V&A to host Spectacular Exhibition

Friday 3rd September 2010

To mark the visit to Britain this Autumn of Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican has lent to the V&A four of a set of ten tapestries, designed by Raphael for the Medici pope, Leo X, woven in Flanders from about 1517 onwards. These are the most lavish tapestries ever made and not since they were first woven have the original designs, known as cartoons, and the tapestries themselves ever been seen together. Do hurry to the V&A or better still, why not join our Study Day on Thursday, 14 October? There will be two morning lectures at The Linnaean Society (beside the Royal Academy) followed by a visit to the exhibition. The cost is £47 to include coffee.

New Book on Scottish Genius

Friday 3rd September 2010

Enthusiasts of Charles Rennie Mackintosh have a great treat in store – a new book on the life and work of this great architect and designer by leading expert Dr James Macaulay has just been published by W. H. Norton (ISBN 978 0 393 05175 9) at £42. Extremely well written and lavishly illustrated the book is sure to become one of the most authoritative of recent works on Mackintosh. By great good fortune, Dr Macaulay has agreed to lead us for two of our six-day Glasgow visit next July 24 - 29. Given he is Scotland’s leading architectural historian, blessed with an ironic sense of humour, we are sure not only to enjoy his company but to benefit from his great knowledge.