Complete History of Activities

1994

April
Barrow Record Office to view Romney sketchbooks.
October
1st Memorial Lecture Patricia Jaffe: Imagination’s Journey, Drawings of George Romney.
November
Levens Hall - An evening with Peter de Wint, talk by Richard Wood of Usher Art Gallery, Lincoln.

1995

January
Abbot Hall, David Cross: George Romney -Patterns of Friendship.
February
Helsfell House. Wine and cheese, plus exhibition of works owned by members of the Society.
March
Walker Art Gallery; Talk by Alex Kidson on Reynolds, Gainsborough and Romney. Also viewed 18 Romney cartoons.
April
Kirkland Hall. AGM followed by Andrew White (Lancaster Museum) on Kendal and Lancaster in the 18th Century.
June
Arniston House - Outing by coach.
September
Brewery Theatre - Dr. Saumarez Smith, National Portrait Gallery lectured on Images of the Artist: Romney and the 18th Century Self Portraits. 2nd Memorial Lecture.
October
Abbot Hall. Presentation of the re-arranged Romney portraits and drawings.
November
Levens Hall - An evening of 18th Century music.

1996

February
Villiers Barn - Social evening to view pictures owned by Margaret Cutress.
March
Abbot Hall. Mary Burkett talk on Christopher Steel.
March
National Portrait Gallery. Visit to see paintings and talk by Elizabeth Allen on George Romney.
April
Kirkland Hall - AGM followed by Professor Philip Edwards talk on the Image of Shakespeare in Romney’s time.
June
Tour of Romney’s sites in Furness using private cars.
September
Abbot Hall. 3rd Annual Memorial Lecture Alex Kidson, George Romney and Sir Joshua Reynolds – The Anatomy of Rivalry.
November
Dallam Tower - Viewing paintings followed by ‘Grace and Favour’, an entertainment of the 18th Century words and music.

1997

January
Oddfellows Gallery - Social Evening.
March
Heaves Hotel. Dr. Aileen Ribeiro talk on fashion in the 18th Century Portraiture.
April
Kirkland Hall - AGM followed by David Cross on Romney the Proto Romantic.
June
Visit to Cambridge 12th-15th by coach.
September
Kirkland Hall - Jane Wallis, Derby Art Gallery, talk on Wright of Derby.
October
Shakespeare Centre - Dr. Martin Postle Director of University of Delaware’s London programme, talk on ‘Romney’s Grand Tour’ 4th Memorial Lecture.
November
Levens Hall, Music for a Winter Evening by the Saskia Trio.
December
Shakespeare Centre. Extraordinary - General Meeting to endorse a new constitution.

1998

January
Helsfell House. Social Evening with some Romney drawings on display.
February
Armitt Trust. Visit to see new library and etchings led by David Cross.
March
Shakespeare Centre. Mary Burkett talk on West Cumbria Artists.
April
Heaves Hotel. AGM followed by dramatised readings, music and song entitled ‘Your Obedient Servant’ produced by Jeanette Barnes. Original selection of letters by Barry Maclean-Eltham.
June
Bath visit by coach 12th-15th.
July
Scar Brae. Strawberry Tea.
October
Shakespeare Centre - Jacob Simon, National Portrait Gallery, on the Art of Picture Frame 5th Memorial Lecture.
November
Xmas Party - (bring an 18th-type object) at the home of Dr and Mrs Tower.
Visit to Washington D.C., USA to view Romney exhibition.

1999

January
Soiree at Sizergh Castle on Twelfth Night.
March 22nd
AGM at Shakespeare Centre. Talk by Ivan Day on Dining with Romney.
July 1st-4th
Visit to Oxford by coach.
July 10th
Strawberry tea at Scar Brae.
September 9th
Visit to Judge’s Lodgings Lancaster.
Oct 29th
6th Annual Memorial Lecture: Dr. Aileen Ribeiro: Muses & Mythology.
Nov 18th
Evening at Levens Hall Quartet from RNCM & dinner.

2000

February 24th
Evening at the Brockbanks’ home: 18th century paintings theme.
March 16th
AGM followed by Yvonne Romney Dixon : Romney as a Draughtsman.
May 11st
Launch of a Striking Likeness, the biography of Romney by David Cross at Dallam Tower.
May 18th
Lecture by Elizabeth Barker: ‘Candlelight Paintings’. 7th Memorial lecture.
June 1- 4th
Visit to Dublin by coach and ferry.
June 24th
Strawberry Tea at Scar Brae, Levens.
July 6th
Coach trip to Lichfield.
September 13th
Lecture by David Cross: Romney, Romance & Revolution. Heron Theatre.
October 19th
Lecture by John Murdoch : RA Summer Shows: 1780-1837.

