Samuel Courtauld Society

Events Archive : April 2008 – June 2009

We have had a number of very exciting events for members of the Samuel Courtauld Society. Below are details of just a few of these. If you would like details of our current events please click here or download our latest Samuel Courtauld Society Events Brochure.

june 2009

The home of Tim Gosling

Private Collection Visit to the home and studio of Tim Gosling

An evening with Courtauld supporter and bespoke furniture designer, Tim Gosling, where members can view his home and studio containing rare books relating to the architectural elements used in his furniture designs. There will be a brief talk by Tim about the practicalities and process behind modern bespoke furniture design and its use of wood and materials; as well as a glimpse into the parallel use of 3D computer modelling programmes alongside sketch drawings, showing the genesis of creating a piece of furniture.

Date: Thursday 4 June, 6.30 – 8.00pm

Location: The home of Tim Gosling, Clapham Old Town

For: Director’s Circle



Omega Workshops (attributed to Duncan Grant), Abstract Design, possibly for a Rug (detail), c.1913-14 © The Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery, LondonChampagne Private View of Beyond Bloomsbury: Designs of the Omega Workshops 1913-19
Lead Supporter – The Friends of The Courtauld

Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle members of the Samuel Courtauld Society have an exclusive viewing of the exhibition prior to the start of the main Private View. This exhibition – generously supported by your donations this year – explores Roger Fry's experimental design cooperative, The Omega Workshops, where Bloomsbury's most avant-garde artists worked together on the production of radical abstract textiles, ceramics, furniture and a whole range of decorative and functional objects for the home.

Date: Wednesday 17 June, 5.30 – 6.30pm

Location: The Courtauld Gallery

For: Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle

Omega Workshops (Vanessa Bell), Abstract Design (detail), c.1914 © The Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery, London
Private View of Beyond Bloomsbury: Designs of the Omega Workshops 1913-19

Lead Supporter – The Friends of The Courtauld

All members are invited to join us for Private View night and see the new exhibition before it opens to the public. Founded by Roger Fry in 1913, The Omega Workshops produced ceramics, furniture, textiles and rugs. The leading members of the group were Bloomsbury artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, and works by these artists and other avant-garde artists will be shown in the exhibition.

Date: Wednesday 17 June, 6.30 – 8.30pm

Location: The Courtauld Gallery

For: Associates, Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle

Omega workshops piece
Director’s Breakfast View of Beyond Bloomsbury: Designs of the Omega Workshops 1913-19

Lead Supporter – The Friends of The Courtauld

A breakfast viewing of Beyond Bloomsbury: Designs of the Omega Workshops 1913-19 hosted by Professor Deborah Swallow in the wonderful setting of The Courtauld Gallery with an introductory talk on the exhibition by Dr Alexandra Gerstein, Curator of Sculpture and Decorative Arts to give you an insight into this fascinating show. The Courtauld’s unique holding of designs from the Omega Workshops are at the heart of the exhibition.

Date: Wednesday 24 June, 8.00 – 9.45am

Location: The Courtauld Gallery

For: Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle

may 2009

Lucy Jones, Lucy Jones, 1987
Courtauld Expert Tour: Explore a contemporary art collection in Cambridge

Join Professor Deborah Swallow - Märit Rausing Director at The Courtauld and alumna of New Hall - on a tour of the New Hall Art Collection at Murray Edwards College. The tour will be taken by Amanda Rigler, Art Curator and Outreach Manager. This unusual collection contains nearly 350 contemporary works by distinguished women including Maggi Hambling, Barbara Hepworth and Paula Rego. After the tour, members are invited to tea in the Long Room.

Date: Saturday 16 May, 2.00 – 5.00pm

Location: New Hall Art Collection, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge

For: Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle

Andrea Mantegna, Studies for Christ at the Column, c1460 © The Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery, London
‘Meet a Drawing’ in The Courtauld’s Prints and Drawings Room

Visit The Courtauld’s wonderful Prints and Drawings Room with Dr Stephanie Buck, Curator of Drawings. Members will have the opportunity to study a number of drawings from The Courtauld’s outstanding collections which are not normally on view including Mantegna’s Studies for Christ at the Column.

