted in British art history. Michael Ohajuru is Project Director and Chief Evangelist of The John Blanke Project (an art and archive project celebrating the trumpeter), and founder member of The Black Presence in British Portraiture network.
Lucian Freud and Pre-Modern Art: In conversation with Sophie de Stempel (13 December 2022)
We were joined by Sophie de Stempel - painter, tutor at the Royal Drawing School, and artist's model - in a talk about Lucian Freud, for whom Sophie modelled over an 8-year period. Hosted by Director of Athena Art Foundation Dr Nicola Jennings and featuring drawing aficionado Dmitry Gladkov, the speakers will discuss Freud's work and technique against the backdrop of Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at London's National Gallery and the artist's lifelong practice of looking at pre-modern artists such as Constable and Chardin.
