2 Audley Square
Mayfair, London W1K 1DB
UK
Established in 1994, THE COURSE offers exciting and innovative lectures in Art History, Literature, Opera and Music.
This course will explore the rise of celebrity in the art world and how this change in status not only affected the output of artists but also their lives and in some cases the individuals depicted by them. It will show that the impact of these changes is still with us and continues to govern the way we appreciate and value art. We will start by looking at very early un-autographed works before moving on to look at iconic artists such as Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Vermeer and others. The themes will be the rise of the signature work, the rise of the individual and thus creation of the idea of the artist, fame, adulation, riches and the celebrity endorsement.
Fame and Adulation, The South Pacific Voyages of Captain Cook
A venture into the South Pacific to explore fame and celebrity in the 18th century through the voyages of Captain Cook will take us to the discoveries of Joseph Banks. What were the motivations that drove British explorers to venture halfway across the world into the unknown? We will look at the art, artists and literature associated with this period and how this informed the attitude of both artists and explorers. We will also look at how the making of and dissemination of the celebrity portrait was integral to the promotion and success of those that embarked on these missions.