Date: Wednesday 20 May, 6.30 – 8.00pm

Location: The Courtauld Institute of Art

For: Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle

April 2009

Knights at The Courtauld Family Event

For Samuel Courtauld Society members to introduce their children (aged 4-10 years) or children of friends and family to The Courtauld. Guests will take part in a knight’s quest through The Courtauld Gallery with an exciting treasure-trail, imaginative story-telling and creative drawing – all led by a professional artist. The activities will be followed by tea. Teenagers and adult supporters are also very welcome.

Date: Saturday 18 April, 2.00 – 4.00pm

Location: The Courtauld Gallery

For: Associates, Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle

Peter Paul Rubens, Landscape by Moonlight, c1635-40 © The Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery, London
Meet an Artist: Peter Paul Rubens

An opportunity to gain a fascinating insight into the work of a single artist from the collection. Dr Joanna Woodall, Senior Lecturer in Netherlandish art will discuss the work of Peter Paul Rubens, including masterpieces such as Landscape by Moonlight.

Date: Tuesday 21 April, 6.30 – 8.00pm

Location: The Courtauld Gallery

For: Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle

Icon with St John the Baptist © The Trustees of the British Museum 2008
Courtauld Expert Tour: Discover the new medieval gallery at the British Museum

Dr Antony Eastmond, Reader in the History of Byzantine Art at The Courtauld – whose post is funded by your donations this year – will give a tour of the newly opened medieval gallery at the British Museum which displays objects from Europe 1000 – 1500. Dr Antony Eastmond will introduce the new displays and discuss what can be learnt about the medieval world through these objects.

Date: Wednesday 29 April, 9.00 – 10.00am

Location: The British Museum

For: Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle

March 2009

Private Art Collection Visit

Visit to the private collection of paintings and drawings of one of our Courtauld supporters.

Date: Thursday 19 March, 6.00 – 7.30pm

Location: Central London venue

For: Director’s Circle

The Master of Marradi, The Reconciliation of the Romans and the Sabines (detail), c. 1470–80. By kind permission of the Earl and Countess of Harewood and the Trustees of the Harewood House Trust
Director’s Breakfast view of Love and Marriage in Renaissance Florence: The Courtauld Wedding Chests

A breakfast viewing hosted by Professor Deborah Swallow in the beautiful setting of The Courtauld Gallery with an introductory talk by Dr Caroline Campbell, Schroder Foundation Curator of Paintings, to give you a special insight into this wonderful exhibition. Focused around The Courtauld’s pair of chests which were ordered in 1472 by the Florentine Lorenzo Morelli to celebrate his marriage with Vaggia Nerli, the exhibition explores this remarkable commission.

Date: Tuesday 24 March, 8.00 – 9.45am

Location: The Courtauld Gallery

For: Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle

february 2009

Made by Zanobi di Domenico; painted by Biagio d’Antonio with Jacopa del Sellaio, Morelli-Nerli Cassoni, 1472 © The Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery, London
Champagne Private View of Love and Marriage in Renaissance Florence: The Courtauld Wedding Chests

Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle members of the Samuel Courtauld Society have an exclusive viewing of the exhibition prior to the start of the main Private View. The exhibition explores one of the most important and historically neglected art forms of Renaissance Florence: pairs of great chests which were lavishly decorated and commissioned to celebrate marriage alliances between powerful families.

Date: Wednesday 11 February, 5.30 – 6.30pm

Location: The Courtauld Gallery

For: Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle



Made by Zanobi di Domenico; painted by Biagio d’Antonio with Jacopa del Sellaio, Morelli-Nerli Cassoni (detail), 1472 © The Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery, London

Private View of Love and Marriage in Renaissance Florence: The Courtauld Wedding Chests

All members are invited to join us for Private View night and see the new exhibition before it opens to the public. Painted panels set into the wedding chests tell tales and history from ancient Greece, Rome and Palestine, as well as from Florentine literature and more recent history. These beautifully told and highly crafted pictorial narratives were intended to entertain as well as to instruct the husband and wife, their servants, children and visitors.

