Art History: Understanding Art Better

This event will be bookable on Monday 3 August 2026.

A series of four talks with discussion time for anyone with an interest in understanding and challenging their views on art.

These accessible talks with discussion time are intended for anyone interested in developing their understanding of art, whatever their existing level of knowledge. Some historical context for individual artists and schools of art will be given but the emphasis will be on appreciating individual works of art and how and why they were created. You will not be expected to like every painting, print, or piece of sculpture seen on screen but you will be able to challenge the ideas and arguments presented.

The four talks will run on Wednesday mornings, 10:30am -12pm, on the following dates:

Wednesday 2 September 2026

South Seas Deceptions: The full coloured exoticism of Paul Gauguin compared with the monocoloured delineations of Robert Gibbings

Both Gauguin and Gibbings had a long love affair with the culture, landscapes and topography of Polynesia. This talk explores the images which emerged from this sensual relationship.

Wednesday 16 September 2026

Five Hundred Years of European Print Making

The versatility of the print in making art accessible to the population at large is demonstrated by surveying very different works from Albrecht Durer to Pablo Picasso.

Wednesday 30 September 2026

The Fascination of Animals in Art: From the Twee to the Noble?

Landseer’s dogs were rather different from Gaudier-Brzeska’s depiction of a tiger. A not too serious question is posed as to why and how the animal kingdom has fascinated many artists.

Wednesday 21 October 2026

Abstraction in Landscape Art in Britain

The comfort and tradition of the pastoral landscapes of our island was arguably usurped by the disruption and chaos of the Second World War. The departure from the styles of John Constable and J.M.W. Turner is compared with the dramatically different post war work of Alan Reynolds, Ivor Hitchens, Ben Nicholson, Peter Lanyon and others

Each talk can be booked individually or book the full series of four talks and save 10%.

About the tutor:

Tutor David Antill ALA MA has been a member of the Attenborough Arts Centre’s art history teaching team for a number of years. Previously a librarian, union official and teacher of law, David researched in the graphic arts for his Master’s degree and his continuing research interests are in avant-garde art and the schools of wood engraving.

Further information:

Participants must be aged 18+. No prior knowledge of art history or study experience is required, just an interest in finding out more about art history!

If the course/workshop you’d like to book is sold out, we do operate a waiting list – simply contact our box office team on 0116 252 2455 / arts-centre@le.ac.uk and ask to be added to the waiting list. We’ll then contact you if a place becomes available, with absolutely no obligation to accept it if you’ve made other plans!

Please ensure that you read and agree to our updated Terms & Conditions before booking as courses/workshops are non-refundable if cancelled within 21 days of the start date for any reason.
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.