Whistler – A Butterfly with a Sting in its Tail.

Whistler – A Butterfly with a Sting in its Tail.

Whistler could be both exasperating and enchanting at the same time. Accounts describe him as arrogant, pugnacious and difficult. Even he acknowledged this, calling his autobiography ‘The Gentle Art of Making Enemies’.

His paintings were as delicate as his personality was aggressive. Influenced by the Art for Art’s Sake movement, he aspired to a style of painting inspired by musical composition, calling his paintings Nocturnes, Arrangements or Harmonies. His best paintings shimmer with colour and emotion.

This talk will explore a selection of his works, including the work at the centre of one of the most scandalous legal trials in Art History. Expect some fireworks!

For more information visit www.stellagracelyons.co.uk

Stella Grace Lyons is a freelance Art History lecturer, speaker and writer accredited with The Arts Society. She has lectured across the UK, Ireland, Spain, Norway, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Malaysia and will soon embark on a lecturing tour in Australasia.

Stella gained her BA in the History of Art with a 1st class in her dissertation from the University of Bristol (2007-2011), and her MA in History of Art from the University of Warwick.

She spent a year studying Renaissance art in Italy at the British Institute of Florence, and three months studying Venetian art in Venice. In addition, she attended drawing classes at the prestigious Charles H. Cecil studios in Florence, a private atelier that follows a curriculum based on the leading ateliers of nineteenth century Paris.

Stella runs her own Art History lectures and is a regular lecturer in the UK and Europe for The Arts Society, ACE Cultural Tours, Hebridean Island Cruises, Saga’s Art Appreciation Tours, and the National Trust, amongst others. Stella is also a part-time lecturer for the University of South Wales.

She has written about art for several publications and her article on Norwegian art was recently featured on the front cover of the Arts Society Magazine. In addition to her lecturing work, Stella works as an artist’s model for the internationally renowned figurative artist, Harry Holland.