Orchardson’s engaging works such as ‘Le Mariage de Convenance’ in Kelvingrove, brought him considerable critical success and ensured his reputation as an outstanding Scottish painter of contemporary and historical subjects. He avoided the detailed crowded compositions, favoured by many of his Victorian peers, instead concentrating on pertinent characterisation, harmonious arrangements and a distinctive technique admired by both Whistler and Degas. This talk will explore a selection of Orchardson’s paintings focusing on examples in public collections in Scotland.
Ailsa Turner retired two years ago after seventeen years as a tutor in Art History for the University of Glasgow’s Short Courses (Life-Long Learning) programme. Ailsa provided courses and specialist study days on Renaissance Art and Architecture, 17th Century Dutch and Flemish Painting, Spanish and Scottish Painting. Ailsa is a graduate of the Courtauld Institute of Art and before moving to Glasgow with her family was a full-time lecturer for ten years in the education department of the National Gallery in London. Her married name is Ailsa Bhattacharya but Ailsa continued to work as Ailsa Turner, enjoying the fact she shares the surname of a famous artist!