2001

January
Dinner at the Brewery with Kendal Madrigal singers & Hannah Mellor on the piano.
February
Social evening at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Tower. ‘Guess the artists’.
March
Lecture at the Brewery: James Holloway on Allan Ramsey.
April
Lecture at the Brewery: Jessica Feather on Gavin Hamilton.
May/June
To London 3 day visit by coach. Visits included Rockingham Castle, Courtauld Gallery and Somerset House followed by a tour of the National Maritime Museum and Romney’s haunts the City led by K. Littlewood. Finally visits to the Wallace Collection and Kenwood House.
June
Strawberry tea at the home of Mr and Mrs Brockbank.
July
Coach trip to Rokeby Park and Auckland Castle.
July 18th
Coffee morning at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dunn.
September
Sarah Symonds Goubert: Romney & The Younger Flaxman— 8th memorial lecture.
October
Dr Duncan Thomson on Sir Henry Raeburn.

2002

January 12th
Civic Reception in Kendal Town Hall.
February 8th
The Society attended the opening of the Romney Exhibition and the two day International Romney conference in Liverpool.
February 13th
Society attended a preview at Abbot Hall to celebrate Romney.
February 22nd
The Society held a social evening at the home of Dr and Mrs Tower.
March 7th
Alex Kidson gave an account of the genesis of the Romney Exhibition.
April 11th
Coffee morning at the home of Mrs Guthrie.
April 25th
Lecture by David Hill on Turner’s visit to the Lake District.
May 29th to 30th
The Society attended the opening of Romney Exhibition at the N.P.G. and visited Romney House in Hampstead.
June 19th
Coffee morning at the home of Mr and Mrs Dunn.
July 5th
Cocktails at Sizergh Castle and planting a cedar tree in Romney’s memory.
July 14th
Stroll to see Romney’s Kendal and Romney’s House.
August 17th
Society car trail to see Romney’s haunts in Furness.
September 3rd to 22nd
Kendal Windows on Art featured Romney with 2 lectures and an exhibition.
September 12th to 22nd
Society trip to U.S.A. and the Romney exhibition at the Huntington, Los Angeles.
October 12th
A plaque was unveiled to George Romney on Dalton Town Hall.
October 28th
Prudence Bliss gave her 1st lecture on Hogarth: his portraits.
November 15th
Service of remembrance for Romney in Dalton Parish Church. Arranged by David Cross.
November 16th
Concert in Kendal Parish Church dedicated to Romney during which his violin was played and a specially commissioned song was sung by Rachel Little.

2003

13th February
Readings from the 18th century at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Tower.
2nd March
C. Parry Wingfield on Garrick & Shakespeare – ‘Like twin stars shall shine’ at the Brewery.
4th April
AGM followed by David Alexander – Geo Romney & the print market.
22nd May
Coffee morning with Mrs Guthrie.
27-30th June
Society trip to Aberdeen.
12th July
Strawberry tea at Scar Brae.
30th October
Olivier Meslay on French contemporaries of Romney and his visits to Paris.
30th November
Prudence Bliss’s 2nd lecture on Hogarth: the Harlot’s Progress and the Rake’s Progress.

2004

7th January
Society Dinner at the Blue Bell, Heversham.
14th February
Evening at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Tower, (Valentines day) Four short discussions with 18th century topics- Supper.
26th February
Lecture ; Painting Women: The professional female artist in the 18th century Europe by Catherine Parry Wingfield.
25th March
Lecture by Jane King on the ‘Foundling Hospital: children, art and music.’.
23rd April
Lecture by Michael Phillips on ‘William Blake and the Age of the Revolution’ AGM.
20th May
Coffee morning at Scar Brae, Levens, Kendal.
25-28th June
Society visit to Paris.
3rd July
Strawberry tea at the home of Mr & Mrs Crewdson.
13-22nd August
The Life & Times of George Romney- an exhibition in The Kendal Town Hall for which the Society wrote the catalogue.
30th September
Society in London. Visit to the Foundling Museum followed by.
lecture by Alex Kidson on Progress of Romney Research since the Bicentenary. This was held in the Paul Mellon Centre.
21st October
Lecture: Kevin Littlewood on Lancashire painters in the 18th Century.
18th November
Lecture by Hugh Belsey on Gainsborough’s early life.

