Art History Painted Together: Group Portraits from Arnolfini and The Nightwatch to the present day

This 10-week series of lectures will explore the history of group portraits from Arnolfini and The Nightwatch to the present day.

The power and fascination of portraits derives from their ability to draw us into the presence of others and to suggest other personalities, other lives. Group portraits introduce a further dynamic, the relationship between those portrayed. Whether the focus is a married couple, family group, a hierarchy of work colleagues or multiple generations of a dynasty, group portraits are characterized by compositional richness and psychological depth. Although the motives for such representations have changed with society, moving from patrons and brotherhoods to more relaxed gatherings of neighbours and friends but the possibilities of these groupings continue delight and challenge artists. 

This course will trace the origin of different forms of group portraiture from the Renaissance to the present day. It will examine the ways in which different types of groupings were presented, and the social and cultural purposes that these served, whether presenting piety or expressing ideas of collectivity or legacy. 

This course is taught through richly-illustrated lectures by three experienced tutors: Miriam Gill, David Antill and Ellie Pridgeon.

The course will run on Wednesday mornings, 10:30am -12pm, for 10 weeks, starting on Wednesday 15 January 2025. The final session will be on Wednesday 2 April 2025.

Please note: No sessions on 19 February and 19 March 2025.

Participants must be aged 18+.

Please ensure that you agree to our updated Terms & Conditions before booking as courses/workshops are non-refundable in some circumstances.

We aim to make all our sessions as accessible as possible and carers/PAs are very welcome – just remember to book their free place when you book your session. If you'd like to talk to us in advance of booking or attending your sessions to discuss your access needs, our Box Office team is here to help! Email arts-centre@le.ac.uk, pop in or call 0116 252 2455, open 7 days a week.

We have four blue badge parking spaces outside Attenborough Arts Centre, plus double yellow line roadside parking very close to the building for blue badge holders for up to three hours if our parking spaces are occupied.

Free parking for all customers is available after 5pm on weekdays and all day at weekends in the University of Leicester car park next door to Attenborough Arts Centre on Lancaster Road. The closest public car park for parking at all other times is Victoria Park, 5-10 minutes walk from us.