In 1897, Klimt , a well established academic painter , found himself leading the Secession, a breakaway group of artists who embraced progresive ideas and sought artistic freedom. Their manifesto, 'To each age its Art, to Art its freedom',was inscribed above the door of the Secession Building where the very latest modern art was shown. Paintings by Klimt and Schiele shocked and dismayed the Viennese. Their paintings can be mysterious and fascinating. Yet we are fascinated by the images , as we are by the man himself , Klimt's obsessions spilled over into real life

From the late twentieth century onwards , glass gas become very diverse. But it is rare to find galleries hosting exhibitions devoted to these new trends. 

This lecture offers an indepth introduction to the work of three very different artists , Dale Chihuly, James Maskrey and Anthony Amoako Attah, all of whom have worked for Londons V&A. The stunning glass they produce gives us the opporunity to admire the incredible skill, innovative applications of traditional and contemporary techniques 

How do dealers , auctoneers and museum staff determine whether a piece is by one painter or another? What role does the signature play, and what are the key clues to look for when deciding who painted the picture.How can we study the different workshops productions, distinguishing betweeen master and pupil/ copyists ?We consider clues, weigh up their relative usefulness and learn some of the tricks. At the end of the lecture you can try out identifying artists 

The Christmas story is beautifully illustrated through Italian Art. This talk visist some of the most stunning nativity paintings including The Anuncaitionby Fra Angelico and Fabriano'.s Adoration of the Magi

On 8th DEcember Italians construct a 'presepio' ( crib ). These vary from tiny to enormous . Sometimes models of contemporary life are included which can be comical. This will put us in a wonderful Christmas mood. 

This charts the development of furniture making in Scotalnd with special reference to objects made or used in Ayrshire: from the richly carved work of the 17thC to the factories of Beith, Dalry and Lochwinnoch. Touching also on Dumfries House , Darvel chairs and the Eglinton Tournament. Stephen Jackson is Senior curator for Furniture and woodwork at the National Museums Scotland

Before the British arrived in India the Indian subcontinent was ruled by the Mughal Emperors .The stunning buildings and gardens they constructed from the 16th to 18thC left an indelible stamp on India's architectural and cultural landscape. From the Jama Masjid in Delhi, to the Taj Mahal in Agra , to the Shalimar Gradns in Lahore , we tour some of India's greatest buildings , and provide insight into the historical contexts and personalities involved in their construction

The late Queen Mother had access to jewels designated Heirlooms of the Crown plus her own spectacular collection: giving her so much jewllery to choose from that its almost impossible to describe it all. This gives us a selection of items of particular gemmological and historical significance and an intriguing story attached 

This scandalous and sometimes vicious painter produced work with cinematic compositions and intensely visceral details.His extraordinary life is seen through his works,establishing his motives and methods, including the glorious Taking of Christ, the outrageous Love Conquers All, and the  emotive Martyrdom of St Ursula. caravaggio was a master of painting yet also master of his own downfall, yet hugely influenced the generation who followed.

The Heidelberg School shelters under its own unique umbrella taking their academic influences equally from the Royal Academy School in London and the French impressionists . Key membes were Tom Roberts , Arthur Streeeton, Frederick McCubbin and Charles Condor whose art evoled from the informal, evocative and naturistic to nationists expression. In 1901 McCubbin bought a property whose surroundings became inspiration for his best known works, and named it Fontainebleau.

The multifaceted Ukrainian story told through the shared culture which binds diverse peoples togther, including the the sacred art and architecture of Kyiv inherited from Byzantium , the rich legacy of the Cossacks , and a treasury of poetry , painting and song.Folk culture was important before Ukraine' emergence as a nation and the country's remarkable embroidery tradition , which had a surprsinng influence on avant- garde art.