MORNING LECTURES
All our monthly talks are free to members of The Arts Society Moor Park. They take place at Winston Churchill Hall, Ruislip HA4 7QL, on the third Wednesday of each month except December, July and August, and are streamed simultaneously live online via Zoom. A unique Zoom link is emailed to members on the day before each talk.
Non-members are welcome to attend - there's no need to pre-book, please just come along; the price of £10 per non-member per lecture is treated as a donation and is payable on the door.
We encourage those attending in person to arrive from 10.15 for complimentary refreshments and socialising and ask that you be seated in the auditorium by 10.50. The lecture will begin promptly at 11 o'clock.
David Niven and Friends
17 June 2026 at 10:00:00
David Niven
Speaker:
Richard Burnip
Today we explore Niven's remarkable life and career in cinema, from movie extra to Hollywood Institution, with an examination of his enduring place in public affection.
His charm, wit, and dashing persona earned him roles in classic films and ultimately an Academy Award. But he was also a writer and he had a notable military career during the Second World War.
There was much more to this unique actor than a moustache and a smile.
Auguste Rodin and 19th Century Sculpture
16 September 2026 at 10:00:00
The Walking Man by Rodin, 1907
Speaker:
David Worthington
Rodin is one of the heroic figures of 19th century art history and was internationally celebrated during his lifetime. This lecture by David Worthington surveys his work, showing why he is one of the greatest sculptors ever, looking at his work in relationship to 19th century sculpture as well assessing his continuing relevance.
Smoke and Mirrors - Velazquez and Las Meninas
21 October 2026 at 10:00:00
Las Meninas by Velázquez, 1656
Speaker:
Ronnie Ireland
The painting known as Las Meninas, by Diego Velázquez, is a seeming "snapshot" of an insignificant moment in the day of the court - and yet .....
Called "a treatise on painting" and its creator "the Prince of Painters", it has been marvelled at, written about, copied and loved since it was made.
In today’s lecture Ronnie Ireland will try to unwrap for us at least some of the mystery surrounding this unparallelled achievement.
Notre Dame de Paris
18 November 2026 at 11:00:00
Notre-Dame de Paris by Maximilien Luce, 1900 - detail
Speaker:
Carole Petipher
In December 2024, The Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris reopened after the devastating fire that had threatened to destroy it five years earlier. Despite the enormity of the task, there was never any doubt as to whether to restore or not; such is the power of this building in the psyche of the French people.
In this lecture our Speaker, Carole Petipher, explores the cultural significance of Notre-Dame through the ages and what makes it so special.
The Christmas Story in Italian Art
20 January 2027 at 11:00:00
The Adoration of the Shepherds by Giorgione - detail, 1505-1510
Speaker:
Antonia Gatward Cevizli
This lecture explores the Christmas story, from the Annunciation to the Flight into Egypt, through the eyes of Italian artists. There will be some well-known favourites alongside other works that are less familiar, enabling us to take a fresh look at each artist’s approach to the narrative.
Decadence and Dreams - Jewellery from around 1900
17 February 2027 at 11:00:00
Arts and Crafts Brooch designed by May Morris
Speaker:
Clare Phillips
The decades around 1900 witnessed a dazzling variety of styles and produced some of the most elegant pieces of jewellery ever made. This lecture explores the distinctive styles of great jewellers such as Cartier, Fabergé, Tiffany and Lalique, and examines too the contrasting aesthetic of Britain’s Arts and Crafts Movement.
160 Years of London Underground Design and Architecture
17 March 2027 at 11:00:00
The iconic London Underground style on show at Boston Manor tube station
Speaker:
Mark Ovenden
Since its establishment 160 years ago as the world's first urban underground railway, the London Underground has continuously set a benchmark for design that has influenced transit systems around the world. Today we will explore how this achievement came into being, to shape not just the Underground’s identity, but the character of London itself.
A Portrait of Jewels – Following Missing Treasures through Art
21 April 2027 at 11:00:00
Queen Elizabeth I - the Ermine Portrait
Speaker:
Andrew Prince
Lecturer and jewellery designer Andrew Prince was inspired to produce this talk after visiting London’s National Portrait Gallery. Seeing all the Tudor, Stuart and Hanoverian monarchs, dressed in their finery, he wondered: where had all their spectacular jewels gone?
We will follow the twisting trails of many of them in today’s lecture. Jewel hunting has never been more fascinating .....
The Cote d'Azur - Life Love and Modern Art
19 May 2027 at 10:00:00
‘On the Riviera’ by Sir John Lavery, oil on canvas, 1921
Speaker:
Sarah Burles
In the late nineteenth century the Côte d’Azur became the destination of choice for European royalty and aristocrats who wanted to avoid the cold northern winter, as well as many artists painting for the first time ‘en plein air’. This lecture will take us on a virtual journey to warmer climes, to explore how the Côte d’Azur has continued to inspire, stimulate and energise artists for over a hundred years.
Behind the Scenes Curating the Museum
16 June 2027 at 10:00:00
The Great Court at the British Museum
Speaker:
Anna Bianco
How long does it take to put together a major exhibition? Who decides what subjects will be explored and which objects will be included? How do you get an object from the Vatican to the British Museum? Today we will be offered a behind-the-scenes insight into the process and drama of putting together a ‘blockbuster’ exhibition.