VANBRUGH 300 - LECTURE SERIES

As part of year-long tercentary celebrations a series of free lectures will be presented at six of Sir John Vanbrugh's most memorable creations; Blenheim Palace, Castle Howard, Grimsthorpe Castle, Kimbolton Castle, Seaton Delaval and Stowe House.

The first lecture begins on 7 May at Blenheim with Lady Henrietta Spencer Churchill, and the series runs through until 8 October 2026.

Vanbrugh300 Lectures | The Georgian Group

A Virtual Experience - Blenheim Palace

On carousel (image copyright The Georgian Group & Blenheim Palace)

Blenheim Palace (built 1705-22)  - interior - saloon

THE ARBUTURIAN

IN BLOOM: HOW PLANTS CHANGED OUR WORLD

Published 6 April 2026 online in The Arbuturian, a review of a major exhibition at The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 'In Bloom: How Plants Chnged Our World'.

A spectacular show.

Read it here:

In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World | The Arbuturian

On carousel: 

Floregium, commissioned by Mary Somerset, 1703 in bound volume with watercolour on paper. (detail)

Portrait of John Tradescant the Elder (1638-65) attributed to Emanuel de Cris (1608-65) - detail.

Both images copyright The Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, 2026

THE NEW WORLD

INSIDE THE HEAD OF KANDINSKY - THE MAN WHO HEARD COLOUR

At Lille Metropole Musee d'art moderne (LaM), Lille, France, a new exhibition explores Kandinsky's radical transformation from law professor to abstract art rebel.

Read it in The New World, latest issue 477, pp. 34-35, 2 April 2026

Link: 

https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/rosalind-ormiston-inside-the-head-of-kandinsky-the-man-who-heard-colour/?utm_campaign=e3d78db2-1665-41c4-8a42-9bf5f7965029&utm_source=1234571

On carousel:

Extract from issue 477, p.35: Inside the Head of Kandinsky - the man who heard colour'. Image courtesy and copyright, The New World, 2026

Installation photograph: Kandinsky face aux Images gallery, at Lille Metropole Musee d'art moderne (LaM), Lille, France, image copyright LaM, 2026.

THE ARBUTURIAN

METAMORPHOSES AT THE RIJKSMUSEUM, AMSTERDAM

Metamorphoses, a spectacular exhibition at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam with paintings, sculptures, drawings and tapestries, film and photography, exploring the myths and stories of gods, goddesses and mortals, inspired by the Roman poet Ovid's Metamorphoses narrative. The exhibition is a must-see, for the remakable works on display.

Read about it in The Arbuturian online

https://www.arbuturian.com/culture/art/metamorphoses-at-the-rijksmuseum-amsterdam

On carousel:

 - Juul Kraijer, SPAWN, 2019. Courtesy of Juul Kraijer studio, 2026

- Metamorphosis, Bernini  - photo copyright Anne Galbraith, Rijksmuseum, 2026

THE ARBUTURIAN

CATHERINE OPIE:TO BE SEEN, NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON

A powerful retrospective of the work of American photographer Catherine Opie, is on now at the National Portrait Gallery. Before heading to see it, read this review in The Arbuturian.

Catherine Opie: To Be Seen | The Arbuturian

On carousel:

Self-portrait By Catherine Opie, 1970 (© Catherine Opie)

AB101 Demonstration, by Catherine Opie, 1991. (© Catherine Opie 2026)