A bright spot on a dull Monday

To Lavenham on a gloomy Monday morning to attend the first of Hugh Belsey's spring lectures on Art History.

This year Hugh is focussing on a masterpiece a week until the middle of March.  The paintings are billed as key works in the history of art.  The first offering was Piero de Francesco's enigmatic work 'The Flagellation of Christ', reproduced above, painted in 1440 or thereabouts.

Not just a stunning picture, and lesson in the theory of perspective, the work is split into two distinct halves. Art historians have spent decades discussing what the picture means.  Of particular interest and mystery are the three characters standing to the right.

Hugh rehearsed the different theories and gave us many interesting historical and aesthetic insights.  Spending an hour with this wonderful painting certainly perked up what might otherwise have been a gloomy post Christmas January morning.

Hugh continues his series next week when he will be focussing on The Ghent Altarpiece by Van Eyke. The talks are held every Monday morning at 11.15 a.m. at the Guildhall. (£9 per ticket to include coffee and congenial pre and post lecture conversation.)  Seats are limited so if you are interested be sure to arrive promptly.  There is no lecture on 11th February.