Women artists working in France created astonishingly rich oeuvres, despite considerable professional obstacles. Excluded from the official École des Beaux-Arts until 1897, they also faced prejudice from art critics and dealers who regarded genius as a male attribute. This Study Day offers the opportunity to explore the achievements of an extraordinary range of individuals.Venue for this event to be confirmed.

Our Lecturer:  Dr LOIS OLIVER

Dr Lois Oliver is Professor in History of Art at the University of Notre Dame in London, and Visiting Lecturer at the Courtauld Institute. She has worked as a Curator at the V&A, the National Gallery, and the Royal Academy. Her recent exhibitions include ‘Berthe Morisot: Shaping Impressionism’ at Dulwich Picture Gallery and ‘Jock McFadyen: Tourist without a Guidebook’ for the Royal Academy. She has created audio and multimedia tours for many of the UK’s leading arts institutions and has appeared on BBC Radio and TV. Also a keen violinist, Lois plays regularly with Kensington Chamber Orchestra and the Endellion Festival Orchestra. Lois studied English Literature at Cambridge University, and History of Art at the Courtauld Institute, completing an MA in Venetian Renaissance Art and writing her PhD thesis on The Image of the Artist, Paris 1815-1855.

A day to compare and contrast inherited fortunes through marriage, industrial vision and trading in relation to the history of the Stuarts of Bute who were elevated from Earls to Marquesses of Bute. Architects they commissioned range from Robert Adam to William Burges.

 The Falkland Estate and the House of Falkland (now a school), including the Keepership of the Royal Palace of Falkland, was purchased in 1887 by the 3rd Marquess of Bute, arguably the wealthiest individual in the country.  Bute was responsible for restoring the largely ruined Falkland Palace to what it is today as well as carrying out major modifications to the House of Falkland.  

 The day begins at 10am prompt and will finish by 3pm.  Tea/Coffee will be available at 9.45am on arrival, three lectures with lunch.

Marc Allum is a freelance broadcaster, author and lecturer, perhaps best known as a regular contributor to the BBC's "Antiques Roadshow".  Marc will take us through how and why we collect antiquest and other fascinating subjects.  

More details to follow nearer the time.  Location to be decided.

Organised by our programme planner, Louise Mackenzie, this event will take place on Tuesday 18 April at Elmwood College, Cupar.  The day begins at 10am and finishes at 3pm, and will comprise tea or cofee on arrival, three lectures and lunch.

There are 2 lectures during the morning session when we will learn how a German noblewoman rose to become the Empress of Russia, and we will trace the development of the arts in Russia under Empress Catherine's enlightened leadership.

After lunch the lecture is all about "Catherine the Great and Scotland" when we will follow the journeys of the many Scots who served in her court, and their contribution towards the Imperial Court.

Our lecturer, Christopher Newlands, is a retired Anglican priest.  As well as being an accredited Arts Society Lecturer,  he is also a guest lecturer on cruise ships where his lectures relate to the destinations in the Baltic, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

Booking forms are available in the hall on on our website under "Documents".  Alternatively please send an email to info@theartssocietyfife.org.uk

At last a chance to meet Andrew in person and to see his marvellous jewellery, some of which was designed and made for Downton Abbey.

*Venue is Elmwood College, Cupar.

A visit has been arranged to Broomhall House on 11th May 2022.

All seats have been taken at this point.

Meeting places for the bus are *         St.Andrews at the Petheram Bridge at 9.15 PROMPT

                                             *           Cupar at the Station at 9.30 PROMPT

We are looking forward to our lecture on Tuesday by Andrew Prince, but due to the present situation and lockdown regulations the Study Day which is programmed for 10 th March has been cancelled.
Fortunately Louise has managed to arrange a return visit for next season so we will not miss out.

Cynthia Robb, Chair

Location:  Birkhill, Cupar by kind permission of the Dundee Family

Andrew Prince  will describe the making of jewellery for the Downton Abbey series and will have some items for members to try on.

Andrew Prince:  has had a passion for the jewellery since he was a small child. In fact his enthusiasm can be traced back to the time when, at the age of three, he swallowed his one of his mother’s pearl earrings having found her jewel box hidden from him in a cupboard. The very first piece of jewellery he created was a ring made of copper wire pulled from the back of a television. He presented it to his grandmother (it turned her finger green and gave her a rash). He then created a necklace for his mother using beads taken off her wedding dress (she was not at all happy).

In 1980, when he was nine, Andrew's mother took him to the Princely Magnificence exhibition at the V&A, exhibiting Renaissance jewels dating from 1500 to 1630. It proved a revelation. Dazzled by the splendour and opulence of the jewels on show, Andrew decided then and there that creating jewellery was what he wanted to devote his life to. His passion for jewellery grew when, in 1984 on his first ever visit to Bond Street, Andrew viewed an exhibition by Castellani and Giulianoe at Wartski & Co’s. While there, he was allowed to handle beautiful 18th century gold boxes and magnificent imperial Russian pieces by Fabergé. In 1987, just before leaving school, he took time off to visit Geneva to view the astonishing Sotheby’s auction of the Duchess of Windsor's jewellery collection. Here, for the first time, he held pieces created by some of the world's greatest jewellers, fashioned from only the finest of stones and set in designs of outstanding quality. For the young Andrew, it was a life-changing experience.

