| Event type: | On Line |
| Date: | Thursday 11th June 2026 |
| Time: | 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
| Venue: | Zoom |
| Cost: | Free |
| Booking: | Note that booking is required. |
To book a place please visit An ABC of Victorian painting Tickets, Thursday, June 11 • 2 PM - 4 PM GMT+1 | Eventbrite
Overview
Simon Evers explores three Victorian painters—from famous to forgotten—and a surprising discovery that transformed oil painting forever.
This engaging talk explores the work and legacy of three contrasting Victorian painters whose careers illuminate the richness and diversity of 19th-century British art.
We begin with Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, one of the most celebrated artists of his day, renowned for his exquisitely detailed depictions of the ancient world. We then turn to Ford Madox Brown, a painter whose evolving artistic vision reflected shifting social and cultural concerns, and whose work challenged conventional expectations. Finally, we rediscover Philip Hermogenes Calderon, an artist now largely overlooked, yet once an influential figure within the Victorian art establishment.
The talk concludes with a fascinating postscript: a little-known discovery that profoundly transformed the practice of oil painting, reshaping how artists worked and what they could achieve.
Ideal for art enthusiasts and curious minds alike, this talk offers fresh insights into well-known masterpieces, changing artistic perspectives, and forgotten figures whose stories deserve to be told.
This talk includes discussion and images of historical artworks that contain nudity. These works are presented in an academic and artistic context, reflecting the conventions of Victorian painting. Viewer discretion is advised.
About the speaker
Simon Evers is a retired headmaster with a longstanding passion for art and art history, particularly British art. In 2018, he completed an online art history course with the Art Institute, graduating with distinction. As a member of a u3a Art Appreciation group, he began delivering talks in 2021, an experience that inspired him to share his enthusiasm for British art with wider audiences. He is currently Chairman of Weston Turville u3a.