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C W Cobbett's Wey DFAS is grateful for the support offered by The Farnham Herald. Please click on their logo below to visit their website. |
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“Let’s
talk of Graves, of Worms and Epitaphs” Jo Walton lecturer and guide for Tate Modern and The Tate chose this quote to be the title of her lecture on British Funeral Sculpture and the Making of History. She took us on a guided tour of Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s and showed us how funeral sculpture changed through the ages, giving fine examples of some exquisite work. In the 18th and 19th centuries having a memorial to you, kept you in the public eye after your demise. In our time ‘celebrity status’ is provided through the media, in earlier times sculpture was how you were epitomised. Many of the sculptures are beautiful and have interesting details within the monument, showing what the person being remembered had achieved. During the 1700’s when many of the well to do went on the ‘Grand Tour’ it became fashionable to have monuments carved in a Roman/Grecian way. Other fashions also followed. Westminster Abbey found that they could charge to have monuments to the aristocracy and innovative people, and this became a good way to get income to pay for the upkeep of the Abbey. St Paul’s eventually followed suit. In the 18th century people of the Arts were allowed to have monuments put in the Abbey to them, hence poet’s corner. The illustrations of the monuments were excellent, particularly the detail pictures. Many who attended will be taking a keener interest in tombs and monuments and the fine carving that is on them. The final lecture for this year is on Nov 23 at the earlier time of 19.30 ‘Victorian Christmas through the Magic Lantern. After the lecture seasonal refreshments will be served. CWDFAS is a member of NADFAS |
“Victorian Christmas through the Magic Lantern” Cobbett’s Wey Christmas lecture was a seasonal magic lantern show given by Phillip and Rosemary Banham based on a Magic Lantern programme from 1800 and using 2 lanterns. A mixture of beautiful hand-painted slides, painted onto glass slides no bigger than 3”, showed the most evocative and detailed scenes. Mr Banham said he was not entirely sure how the slides were painted in such detail. The performance went through series of slides that were of the same theme, or told a story. In addition to the exquisite painted slides, some early photographic slides were also shown, which were fascinating. To complete the magic of the presentation seasonal music and readings were used to illustrate the slides. At the end of the lecture Elisabeth Cort thanked Anne Vardon for instigating the setting up of the happy and sociable society and for her work as Chairman for the past two years. She was presented with honorary membership of the society, as a thank you for her great efforts. Anne Vardon thanked the committee and members of the society for their support and wished the society continued success. The festive mood continued as members enjoyed a glass of wine and mince pies, and time to chat with other members and guests who attended the lecture. GO TO PRESS ARCHIVE JUNE 2005 & SEPTEMBER 2005 GO TO PRESS ARCHIVE APRIL 2005 & MAY 2005 GO TO PRESS ARCHIVE FEBRUARY 2005 & MARCH 2005 GO TO PRESS ARCHIVE NOVEMBER 2004 & JANUARY 2005
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