Saturday 10 May 2025 | 7pm | Alnwick Castle, NE66 1NQ
Best known from the BBC’s 'Britain’s Lost Masterpieces' and 'Fake or Fortune?', Bendor Grosvenor is an acclaimed art historian specialising in Old Masters and British art. In this fascinating talk based on his beautifully illustrated book 'The Invention of British Art', Bendor takes audiences on a sweeping journey through 10,000 years of creativity, exploring how key moments, objects, and individuals helped shape what we now recognise as British art.
From prehistoric carvings to the works of Constable and Turner, this richly visual lecture examines not only the artists and their work, but also the world in which they lived. It is a story of evolving identities, shifting power, religious transformation, and imperial ambition - woven together through the lens of visual culture.
Bendor says, “This is a story I have always wanted to tell. Of how a small island nation managed to produce, after many setbacks, some of the most brilliant and distinctive artists who ever lived, like Constable and Turner. But it is also a story of ideas, power, faith and empire, and reveals how art helped shape the Britain we know today.”
Attendees will also have a rare opportunity to view specially selected items from the Alnwick Castle archive that relate to the themes explored in the talk.
T: 01665 511100
E: [email protected]
W: www.alnwickcastle.com