Sparkling Evening Talk - 'El Greco and his Influences'
Join us for a glass of fizz and an evening with art historian Sian Walters exploring the life and work of El Greco, one of the most unusual, original and visionary painters of his age.
'From Crete to Toledo: El Greco and his Influences'.
Born and trained in Crete, El Greco enjoyed success in Venice and Rome and then in 1577 settled in Toledo, Spain. Here he spent the rest of his life, producing works characterised by astonishing exaggerations of form, distortions of proportion and bold, brooding colours. Many of these paintings can still be seen in their original location, including The Disrobing of Christ which hangs in Toledo Cathedral. A smaller version of this painting can be found at Upton House.
In this lecture, which complements our programming theme of artists and their muses, highly respected art historian Sian Walters will explore how the mystical appearance of later works, such as these, reveal a wide variety of sometimes surprising influences, exploring to what extent they reflect the cultural, religious and socio-economic climate of Toledo in the early 17th century.
Director of Art History in Focus and lecturer for the National Gallery, The Arts Society, The Wallace Collection, Friends of the Royal Academy, The London Art History Society, The Art Fund and many other art societies and colleges in the UK and Europe, Sian spends much of the year lecturing abroad, particularly in Italy and Spain. In 2016 she was named a Highly Commended finalist in the Wanderlust World’s Best Guide Awards and asked to teach the first online course for The National Gallery (Stories of Art) in September 2020.
Please note:
- Enter via Visitor Reception and make your way down the drive. The main house entrance is 300 m from the visitor car park immediately in front of you.
- You may wish to bring a sweater or a warmer layer if it is a cool evening.
- There is a ramped entrance into the house but please be advised that the talk is in the Picture Room on the lower ground floor, which has stepped access only.
- Children over 16 are welcome, supervised by parent/guardian.
- Gates open at 6pm. You are welcome to view the gardens prior to the talk but please be at the main house entrance by 6.30pm.
- Your ticket includes a glass of prosecco or non-alcoholic sparkling alternative.
- If you require more information about ingredients or allergens for this event, please contact uptonhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk
Ticket options
Join us for a glass of fizz and an evening with art historian Sian Walters exploring the life and work of El Greco, one of the most unusual, original and visionary painters of his age.
'From Crete to Toledo: El Greco and his Influences'.
Born and trained in Crete, El Greco enjoyed success in Venice and Rome and then in 1577 settled in Toledo, Spain. Here he spent the rest of his life, producing works characterised by astonishing exaggerations of form, distortions of proportion and bold, brooding colours. Many of these paintings can still be seen in their original location, including The Disrobing of Christ which hangs in Toledo Cathedral. A smaller version of this painting can be found at Upton House.
In this lecture, which complements our programming theme of artists and their muses, highly respected art historian Sian Walters will explore how the mystical appearance of later works, such as these, reveal a wide variety of sometimes surprising influences, exploring to what extent they reflect the cultural, religious and socio-economic climate of Toledo in the early 17th century.
Director of Art History in Focus and lecturer for the National Gallery, The Arts Society, The Wallace Collection, Friends of the Royal Academy, The London Art History Society, The Art Fund and many other art societies and colleges in the UK and Europe, Sian spends much of the year lecturing abroad, particularly in Italy and Spain. In 2016 she was named a Highly Commended finalist in the Wanderlust World’s Best Guide Awards and asked to teach the first online course for The National Gallery (Stories of Art) in September 2020.
Please note:
- Enter via Visitor Reception and make your way down the drive. The main house entrance is 300 m from the visitor car park immediately in front of you.
- You may wish to bring a sweater or a warmer layer if it is a cool evening.
- There is a ramped entrance into the house but please be advised that the talk is in the Picture Room on the lower ground floor, which has stepped access only.
- Children over 16 are welcome, supervised by parent/guardian.
- Gates open at 6pm. You are welcome to view the gardens prior to the talk but please be at the main house entrance by 6.30pm.
- Your ticket includes a glass of prosecco or non-alcoholic sparkling alternative.
- If you require more information about ingredients or allergens for this event, please contact uptonhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk