In 1782, Horace Walpole wrote a eulogy to a friend's poem: ".......Poetry, Painting and Gardening, or the science of Landscape, will forever, by men of Taste, be deemed Three Sisters, or the Three New Graces who dress and adorn Nature" *

The Lectures: Wear it - Carry it - Smell it - Floral decoration and symbolism in art from Ancient Egypt to the Victorians. We explore floral decoration and symbolism in art through the decorative use of cut plant material from the first pictorial references of the Ancient Egyptian wall paintings to the Victorians. We see how they were used in religious ceremonies and investigate the deep symbolism attached to different plants.; Going Dutch - The symbolism and historical development of Dutch and Flemish flower paintings from 1600 to 1800. We look at the background to this particularly fascinating period in art history and ask 'Why did they have so many great flower paintings?' - what were the social, financial and religious influences that prompted this movement. We investigate the symbolism of the plant material itself and the objects they included in the paintings and look at their beauty and lasting appeal.; A Love Affair - This lecture covers the history of gardens through art and society from the Nile to the Seine. We look at the history of gardens and garden design using paintings and photographs as a visual reference, looking at our love affair with the garden. The journey starts in Ancient Egypt, continuing with the Greeks and Romans, Monastic and Castle gardens, the Italian Renaissance, the Grand French Manner, to English Landscapes and Early Victorian, and ending in Monet's garden - a garden created by an artist for both practical and artistic reasons.; Green and Pleasant Land - This lecture covers the history and development of the British Garden. Starting in Roman times, the Monastic, Medieval and Castle gardens are studied, following the renaissance of gardens in Tudor times. Thence into the passion for gardening in the 17th century which led to the great landscape period and, finally on to the Victorian style and the 20th century.
The lecture is a study of the chronology of the development of the British passion for gardening.; The Renaissance Gardens of the Medici - Using Utens' fourteen Lunettes of the Medici villas and their gardens, the lecture looks in detail at the garden layout and design. We focus in particular on those features which had a major influence on the garden design mania which swept across Europe of the period, highlighting the impact of the extraordinary Medici family on the gardening world.; 'The Garden Girls' - Women have played a major part in the history of gardens from Lavinia's painted walls in her Roman Villa to the late Rosemary Verey. Design, the introduction of new species, artistic recording and the encouragement of others were all part of womens' contribution to gardening over the centuries. We will also consider the change in the social backgrounds of women gardeners from an early royal and aristocratic base to present day egality.; The Chateaux of the Loire - The royal, artistic and historical influences and the personalities are explored in a journey through the Loire. We look at a selection of the beautiful Chateaux and their historical background, from the castles of the 11th century through the great expansion of chateau building of the 15th and 16th centuries.; The Gardens of the Chateaux of the Loire - We see how gardens explain socio-historical change from the 14th to the 16th centuries from the Plaisance to Renaissance periods. This lecture looks at the history of the Loire Valley - its rise and fall in importance in French history and the gardens which developed with these historical influences, the Castle and Chateau gardens.; Acres for the Millions - This lecture covers the story of Victorian city parks and gardens, exploring the social, financial and historical references. We look at the development of 'Parks for the People' - what started the idea of parks? What were the social, financial and environmental reasons? Who led the movement and who designed and built the parks that have become one of our great national institutions?; The Greenhouse - This lecture looks at the development of greenhouses and conservatories from their early beginnings in Roman times, their rebirth in the Italian Renaissance - the journey through Europe to Britain and into the 'Golden Age' of design and building. We consider the botanical, political, historical and social influences that affected their development?; The Tradescants - Plant, Art Collectors and Gardeners of the 17th Century - The Tradescants played a major role in the renaissance of British Gardening in the 17th Century. We consider the father and son team and what they achieved as nurserymen, garden designers and plant hunters. As art collectors they established in their home the ARK gallery, which formed the basis for the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.; Towards the Emerging Landscape - the Design, Development and Consequences of the Great British Style of Gardens of the 18th Century - What was the British Landscape design of the 18th century? Who and what were the major influences in the development of this style of garden and what were its consequences?; Follies - A Folly is a misunderstood building. The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary defines a folly as "A name given to any costly structure considered to have shown folly in the builder".
They are found the world over, but the British were the first to recognise their worth and importance. Some are serious, some sad and some very over-the-top but, mostly, they are fun, and wonderful examples of British eccentricity. In this lecture, we look back to their early origins and examine the influences.which led to their popularity in the eighteenth century, and their particular importance in the History of Garden Design and Architecture.
Study Days: The aim of the Study Day is to work with a small group of members(30-60) to look at a subject in greater depth than would be possible in a one hour lecture, and to provide members with opportunities to study original material.

* From "Horace Walpole ; Gardenist" by Isabel Chase, Princeton Press 1943