From the Pacific coast to the majestic Andes we will explore civilisations preceding the Inca and the Inca empire itself. This course by Prof Maria Chester consists of ten lectures over five weeks (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm to 5pm). It is part of a series of courses on Ancient Civilisations of the Americas. There … Continue reading "Andean Civilisations: Full Series"
From the Pacific coast to the majestic Andes we will explore civilisations preceding the Inca and the Inca empire itself This course by This course by Prof Maria Chester consists of ten lectures over five weeks (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm to 5pm). It is part of a series of courses on Ancient Civilisations of … Continue reading "Andean Civilisations: Individual Lectures"
Japonisme is a word we use in art history to describe the study of Japanese art and its influence on European artists. Image Credit: Edward Hornel: 'Geisha Girls', courtesy of the Fleming Collection. In this presentation, Prof Maria Chester will take us to nineteenth century Japan, which was visited by several artists, including Edward Hornel … Continue reading "Japonisme: The Presence of Japan in Western Art"
The extraordinary life and work of artist John Lavery, who went from being a homeless teenager to paint a portrait of the Royal family. Sir John Lavery :'The Green Sofa' 1908John Lavery was an extraordinary and sensitive artist who was ahead of his time. In this lecture, Prof Maria Chester will analyse his work from … Continue reading "John Lavery, Edwardian Portraitist and Glasgow Boy"
Cockburnspath was the chosen point for the loose group of young artists known as the Glasgow Boys to practice “en plein air” painting. Image: James Whitelaw Hamilton RSA RSW (1860-1932) Autumn Reverie, courtesy of The Fine Art Society. Art historians have classified the work of the so-called “ Glasgow Boys” in three stages: Social Realism; … Continue reading "The Glasgow Boys and the Cockburnspath Connection"
Glasgow School of Art was the cradle of the Glasgow Style, where students like Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald met.... Margaret MacDonald :'The May Queen' 1900In this talk, Prof. Maria Chester will explore step by step how the Glasgow Style was born in the fabulous ( now burned down) Glasgow School of Art & Architecture, … Continue reading "The Glasgow Style, The Glasgow School and the Mackintoshes"
Our final course about the ancient civilisations of the Americas deals with how things were before and after Spanish intervention in 1492. These lectures are by Prof Maria Chester. 1491: NEW DISCOVERIES OF THE AMERICAS BEFORE COLUMBUSThese lectures are based on the book written by Charles Mann (Knopf, 2005) but with a twist because as … Continue reading "American Civilisations: before 1491 and after 1493"
This short course will introduce you to the work of the Argentinian writer JULIO CORTAZAR, a towering presence admired the world over . This course is part one in a new series of online lectures by Prof Maria Chester which will introduce you to the literature of Latin America.Magic-Realism is one genre that is often … Continue reading "An Argentinian writer in exile: Julio Cortazar"
The life and work of artists Duncan Fergusson, Leslie Hunter, Samuel Peploe and Francis Cadell: now known as The Scottish Colourists. Image: The White Room by Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell.This is a series of four lectures by Prof Maria Chester, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4pm to 5pm, starting December 8th and finishing December 17th.Since … Continue reading "An Introduction to the Lives and Works of the Scottish Colourists"
Journalist Gerry Foley talks about the events and the politicians he covered during an incident-filled career. From a Dublin student working for pirate radio to the halls of Westminster, Gerry Foley's career in Journalism has put him in the front row for some of the biggest events in UK politics, and this series of four … Continue reading "From Bombs to Brexit – a Life in Journalism"
Maria Chester celebrates the splendour of France’s Belle Époque: the painters, avant-garde music and dance of those magic days.This course of ten lectures by Prof Maria Chester was originally a classroom based course held in 2018, with some recent revisions.The so-called “Belle Époque” emerged in Paris – the city of light – in the last … Continue reading "La Belle Epoque 1871 – 1914"
Rock Art, also called Ice Age Art and Palaeolithic Art, is found in every continent except Antarctica.This course of ten lectures by Prof Maria Chester was originally a classroom based course held in 2019, with some recent revisions. It will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 5 pm, starting Oct 5th. This … Continue reading "The Dawn of Art: Ice Age Cave Art"
