Women artists of the Victorian era
The St Petersburg University representative office in Spain invites you to an online lecture titled "Women artists of the Victorian era", dedicated to the British women of the 19th century who laid the groundwork for various future developments in art. The lecture will be delivered by Nina Shcherbak, a candidate in philology.
During the lecture, we will discuss:
Margaret and Frances Macdonald Mackintosh, Scottish artists and designers associated with the Glasgow School. Their style was characterised by delicate ornamentation, elegant lines, symbolism and mythological motifs. The sisters’ work often included figurative imagery, abstract forms and ornamental elements, blending nature with fantasy. The artists used a variety of techniques, from painting to textiles and ceramics, and their works, rich in allegory, mystery and a unique sense of beauty, stand out in contemporary art.
Lucy Madox Brown, the daughter of the renowned Pre-Raphaelite Ford Madox Brown, worked within the Pre-Raphaelite movement, which is reflected in her detailed and symbolic approach to painting. The style of the artist, whose first solo exhibition took place in 1869, was characterised by meticulous detail, vibrant, rich colours, and an attention to historical and literary themes. Her works often feature strong female figures, and the compositions are filled with complex symbolism. In addition to painting, Lucy also worked in illustration and decorative arts.
British artist Emma Sandys was also associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Emma’s work was characterised by rich colours and a focus on the beauty of the female form. Sandys often depicted women with soft, idealised features surrounded by complex decorative elements such as flowers, fabrics and symbolic attributes. Her paintings combined romantic and symbolic motifs, giving the works an atmosphere of dreaminess and mystery typical of the Pre-Raphaelites.
During our lecture you will learn about the most famous paintings and popular models who posed for Victorian era artists, as well as why the reception of their works «on the continent» was not always straightforward.
Lecturer
Nina Shcherbak is an Associate Professor in the Department of English Philology and Cultural Linguistics at St Petersburg University, Master of Arts (UK), author and screenwriter. She is also a scriptwriter for science television programmes and the author of fifteen monographs and books on linguistics, literature, philosophy of language and English literature.
The lecture will be held as part of the events to mark the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University, the oldest university in Russia. The meeting will be held online in Russian with simultaneous translation into Spanish.