Date: Wednesday 11 February, 6.30 – 8.30pm

Location: The Courtauld Gallery

For: Associates, Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle





Botticelli, Holy Trinity with Saint John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, Tobias and the Angel, 1490-1495 © The Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery, London

Meet a Painting: Botticelli’s Holy Trinity

An opportunity to gain a fascinating insight into a single work from The Courtauld collection. Professor Patricia Rubin, Deputy Director and Head of The Courtauld Institute of Art Research Forum, and Caroline Campbell, Schroder Foundation Curator of Paintings, will jointly discuss and debate Botticelli’s Holy Trinity with Saint John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, Tobias and the Angel.

Date: Wednesday 18 February, 6.30 – 8.00pm

Location: The Courtauld Gallery

For: Patrons’ Circle and Director’s Circle

december 2008

Private art collection visit
Private art collection visit

Tuesday 2 December, 6.30-8.00pm

Samuel Courtauld Society members visited the private art collection of one of our Courtauld supporters.

 

NOVEMBER 2008

JMW Turner, Colchester, 1825-26
Director’s Breakfast View of Paths to Fame: Turner Watercolours from The Courtauld

Tuesday 25 November, 8.00-9.45am

The Courtauld Gallery

Breakfast viewing of the exhibition with an introductory talk by Dr Joanna Selborne, Curator of Prints, which gave members an insight into this incredible collection of watercolours.

Hans Eworth’s Allegorical Portrait of Sir John Luttrell, 1550
Meet a Painting

Tuesday 11 November, 6.30-8.00pm

The Courtauld Gallery

Guests enjoyed an enlightening introduction to Hans Eworth’s Allegorical Portrait of Sir John Luttrell by Dr. Ernst Vegelin, Head of Courtauld Galleries.

october 2008

Palace on the Water, Lazienki Park, Warsaw
Warsaw Tour
Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 October

Hosted by Dr Deborah Swallow, Märit Rausing Director at The Courtauld, this was the first Samuel Courtauld Society tour abroad. Designed and led by Courtauld alumnus and Exhibitions Curator at Sir John Soane’s Museum, Dr Jerzy Kierkuc-Bielinski, the tour was also accompanied by The Courtauld's Professor Paul Crossley.

Exclusive to Patrons' Circle and Director's Circle members of the Samuel Courtauld Society, members gained a unique insight into the art and architecture of Warsaw and had the opportunity to explore this incredible city with experts on the art, culture, language and architecture.

Click here for more photographs and information.

Kandinsky Reception
Kandinsky Reception

Wednesday 22 October, 6.30-8.30pm, The Courtauld Gallery

Launch of the new Prestel monograph on Wassily Kandinsky’s major paintings, which included special tours of the Kandinskys on display at The Courtauld by Barnaby Wright, Curator of 20th Century Art.

 

JMW Turner, Dawn after the Wreck, c. 1841
Champagne Reception and Preview of Paths to Fame: Turner Watercolours from The Courtauld
Wednesday 29 October, 5.30-6.30pm, The Courtauld Gallery

Samuel Courtauld Society members had the chance to preview the exhibition and enjoy a glass of champagne before the main Private View.

JMW Turner, Storm on Margate Sands, c. 1820
Private View of Paths to Fame: Turner Watercolours from The Courtauld

Wednesday 29 October, 6.30-8.30pm, The Courtauld Gallery

Private View night guests saw the exhibition, which is the first full display of The Courtauld Gallery’s outstanding collection of watercolours by J M W Turner, before the exhibition opened to the public.

september 2008

Cézanne, Still Life with Plaster Cast, c. 1894
Cézanne Research evening

Wednesday 17 September, 6.30-8.00pm, The Courtauld Gallery

Elisabeth Reissner, Caroline Villers Research Fellow, discussed how study of the surface of Cézanne’s paintings can be used to test interpretations of his theoretical statements. It was a wonderful evening for lovers of Cézanne's work.

