The Christmas Story in Italian Art
20 January 2027 at 11:00:00
Winston Churchill Hall, Ruislip
The Adoration of the Shepherds by Giorgione - detail, 1505-1510
Today’s presentation traces the Christmas narrative through the masterpieces of Italian artists, moving from the Angel Gabriel's message at the Annunciation, through the Nativity and Adoration, to the Journey of the Magi and the Flight into Egypt. In the process we will take a fresh look at how different Italian masters approached visual storytelling across the centuries.
Through selected works, some very familiar and some not so well-known, we will explore the Medici family's deep religious devotion to the Magi, frequently depicted in the private chapels of Renaissance Florence; uncover the making of the spectacular floor of Siena Cathedral; investigate a stolen Caravaggio - and encounter a rather unconventional breastfeeding position!
Dr Antonia Gatward Cevizli is an independent art historian specialising in both Italian Renaissance art and Ottoman art. She gained her PhD from the University of Warwick. Her publications focus on the cultural and diplomatic exchange between the Italian city-states and the Ottomans.
Antonia has lectured for a number of institutions, including Sabanci University Istanbul, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, the National Gallery, the V&A Academy and The Courtauld Summer School. Her interests are wide-ranging and she also worked across the collections of both Tate Modern and Tate Britain as a professional guide. She has lived in Siena, Venice and Istanbul.
Antonia Gatward Cevizli