Saturday, 13 July 2019 at 12:00 pm – Saturday, 13 July 2019 at 2:00 pm

Re-enactment of Ruskin's famous Lecture - "The Accumulation and Distribution of Art"

Manchester Art Gallery | Saturday 13 July 2019, 12pm–2pm | FREE, booking required here.

Actor and art historian Paul O’Keeffe recreates the second of John Ruskin’s famous two lectures.

In July 1857 John Ruskin delivered A Joy Forever, two lectures in Manchester presented over two evenings. These lectures, sub-titled ‘The Discovery and Application of Art’ and ‘The Accumulation and Distribution of Art’ will be re-enacted at The Portico Library and Manchester Art Gallery respectively during the Ruskin in Manchester festival.

A Joy Forever coincided with the spectacular ‘Art Treasures of Great Britain’ exhibition at Old Trafford. A collection of over 16,000 works of art, it was the largest exhibition ever held in this country and possibly the world. Far from congratulating the organisers on their ambitious enterprise, Ruskin’s theme was political economy.

Ruskin’s second lecture argued against national insularity. Speaking at a time of warfare and revolution in Europe Ruskin reminded his audience that they had just as much responsibility for safeguarding the treasures of Verona, as the treasures accumulated in Manchester.

These special events will be performed by actor and art historian, Paul O’Keefe, two of the most important architectural treasures remaining from Georgian Manchester.

The Portico will give the first lecture a striking period atmosphere, while Manchester Art Gallery’s Athenaeum will give the second audience a flavour of the original location for Ruskin’s lectures and the artwork Ruskin was responding to. These events offer two different yet apt immersive experiences.

Thanks to Ruskin and Manchester, Guild of St. George and Manchester Metropolitan University for making these events possible. Please book each lecture through the relevant venue.

Speaking at a time of warfare and revolution in Europe Ruskin reminded his audience that they had just as much responsibility for safeguarding the treasures of Verona, as the treasures accumulated in Manchester.

This is the second of two lectures, performed at Manchester Art Gallery.

Part of the ” Get Together and Get things done” exhibition

http://manchesterartgallery.org/exhibitions-and-events/exhibition/gettogether/