Petit-maîtres: Schall, Huet, Leclerc and others

The next lecture in the Gallery’s Wednesday Lecture series will be held on 10 February at 19:30. The guest lecturer will be Alastair Laing, Art Historian, recently retired as Curator of Pictures and Sculpture at the National Trust.

Why should a work by the hand of Boucher be considered so superior to the fine draftsmanship and translucent hues of a watercolour by Schall or Huet? Dedicated to the less-known but particularly talented artists of the Rococo period, this talk will unveil hidden facets of the art of the 18th century French school. The engaging play of words of the title –where the title petit-maîtres alludes both to the ‘lesser masters’ and to the literary use of the term to refer to the pretentious young dandies of the age– highlights the spirit of the Rococo, reflected in the often piquant or risqué subject-matter of imagery, which will also come into the discussion.

The lecture will be delivered in English, and seating is limited. To reserve a place, please call 22668838, Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00 or email [email protected] by Monday 8 February.