Talk-Through the Looking Glass: Mirrors and Reflections in Art @ NG + CSC Social

Let's visit the National Gallery for a lunchtime talk: Through the looking glass: Mirrors and reflections in art.

They say: Join Art Historian, Sian Walters for a lunchtime lecture in our recently reopened Pigott Theatre exploring the representation of mirrors and reflections in art.
About: Throughout the history of art, painters have used reflections in a variety of ways: to portray a sitter from different angles or convey a moral message; or simply as a vehicle for technical proficiency in order to demonstrate the artist’s skill. A mirror could symbolise vanity and narcissism, but also prudence, truth or purity. How can we learn how to 'read' mirrors in paintings?
Join lecturer Siân Walters as we decipher a number of intriguing examples in the Gallery, from paintings such as 'The Rokeby Venus' and 'The Arnolfini Portrait', to lesser-known masterpieces by Pieter Codde, Luca Giordano and Valdés Leal.

After the talk, we'll seek out the 'real deal' paintings as portrayed in the galleries!!!

The Tutor: Siân Walters is an art historian and the director of Art History in Focus. She studied at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge and has been a lecturer at the National Gallery for over 20 years. She also studied at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena.
Her specialist areas of research are Italian painting, Spanish art and architecture, Flemish and Dutch painting and the relationship between dance and art. Siân also lectures for the Wallace Collection and the Arts Society and leads specialist art tours abroad. She was a lecturer at Surrey University for many years and has lived and worked in France and Italy.
Siân is currently writing a book for the National Gallery on still life paintings in the collection.

Note: Whilst I have booked entry tickets to the gallery. Places for the talk are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Therefore, promptness on the day is imperative...
BTW - we get to go through the new Sainsbury Wing entrance.

After this, I will take us along to The Civil Service Club in Great Scotland Yard which is a unique organisation in a special building at the historic heart of government in Whitehall. Upon her accession to the throne in 1952, Her Majesty The Queen made the premises available to the Club to provide 'a social facility within the reach of all.’ Today the Club is thriving as never before, with more than 12,000 members and a mission true to its original founding.
I am a member and I have booked tables for us. Therefore, it is important to keep your RSVP up to date, especially if there's a waiting list. Our tables are booked for 15:00 hrs.
Here's a link to view the menu:
[[[CSC-Bar-Menu-Jan-2025.pdf](http://csc-bar-menu-jan-2025.pdf/)](http://csc-bar-menu-jan-2025.pdf/)](https://www.civilserviceclub.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/CSC-Bar-Menu-Jan-2025.pdf)
Drinks are reasonably priced too...

The Meetup fee for this event is £4.00 – which is payable on the day.
I will meet you by the exit of Charing Cross Train Station, underneath the canopy facing The Strand.
Please keep an eye out for the Meetup sign. If you do not see us please call/text me on: 0739 623 3874 – text is best! - psssst! Don't forget to say your name in the message. However, before sending any message please check the site in case I have added an update.
Please be aware that I cannot take calls/answer messages once the event has started.

Hope to see lots of you there :)

NB. As usual there will be others coming along from my other Meetup family ;)