2005

18th January
Informal evening with buffet. Film of Paris sketch books by John Garbutt. Selection of Romney slides by David Cross.
17th February
Lecture by Hugh Belsey on Gainsborough in Bath.
17th March
Lecture by David Coke on the Vauxhall Gardens.
14th April
AGM followed by a lecture by David Fraser on Wright of Derby.
22-24th April
Society visit to Derbyshire staying two nights at the Rutland Arms in Bakewell. Tour arranged by Prudence Bliss to show 18th century Derbyshire.
2nd July
Strawberry tea at the home of Mrs Penny Harding at Windermere.
23rd September
Lecture by Catherine Parry Wingfield on the Grand Tour.
20th October
Lecture by Gillian Forrester on the 18th century pastellists including Daniel Gardner.
24th November
Lecture by David Cross on the Aesthetics of the 18th Century.

2006

January
Lady Hamilton’s Attitudes was performed in the Kendal Town Hall by members of the Trinity College of Music in London to an audience of over 180 people.

The cast of Lady Hamilton's Attitudes The cast of Lady Hamilton's Attitudes staying at Sizergh Castle, 2006

Ticket for Lady Hamilton's Attitudes.jpg

The ticket for Lady Hamilton's Attitudes

23rd Feb
Lecture by Stephen Lloyd on Portraiture in Edinburgh in the 1790s.
8th March
Lecture by Prudence Bliss on Romney in Florence.
16-21st March
Society visit to Florence.
April
Lecture: Hugh Belsey completed his series of three on Gainsborough.
1st July
Strawberry tea at the home of Mrs Penny Harding.
21st September
Lecture by Kate Retford on Romney and Marital Portraiture.
26th October
Lecture by Kate Williams on Emma (Lady Hamilton).
16th November
Lecture by David Coke on Making Faces.

2007

5th January
Lecture by Ivan Day on ‘Dining with Romney’ followed by a hot buffet supper. Shakespeare Centre.
22nd February
Lecture by Philip Mould OBE: Hidden Images, the art of Discovery. Joint lecture in the Brewery Art Centre, Kendal.
7th March
Lecture by Prudence Bliss on Romney and Venice.
15th -20th March
Society trip to Venice.
20th April
Lecture by Suzanne May on ‘Sublime and Infernal Reveries’ writing about Romney.
30th June
Strawberry tea at Scar Brae, Levens, Kendal.
18th September
Professor Philip Edwards lectured on Romney to Wordsworth : the Spirit of the Age. Joint lecture with the Wordsworth Trust held in the main theatre at Brewery Arts Centre.
26th October
Alex Kidson lectured on Old Problems and Fresh Discoveries in writing a new Romney Catalogue. Shakespeare Centre.
22nd November
Professor David Manning lectured on Reynolds in Italy.
Sketchbook and Caricatures. Shakespeare Centre.

2008

17th January
An Evening at Sizergh Castle. Buffet, music and wine. The music was provided by Charles Edmonson on a keyboard and Tracey Penwarden, soprano with songs from the 18th Century.
15th February
Prudence Bliss on Romney in Rome.
27Feb-2nd March
Society trip to Rome.
10th March
Prudence Bliss on 18th century English watercolours.
8th April
AGM followed by Viv Hendra on John Opie.
23rd May
Tim Wilcox on Francis Towne & John White Abbott.
28th June
A strawberry tea was held at Isel Hall.
26th September
Peter Osborne on Bewick.
24th October
David Cross on Romney, Wright of Derby and the Blue Devils.
14th November
Stephen Hebron on The Line of Beauty: English watercolours.

2009

16th January
Alex Kidson on 25 years of curating British art in Britain.
27th February
Gaye Blake-Roberts on Wedgwood and his artists.
27th March
Catherine Parry Wingfield on the Prince Regent’s art collecting.
24th April
The AGM followed by Clare Hornsby on Gavin Hamilton, Thomas Jenkins and Roman archaeology.
11th - 15th May
Society trip to Cornwall’s Romneys.
4th June
Society trip to Wedgwood Museum.
27th June
A strawberry tea was held at Parson Wyke House, Bowness.
25th September
Peter Osborne on William Kent, the artist and landscape architect.
23rd October
Professor David Mannings on Sir Joshua Reynolds (2nd of 3 lectures).
13th November
Susan Stuart on Gillow furniture and Romney’s frames made by Gillow.

2010

21st January
Art films at the Heron Theatre, Beetham
10th February
Dinner at the Kendal College
19th March
Alex Kidson on Zoffany
23rd April
Peter Leach on House with a view in Eighteenth Century England.
10-14th May
Society’s trip to South West Scotland.
24th September
Professor Mannings on Sir Joshua Reynolds (3/3).
22nd October
Charles Greig on Zoffany in India.
26th November
Ann Clements on England’s Leonardo: Stubbs and his horses.