This year marks 500 since the death of Leonardo da Vinci, the Italian polymath whose art, inventions and leadership have left an indellible imprint upon the world. To mark the anniversary, arts organisation Agenda is bringing out French art lecturer Jacques Le Roux to dig into the legacy of Da Vinci and his contemporaries in talks across three consecutive nights at the National Art School's Cell Block Theatre. The talks coincide with the opening of the Louvre's major new Da Vinci exhibition.
The first talk (Nov 26) will explore how Da Vinci inspired us in the centuries since his death, revealing the ways his philosophies, art and ways of working have seeped into our public consciousness. The second talk (Nov 27) is all about Notre-Dame de Paris, which was severely damaged in a fire earlier this year, shocking the world. Le Roux will explain the great cathedral's legacy and the many notable world events that unfolded under the arches, before reflecting on what the recent fires mean for Paris and the world as a whole. The series wraps up (Nov 28) with a talk about Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael, looking at the times that produced these wonderful and influential thinkers.
Le Roux is an art lecturer who worked for 20 years at the Louvre giving private tours and lectures to VIP guests. He's particularly passionate about the importance of art history to us all, demystifying its stories and processes and ensuring its accessible to all. So even if you're a complete newbie to the Renaissance, this should prove a fascinating series.
Le Roux will be joined in conversation by arts correpsondent for the Australian, Matthew Westwood.