(RADFAS)

Welcome to the RADFAS Webpage

RADFAS is a member of the National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS) and was founded over 30 years ago.

RADFAS meets monthly for lectures on a wide range of decorative and arts subjects. Speakers are all specialists in their field and have won acclaim nationally & internationally. Apart from lectures, we also arrange outings of interest to our members and have a successful Church Recording Group, presently recording St. James Church, Ansty.

RADFAS meet at The Benn Hall on the 4th Thursday of the month nine times a year. Doors open at 7.30pm, to enable members and guests to meet and enjoy a glass of wine or soft drink prior to the lecture at 8pm.

Lectures:

Date
Lecture Title
Lecturer
27th October '05 The Architecture of India
The Imperial Legacy
The history of India from it's early origins through to the British Empire.		 Dennis Moriarty MA Oxon
24th November '05 The Story of Jade
'The Stone of Heaven'
The uses of Jade in ornaments, mansions and palaces.		 Hanna Sutcliffe BA(Hons) FRSA
15th December '05 Marie de Medici
Her life by Paul Rubens
This lecture illustrates how Rubens represented her life when decorating the gallery of her new palace..		 John Travis BA MA
26th January '06

Samuel Pepys and his Diary
The lecture will be fully illustrated by readings from The Diary and with a recording of Pepys' music together with a wide range of slides.

 Geoffrey Toms MA Cantab
A lecturer in the history & archaeology of London and the Eastern Mediterranean. Head of Education, Museum of London 1968-94.
23rd February '06 Victoria & Albert
This lecture will consider the lives of both Albert & Victoria and the influences they had on taste, the arts and the family over a sixty year period. 		Dr Anne Anderson BAPhD FSA
Senior lecturer in the History of Art and Design at the Southampton institute. She was a professional archaeologist for 8 years before her interest shifted to the world of antiques and auctioneering. She currently appears as an antiques expert on the BBC's 'Flog It'.
23rd March '06 Laos: The Art of Luang Prabang
32 glittering Buddhist temples covered in frescoes & gold leaf, dating back to the 14th century. The legacy of French colonial architecture and dazzling silk weaving.		 Denise Heywood BA FRGS
An arts journalist, and lectures to The British Museum, universities and Royal Geographical Societies. Has spent 3 years in Cambodia.
27th April '06 Pearls Before Swine
The Story of a Royal Necklace
The history of a magnificent pearl necklace beginning as a wedding present from Pope Clement VII to his niece, Catherine de Medici thence to Mary Queen of Scots, on to Queen Elizabeth and finally to Queen Elizabeth II.		 Mrs Jane Kelsall BA Hons
Lecturer and Cathedral guide at St Albans. Guidebook author.
25th May '06 Treasures and Curiosities from the Royal Library Windsor Castle.
The lecture gives a tour of the Library similar to that experienced by the Queen's guests. Treasures to be found in the Library include rare books & manuscripts drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Holbein and others, jewellery, miniature paintings, clocks etc. etc.		 Oliver Everett
Librarian Emeritus of the Royal Library, Windsor Castle. Wrote the official guide book to Windsor Castle. Assistant Private Secretary to Prince Charles and to Princess Diana.
     
28th September '06

AGM 7.30pm

Henry Purcell - Music & Art in Restoration
Considered by many to be England's greatest composer, Purcell lived through plague, fire, political and religious turmoil. The lecture illustrates, with extracts of his music, Purcell's place in this historic context; together with the influences of contemporary painting and architecture.

 Denise Moriarty MB Oxon
Lecturer, author & arts tour director. Formerly TV producer with the BBC, including 'Face the Music'.
26th October '06 Contemporary Silver
It's Development in the 20th Century
This lecture uses silver, housed at the Hall of The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, to illustrate the development and creative vitality of design and craftmanship in silver throughout the 20th Century.		 Rosemary Ransome Wallis BA Hons FRSA FR
Curator of collections of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. Advisor to the Silver Trust for Downing Street, Freeman City of London and Liveryman of the Goldsmiths'.
23rd November '06 The Rise & Fall of the English Music Hall
This fully illustrated lecture will explore the history of the music hall and how it illustrates social history and architecture.		 Andrew Davies MA Hons Oxon
Extra-mural tutor for London, Essex & The Open University. Author of 9 books. Frequent contributor to radio & TV.
14th December '06 The Paintings of Murillo:
A Reflection of Life in 17th Century Seville
Born in 1617 Murillo remained in Seville for most of his working life. His paintings tell us of the religious climate and documents tell us about society and everyday life at the time. The lecture compares the artist with Zurbaran & Velazquez.		 Sian Walters MA (Cantab)
Miss Walters has lived in France & Italy where she worked for the Haydn Scholar H.C. Robbins Landon and for the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice. Much of her year is spent leading art history tours abroad. Her specialist areas are 15th and 16th Century Italian and Spanish art.

Subscription per year is £30.
Non-members and guests are very welcome, entrance fee £5.

CONTACTS: Penny Grimwood, Membership Secretary Tel: 01455 556388 e-mail: penny.grimwood@talk21.com