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Getting Dressed to Kill for Bill – Bill Cunningham New York
This story is all about photographer Bill Cunningham in the here and now and, about how and why he has become a living national treasure on the streets of one of the world’s most exciting cities, New York.
PostModern – Pursuing the Past to Attain the Peak of Chic
Postmodernism (1970-1990) ranged from fashion to folly, from the luxurious to the ludicrous, from theory to theatre as it spawned out of control consumerism. It also grew a corporate design culture, which became encircled by money, wealth and power. Stylistically and realistically it all had to come to an end. Finally it collapsed under the weight of its own success.
Women of Influence – Painter Angelica Kauffmann
As far as women are concerned the Age of Reason in the eighteenth century was inappropriately named. This was a period when the role of women, especially in a professional sphere, took a retrograde step. Private salons hosted by wealthy and powerful women reached the height of their influence at this time with many voices raised in favour of women’s rights, but usually to no avail.
Napoleon’s Desk – St Helena to Sydney, a Story worth a Smile
That someone in the Antipodes would end up sitting at, and using the same desk as he did would have given deposed French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte great cause to smile.
Désirée – Is This a Portrait of Napoleon’s First Fiancée?
A previously ‘un-identified’ sitter, in 1st Empire style dress is one of the great works of art in the David Roche Foundation Collection at Adelaide in South Australia. Could she be Désirée Clary, former fiancée of Napoleon Bonaparte and later Queen Desidera of Sweden?
Portraits – Restoration to Revolution & the Age of Romance
Portraiture, established as a genre in England during the sixteenth century, became part of a national ‘persona’ style during the eighteenth century
Art Nouveau – Was this Style More than a Tendril in Time?
At the turn of the 20th century Europe was inspired by the style Art Nouveau as artists and architects produced sensuous, sinuous lines far more eloquent than words
Portraits – From The Middle Ages to Restoration England
Portraiture is a language of expression with its own grammar and vocabulary. During the fourteenth century paintings of individuals were given a third dimension
The Arts in the Next Decade in Australia – Ideas & Outcomes
Helping to shape savvy citizens for a bigger society will be a business of the arts sector during the next decade. Australia is a creative nation, but there are tough times ahead and arts organisations will continually need to convince the public of the benefits they provide.
Women of Influence – Noblewoman Diane de Poitiers
If beauty was accompanied by intelligence those who used both attributes skilfully seemed to have been the most successful. Fifteenth century beauty Diane de Poitiers (1499-1566) was considered an ‘ardent feminist sure of her own worth – and a child of her time’. She had all the attributes, plus a strong will and a great strength of purpose. These were both very necessary skills for survival in the world of political intrigue that surrounded the court of the last medieval and first Renaissance King of France Francois I whose court was the envy of Europe.
Antiques & Art, Culture & Commerce for Breakfast @ Tiffany’s
One of of the most enduring shows on television since the end of 70’s is about antiques and art. It’s all about finding out if an object is a valuable antique or a worthless copy from someone able to decode its message and decipher the truth about its authenticity and origins.
Portraits – From Ancient Egypt to Medieval England
What is the test of a great portrait – is it about the power of the artist to enter the sitter’s emotions and convey their feelings so we might experience empathy?
Rupert Bunny – An Australian Artist at Paris
The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius* In the landscape of Australian painting history Rupert Bunny (1864 – 1947) is a significant figure. He inserted himself effortlessly into French Parisian life during the so-called ‘Belle Epoque’ or beautiful era. He demonstrated, through his painting a genuine love of his time and the [...]
Jane Austen, Mr Darcy, The Regency and Vanity Fair – Part 1
English author Jane Austen lived in one of the most eventful, colourful and turbulent epochs in the history of England and Europe.
Women of Influence – Empress Josephine at Chateau Malmaison
An impressive woman in her own right, Marie Joséphine Rose Tascher de la Pagerie de Beauharnais (1763-1814) or Josephine (as Napoleon decided she should be known) would aid, through her influence and abilities, Napoleon Bonaparte’s route to power and have a profound influence on the future of horticulture.
The Pre-Raphaelites – Desperate Romantics Inspiring Change
In style and technique the works of England’s 19th century movers and shakers the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, marked a return to the early Italian Renaissance. By contrast their subject matter was radical and innovative.
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Shanghai Scenes
Explore the delights of the burgeoning Shanghai arts scene, including the visual arts music, dance and literature.