In August of that year, two weeks after his 16th birthday, Andrew started work in London’s Bond Street, working for The Antiques Roadshow expert Ian Harris. Under his guidance, Andrew developed an appreciation for jewels that were valued for their quality of design and craftsmanship, rather than for how much the stones in the piece were worth. He then joined the renowned contemporary jeweller Elizabeth Gage and worked with her on the design and production side. Through her and her private collection, Andrew was able to see and handle rare and extraordinary stones with names such as Sphene, Andalusite, Spinel and Dioptase, many of which are far rarer than diamonds. Elizabeth Gage was to have an enormous influence on Andrew's sense of what was possible within the realm of jewellery design.

Andrew's taste for fine 'costume jewellery' can be traced back to an antique market, where he came across a late Victorian brooch set with what he initially thought were emeralds and diamonds. They were, in fact, crystal and green glass set in silver and gold. He realised that beautiful jewellery didn't require expensive stones, and that it was the elegance of the design and the quality of the workmanship that truly mattered. Private commissions then started to trickle in. The trickle turned into a flood, as celebrities such as Michael Jackson (a large crystal and pearl shoulder jewel) and Shirley Bassey (necklaces) were seen wearing Andrew's creations.

In 2002, the V&A commissioned a collection of jewels to accompany the resplendent Tiaras, Past and Present exhibition which became one of their most popular exhibits. The exposure gained by the show then led to Andrew's jewellery appearing in film.

In 2005, he was asked to make tiaras and jewellery for Mrs Henderson Presents starring Judy Dench. In 2009, pieces were commissioned for The Young Victoria starring Emily Blunt and Miranda Richardson. In 2012, he was chosen by the creators of Downton Abbey to supply a large collection of jewellery for the third series. The characters played by Maggie Smith, Shirley Maclaine, Elizabeth McGovern and Michelle Dockery were all adorned with elegant tiaras, combs, earrings and necklaces designed and created by Andrew Prince.

This study day will be held at Dairsie Castle near Cupar. 

Mankind has exploited the medicinal properties of plants for thousands of years, yet the role of plants in modern medicine is still considered to be peripheral by many people. This talk attempts to put the record straight and to show that plant products are used every day by all of us to relieve pain and suffering, to heal wounds and cure diseases.

Timothy Walker: Since 1986 I have given 1,500 public lectures. This was originally part of my work as director of the Oxford University Botanic Garden from 1988 to 2014. Botanic gardens are often described as living museums, and garden curators lecture about them in the same way as museum curators talk about their collections. Since 2014 I have been a college lecturer and tutor at Somerville College Oxford. Gardens are often thought of a place where science and art meet on equal terms.

Please note that this has proved to be a very interesting event and there are no longer any places for this Day of Special Interest.  

At the Corn Exchange, Cupar - PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE

The day will commence at 9.30 a.m.
The morning will comprise of 2 talks of approximately 75 minutes each.
 

The afternoon will be an opportunity for members to bring their own pieces of interest /treasured items for David to assess and discuss.
 

The cost of £30 per person includes coffee on arrival and lunch. Numbers are limited to 35 so please book promptly to avoid disappointment.
 

Anyone interested should complete the form on the website (look under About us, then Documents) hand it in at the next meeting or send it to: Mrs Louise Mackenzie, Glen App, Crail Rd., Anstruther,
KY10 3EL

Please note that this Study Day is now full and we cannot take any further reservations.

The next Study Day will be at the Hill of Tarvit, Cuper,  KY10 5PB  on Wednesday 25th October,

at 10.00am - 3.00pm.  £35.00 each will include coffee on arrival, a light lunch, a 2 hour talk in the morning and a 1 hour talk in the afternoon.

Back by popular demand Malcolm Kenwood will talk to us about "The Fine Art of Crime", stolen art, fakes and forgeries.

Please apply to:

Mrs Louise Mackenzie,  Glen App,  Anstruther, Fife.  KY10 3EL_,  tel no 01333 311784.

Malcolm Kenwood is  an experienced retired specialist police and private detective, investigating art and antique crime. Formerly the Recoveries Director for the Art Loss Register which operates an international commercial database of stolen cultural property. Formed his own company and developed training programmes designed to educate law enforcement officers in all aspects of this area of criminal activity, undertaken in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Art and Antiques Unit at New Scotland Yard, London. Has lectured to police conferences, customs officers, auction house staff, museum employees, Interpol and FBI.

