Special Interest Morning – Riviera Paradise: Art, design and pleasure in the 1920’s

Since the 19th century English high society had ‘wintered over’ on the Côte d’Azur, but always left by April. In the early 1920s, however, an intoxicating mix of artists, writers, musicians and international visitors, inspired by a mythological seascape of luminous colours, created a new summer season.

Sun tans and sportswear soon became ‘de rigueur’ in the chic new coastal resorts, villas and hotels. This liberating playground of ideas across the visual design arts was stimulated by impresarios Serge Diaghilev and Paul Poiret. Traditional boundaries were torn down. Matisse, Picasso, Dufy, Cocteau, and Chanel merged the worlds of fashion, theatre and interiors.

Cole Porter, Scott Fitzgerald, and the intriguing Gerald and Sara Murphy, introduced an American perspective and attracted an influential new set of discerning patrons and collectors.

Over the course of two lectures we will ‘time travel’ to meet them.

About: Mary Alexander

Mary Alexander has more than thirty years' experience as a lecturer, with a BA in History and History of Art and an MA with distinction in History of Art from University College London. Her experience includes public lectures in museums, tutoring for the Open University, being a visiting lecturer at Christie's Education in London, and a museum curator at Platt Hall, the Gallery of Costume, in Manchester. Mary is now a freelance lecturer to various arts, heritage and antiquarian societies. She also worked in London and New York, organising conferences and special events. She has authored various articles on design and visual awareness issues and is an enthusiastic member and President of The Arts Society Glaven Valley.