The Headlines …
You can read Geoff’s review of the Special Interest Day on Japaese Art by going to the ‘Review’ menu item above.
A Proposed Visit to Greece – We are looking for expressions of interest for this event – Find more about this by clicking Here
A Visit to Berlin – we now have details and booking forms for this six day holiday in October with The Kennet & Swindon Society – click on the link or see the menu tab above Events
Our Virtual Visit to Berlin – this took place on Tuesday 16 January – See Heather’s Report – click on the link or follow the menu tab above Reviews -> Lecture Reviews
The Lecture for Tuesday 7 May …
Lady Butler: Battle Artist
By Felicity Herring
Elizabeth Thompson was born in Lausanne in 1846. Her father had private means but did not own a property, the family spent the summers various places in England and the winters in Italy. Elizabeth went to Kensington Art School. Following which she sent a painting to the Royal Academy but it was refused, the following year she tried again but was again rejected. On her third attempt her painting was accepted but ‘skied’ that is hung so high that it was not seen by anyone. In 1877 she sent ‘The ‘Roll Call’ a picture of the Crimean War which was accepted and hung ‘on the lime’. It was a great success and was acquired by Queen Victoria and remains in the Royal Collection. The following year she sent ‘Quatre Bras’ showing a British infantry square prior to the Battle of Waterloo which again was well received even earning praise from John Ruskin. From then on she almost exclusively painted battle scenes 24 of which were exhibited at the Royal Academy.
In 1877 she married Major Butler. He went on the become a Major General and was knighted. She had five children and followed her husband as he was posted around Britain and abroad. He retired to Ireland where Elizabeth continued to paint battle scenes. She died in 1933 aged 87
Felicity has a MA degree in Fine Art Valuation and a BA in History and Economics. She is an experienced cruise lecturer and a lecturer to National Trust, Rotary, yacht clubs, public school sixth forms and retirement groups such as U3A and Probus. She is a member of the Nelson Society and 1805 Club. She was Programme Secretary of Blackmore Vale for four years and formerly a committee member of Wimborne.
There will be a 24-hour protected recording of this lecture.
Join Us At The Hall or View On-Line – It’s Your Choice …
For those of you who have enjoyed ‘doing it on-line’ from the comfort of your sofa during the Covid years, then we will also be transmitting the lectures as a ‘live’ zoom webinars – the so-called Hybrid Lecture and we will be sending out the Zoom link in the weekend before.
If You Are Not A Member …
If you would like to take a closer interest in our Society and would like to attend one or more of our lectures, then we would love to see you there and you can find out about the three ways you can join us by clicking on the Membership menu tab above.
A Bit About Us …
The Arts Society Kington Langley (TASKL) is an affiliated member of The Arts Society, a leading education charity with a global network of 385 societies bringing people together through a shared interest in the arts.
Our own Society is a member of the Wessex Area along with 21 other societies and, in the current situation, we are learning to share resources.
We meet monthly at 11.00am on the 1st Tuesday of the month (except August and September) to hear excellent lecturers share their specialist knowledge about the arts. Our meeting place is The Village Hall, Church Rd, Kington Langley, Chippenham SN15 5NJ.
In addition, we offer study days, visits to places of interest, visits to gardens of interest and an annual ‘away visit’ to a major town or city in either UK or Europe.
We also run a Young Arts Programme giving grants to support arts related projects for the students and specialist training for staff in our local schools.
There are also volunteering opportunities to include heritage causes and children’s trails of discovery.
Please explore our website to find out more about us and how you can join the society.
… Heather Leach (Chair)