About
One of our aims when we were founded 200 years ago was to give young artists the opportunity to learn from the art of the past. David Hockney acknowledges this debt in his 1977 painting, 'My Parents', in which the eponymous subjects sit on either side of a mirror – a composition not entirely unlike that of 'The Arnolfini Portrait'.
Reflected in the mirror of the painting, we see Piero della Francesca’s 'Baptism of Christ'. However, the history of the painting suggests another missing presence, and an identification of Hockney with the art of the past. This two-hour session will explore the paintings in the upcoming exhibition to discover the debt which Hockney owed to older generations in terms of both family and ‘friends’ - his favourites among the Gallery’s own collection.
Your Tutor
Dr Richard Stemp studied at Clare College, Cambridge, completing a PhD on 15th-century sculpture from Ferrara. He has worked as a lecturer at the National Gallery for over 25 years, and lectures at Tate, the Wallace Collection, the Royal Academy and the V&A in London, and across Europe for Art History Abroad. He has written books on the Italian Renaissance and churches and cathedrals and has written and presented two series for Channel 4 on art at the National Gallery and Tate Modern. He shares his time between art and acting.
Watch again
Can't make Monday afternoon but don't want to miss out? No problem, you can watch again.
This session will be recorded and made available to you for one week.
A video of the lecture will be uploaded and available for you to watch via your National Gallery account by Wednesday afternoon. Just be sure to watch it by the following Wednesday lunchtime, as it will be taken down on Wednesday afternoon.
Hockney's heritage: Parents, Piero and other pictures
Enrol
Standard: £12.50
Concessions: £11.75
Please book a ticket to access the event. You will receive an E-ticket with instructions on how to access your online events, films and resources via your National Gallery account.
Please note, only one ticket can be booked per account. Bookings close ten minutes before the event.
Concessions are for full-time students, jobseekers, and disabled adults.