Legendary stories behind iconic art: Art Appreciation 2025

Head to the Art Gallery of New South Wales for Art Appreciation 2025, a captivating lecture series uncovering the epic stories behind world-famous artworks.

Across three terms, our expert presenters delve into the context, creators, and cultural significance of iconic pieces, from Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper to Murakami’s The 500 Arhats and Caravaggio’s dramatic masterpieces.

Term 1: Lectures commence 5 February, running on Wednesdays and repeated on Thursdays.

1. Wednesday 5 February / Thursday 6 February: Annunciation with Saint Maxima and Saint Ansanus by Simone Martini and Lippo Memmi, presented by Louise Marshall

2. Wednesday 12 February / Thursday 13 February: Winged Victory of Samothrace, presented by Christopher Hartney

3. Wednesday 19 February / Thursday 20 February: The village festival by Claude Lorrain, presented by Jessica Priebe

4. Wednesday 26 February / Thursday 27 February: The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci

5. Wednesday 5 March / Thursday 6 March: Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci, presented by Jos Hackforth-Jones

6. Wednesday 12 March / Thursday 13 March: The miracle of the slave by Tintoretto, presented by Lorraine Kypiotis

7. Wednesday 19 March / Thursday 20 March: Conversion of Saint Paul by Caravaggio, presented by Michael Hill

8. Wednesday 26 March / Thursday 27 March: Marat assassiné by Jacques-Louis David, presented by Anne Gérard-Austin

9. Wednesday 2 April / Thursday 3 April: Views of Dresden and Pirna by Bernardo Bellotto, presented by David R Marshall

10. Wednesday 9 April / Thursday 10 April: Gandharan bust of Buddha, presented by Julian Droogan

11. Wednesday 30 April / Thursday 1 May: The flight into Egypt by Adam Elsheimer, presented by Lisa Beaven

12. Wednesday 7 May / Thursday 8 May: The Lictors bring to Brutus the bodies of his sons by Jacques-Louis David, presented by Mark Ledbury

• Wednesdays 6–7pm

• Thursdays 1–2pm

• Starting from $20