An illustrated talk on a celebrated Christmas masterpiece by Nick Nelson Tuesday 12th December 7pm at The Cotswold Grange Hotel Pittville Circus Rd, Cheltenham GL52 2QH
Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s ‘Hunters in the Snow’ of 1565
The basis for this quintessentially Christmas scene is, in fact, the labours of the months, as commissioned by an Antwerp banker Nicolaes Jonghelinck, and more specifically December to January. Netherlandish artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s Northern Renaissance genre scene illustrates the paucity of the hunt, and the hunters’ slumped demeanour is indicative of that. In 1565, the year the artist captured this evocative scene, a huge snowfall was recorded, and the year was hailed the ‘Little Ice Age’ leading to 250 years of cold. More obliquely, the artist alludes to the fact that the Netherlands was in a political war through Spanish occupation – a Cold War in effect. This in turn led to the Eighty Years’ War until 1648 when the Dutch gained independence from the Habsburg Netherlands. More colloquially, various wintry activities ensue in the midground, and daily routines are undertaken in miniature form, possibly alluding to Netherlandish proverbs of the time.
Nick will endeavour to bring this winter wonderland to life over a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. There will also be an information update on a new and exciting Arcadia initiative, a London galleries trip scheduled for February 2024.
Mulled wine and mince pies will be included. £15per person. To book your ticket, detailing name/s and number of tickets: email: nick@arcadia.education
