Art Course at Chelsea Heritage Quarter
Join us at Chelsea Heritage Quarter for our first-ever short course exploring 17th-century art through the collections of our partner heritage sites.
About the event
The 17th century was a pivotal moment in the development of art, with many recognisable artists working during this period. It saw the intense development of key genres such as portraiture, botanical art, and landscape across Europe and beyond. This course aims to trace those developments across different styles and media, drawing on examples from partner heritage collections.
Participants will have a unique opportunity to view works that are rarely seen by the public, and to learn directly from curators and specialists working with these collections.
Course structure
Lecture one: An overview of 17th-century art
Dr Thomas Balfe from the Warburg Institute
(held at Chelsea Physic Garden)
In this introductory lecture, Dr Balfe will trace the history and development of 17th-century art and its core genres. Drawing on examples from London collections, he will provide a clear foundation for understanding the styles, techniques, and historical context of the period.
Lecture two: Botanical art at Chelsea Physic Garden
Dr Rosalind Lintott, volunteer at Chelsea Physic Garden will explore the rise and popularity of botanical illustration in the 17th century, a period which saw a significant expansion of the genre across the world. The lecture will draw on material from the Garden’s collection that is not accessible to visitors.
Following the first two lectures, there will be an opportunity to have lunch at Chelsea Physic Garden and to explore the Garden before travelling on to the National Army Museum (4-minute walk).
Lecture three: Civil War art at the National Army Museum
Curators from the National Army Museum will introduce Civil War paintings, focusing primarily on portraits of military leaders from both sides of the conflict. The session will examine what these images represented and their role within the visual culture of the period, followed by a guided visit to the galleries to view works from the museum’s collection.
Tour of the State Apartments at the Royal Hospital Chelsea
The final part of the course is a guided tour of the State Apartments at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a rarely seen part of the Hospital that is typically closed to the public. The Apartments once served as a meeting place for the monarch and showcase the architectural genius of Christopher Wren.
Inside, participants will see the Great Peece, the monumental portrait of Charles I and his family painted by Van Dyck and his studio, alongside other works by prominent 17th-century artists and studios. This session will explore the shared visual language of portraiture in the period and consider the role of studios in 17th-century artistic production. The Apartments also feature remarkable carvings and plasterwork. The tour will be led by a Chelsea Pensioner, who will also introduce the history of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Exact timings will be released soon, though we anticipate a 10am start. There will be opportunities to ask questions throughout each talk.
This short course offers a rare chance to gain an overview of the artistic developments of the 17th century while engaging directly with collections from three historic institutions within Chelsea Heritage Quarter. The course is suitable for art enthusiasts with an interest in art history and no prior academic experience is required.
Tickets for this first course are limited to 20 so book soon to avoid disappointment!
If you have any questions about the course, please email programme@chelseaheritagequarter.co.uk.