 

Paul Cézanne, Montagne Sainte-Victoire (detail) c. 1887
Director’s Breakfast View of The Courtauld Cézannes

Tuesday 23 September, 8.00-9.45am, The Courtauld Gallery

This was the last chance to see The Courtauld Cézannes as part of a breakfast viewing. Dr Stephanie Buck, Curator of Drawings gave a wonderful introductory talk.

The Breakfast Room
Candlelit visit to Sir John Soane’s Museum

Thursday 25 September, 6.30-9.00pm, Sir John Soane’s Museum, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP

Patrons' Circle and Director's Circle members enjoyed drinks and canapés in a private reception at the Sir John Soane’s Museum. With the Museum lit only by candle light, Tim Knox (Courtauld alumnus and Director of the Museum) and Dr Jerzy Kierkuc-Bielinski (Courtauld alumnus and Exhibitions Curator of the Museum) gave tours to guests, who were then able to explore the museum on their own. A very special evening for all those attended.

 

july 2008

Paul Cézanne, Montagne Sainte-Victoire (detail) c. 1887

Director’s Breakfast View of The Courtauld Cézannes

Wednesday 2 July, 8.00-9.45am, The Courtauld Gallery

Patrons' Circle and Director's Circle members enjoyed a breakfast viewing of The Courtauld Cézannes with an introductory talk by Dr Ernst Vegelin, Head of Courtauld Galleries giving a wonderful insight into this significant collection of works.

 

 

Celebrations at Somerset House

75th Anniversary Celebratory Weekend

Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July, venues around London

Samuel Courtauld Society members joined in with the weekend celebrations which featured a host of activities including talks from Courtauld faculty, behind-the-scenes tours, plus parties and other festivities. Click here to see further photographs.

 

 

june 2008

Thomas Gainsborough, Portrait of Mrs. Gainsborough c. 1779
Meet a Painting

Tuesday 3 June, 6.30-8.00pm, The Courtauld Gallery

Patrons' Circle and Director's Circle members had the opportunity to enjoy a glass of champagne and get ‘up close and personal’ with a painting from The Courtauld collection. Professor David Solkin, Courtauld Deputy Director and Dean spoke about Thomas Gainsborough’s Portrait of Mrs. Gainsborough as well as a drawing of Helene Fourment by Peter Paul Rubens, pulling out the fascinating history behind the pieces and how they informed each other.

Spencers Gardens
Trip to Spencers
Saturday 7 June, Spencers, Great Yeldham, Essex
Samuel Courtauld Society members explored the glorious gardens of Spencers’ Georgian country house. This is the former home of Arctic explorer August Courtauld who bought the house with wife Molly in 1937, and later the home of the politician Rt. Hon. RA Butler. August Courtauld was second cousin once removed to Samuel Courtauld.

HRH The Princess Royal and Dr Ernst Vegelin, Head of The Courtauld Gallery; Photographer: Jessica Reftel Evans
Private View of The Courtauld Cézannes

Wednesday 25 June, 7.15-9.00pm, The Courtauld Gallery

Samuel Courtauld Society members joined us for Private View night and were the first to see the new Cézanne exhibition which was officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. The exhibition presents the entire collection for the first time with major paintings such as the iconic Montagne Sainte-Victoire (1887) shown alongside rarely seen drawings and watercolours.

 

may 2008

Pierre Auguste Renoir, La Loge 1874

Director’s Breakfast View of Renoir at the Theatre: Looking at La Loge

Wednesday 7 May, 8.00-9.45am, The Courtauld Gallery

Patrons' Circle and Director's Circle members enjoyed a breakfast viewing of Renoir at the Theatre: Looking at La Loge with an introductory talk by Dr Barnaby Wright, Curator of Paintings.

 

 

april 2008

Guests at the party

Samuel Courtauld Society: First Anniversary Party

Tuesday 29 April, 7.00-9.00pm, The Courtauld Gallery

The party celebrated the significant contribution made by Samuel Courtauld Society members to The Courtauld. As well as the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful music and hospitality, members were able to meet many of the people who have benefited from the support of the Friends of The Courtauld. Click here for more photographs and information.