Review of the Lecture

Our lecture on Thursday 19th February was on Eduard Manet and Music.  Manet was one of the originators of Impressionism, and was well-embedded in the nineteenth century artistic milieu in Paris.  As well as painting, he was part of the set which reinvented many arts such as theatre and literature, as well as all types of music.  He married his father's music teacher, who was herself a talented musician.  Some of his early paintings were of her at her piano.  It was also a time of great upheaval in France, with much reordering of Paris by Baron Haussmann, who created the wine boulevards that are such a feature of Paris today.  This caused much disruption, and Manet painted many of those displaced, both poor French people and gypsies, many of them street musicians.  After the disastrous defeat of France by the Prussians in 1870, and then the bloody end of the Paris Commune in 1871, Manet concentrated on paintings of musical soirees and still lives involving musical instruments. 

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Manet's pictures of musicians and their audiences range from major early canvases depicting itinerant gypsy musicians and Spanish dancers, through to paintings encompassing the full range of Parisian musical culture, from private performances to street entertainment, café concerts and the Paris Opera.

Suzanne Leenhoff was a gifted pianist, who joined the regular musical soirées that were held at the Manet family home.

Manet also designed cover illustrations for music composed by his friends.

TASH Members & their Guests Only.  Arrive early to enjoy drinks, lunch and great company.

TIMINGS: Morning Lecture & Online @ 10:45 / Afternoon Lecture @ 14:15.