A Study Day on the world of the baby house – social history in exquisite miniature. The story of the baby house from the 15th century to the 21st, 600 hundred years of houses, interiors, furniture, accessories, dolls and food. Venue: St Leonard's School, St Andrews Coffee Morning Session ‘The history of the house’ approx. 2 hours, with a break at approx. 11.30 for 15 minutes. Lunch Afternoon Session ‘Furnishing in close-up’ – a look at the development of some of the furnishing found within baby houses and dolls houses. Approx. 45 minutes. This will be followed by time to look at examples brought to the day - lasting approx. 30 mins- 1 hour, but people are of course free to leave at any time. The registration form is now on the website for you to print out ... look under About us, then Documents. For any further information please contact Elizabeth Black elizabeth.black68@gmail.com

Miniature likenesses of full-size artefacts have been found, usually connected with childrens’ play, throughout cultures world-wide and for hundreds of years. But certainly by the fifteenth century in Europe a phenomenon had emerged of creating a miniaturized representation of a princely household to illustrate success and sophistication. The miniature ‘households’ of the 15th and 16th centuries represented wealth and nobility. With hundreds of scaled-down items carefully placed in gabled, merchant-style ‘baby houses’ they soon became educational aids in the teaching of household skills. The fascination and charm of the ‘tiny’ domestic worlds led to the 18th century creation of magnificent baby houses modelled on the Palladian architecture fashionable in England at that time. Master craftsmen created paintings, silver, furnishings and interiors in these baby houses with as much skill and detail as their ‘grown up’ counterparts. The European baby houses of the 17th and 18th centuries were all one-off commissions. By the 19th century simpler renditions of (usually) country houses were being produced in significant numbers to respond to an emerging market. And whereas 18th century silver miniatures were made by the top silversmiths in England and Holland, by the 19th century milk glass, plaster food, filigree soft metal and wooden and upholstered suites of furniture were all mass-manufactured in Germany to meet the enormous extra demand. By the 20th century the ‘baby house’ had truly become a child’s toy, the dolls house. Popular throughout Europe and America they had particular success in Britain, with companies such as ‘Tri-ang’ and ‘Pit a Pat’ specializing in houses and furnishings. Modestly priced furniture and accessories are now made in China and sold worldwide. At the other end of the scale the creation of unique pieces for dolls houses has burgeoned, with a single bookcase or escritoire selling for £2500 and more, although these are probably for the global collectors’ market rather than the child. The fascination of the miniature continues to attract collectors. Everything, from the fitted kitchen to the power shower and computer is created at 1:12 standard scale. Food is created in dizzying colours and splendour from modern plasticine. Houses range from reproduction Tudor castle to Victorian kitchen to ultra modern architect’s dream. For the social historian the baby house – and then the dolls house – is a treasure trove for examples of ordinary household objects that have fallen out of use and disappeared. From the notion of the ‘lying in’ room where a mother recovered from the birth of a child for weeks, in public, with visitors coming and going, created so frequently in an 18th century baby house, through lighting equipment to a simple kitchen baking tin identified as one for cakes of specifically Scandanavian origin in the 19th century and a 1920s trouser press, the interiors are full of secrets now lost in everyday life.

Sally Hoban has an Art History degree from the University of Birmingham, with over twenty years experience in the antiques trade. She has lectured extensively on art, design and antiques throughout the UK, and gives lectures and day schools at Birmingham University and Aston University. She has a certificate in public speaking from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and is a freelance arts journalist for local, national and international media. Sally has broadcast on the BBC and her publications include Miller's Collecting Modern Design (2001).

10:15 Coffee 10:30 Illustrated talk - showing furniture the lecturer has restored in stately homes and churches, with amusing anecdotes of history and owners! Before and after shots, techniques explained. 12 noon Comfort break 12:15 Exploring/handling veneers - 15 different woods, followed by demonstration on conservation cleaning and polishing. 1 p.m. - Lunch 2 p.m. - Members can bring items for appraisal, lecturer will indicate age, wood and approximate value.

MARIE THERESE BARRETT’S presentation includes: 3 digital presentations, display of objects and discussion of members’ treasures. Ms Barrett has a BA & MA English, Toulouse University; BA in Oriental Art, Sophia University, Japan. MA in Art History, Maryland University, USA. Chair of the Japan Society Art Circle (2003-2007). Course tutor for the Diploma in Asian Art, British Museum (2002-2007), School of Oriental and African Studies (2002-2008). Marie Therese Barrett was a guest lecturer for Sotheby’s, The V&A, Asia House and The Japan Society and until 2010, course tutor for the Diploma in Asian Art, British Museum and School of Oriental African Studies. Date:WED: 21st Nov 10:30am – 15:00pm (Coffee and lunch provided) Venue: The Corn Exchange, St Catherine Street, Cupar, Fife Cost: £30 For more information contact Mrs I Constable, 82 Hepburn Gardens, St Andrews, KY16 9LN The Booking form is now available on the web site . Look under About us, then Documents.

Peter Medhurst studied singing and early keyboard instruments at the Royal College of Music and the Mozarteum in Salzburg. He appears in the UK and abroad as musician and scholar, giving recitals and illustrated lectures on music and the arts. For more information contact info@fifedfas.org.uk To download the registration form go to About Us, then Documents page