Building Babylon in Eden

Lecturer: Adrian Sumner

New York is so crammed full of Old Masters, it’s surprising there are any left in Europe. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (bewildering in scale and truly a treasure house) and the Frick Collection (like visiting a very, very wealthy relative) are wonders of this New World. The Guggenheim and Museum of Modern Art are unrivalled in their 20th century collections. Plus, of course, New York is unquestionably the centre of the international art market and a hotbed of contemporary art and artists. And then there’s the theory that it has the greatest works of art of the 20th century in its skyscrapers, and of the 19th in the Brooklyn Bridge. This lecture takes us to the four corners of Manhattan Island, to see just what an unlimited supply of dollars can buy if your taste runs to the finest of fine arts and architecture.

Adrian Sumner has been a lecturer to universities and higher education institutions since 1973. Director, Development of the Arts in Northwich (1984-1990). Arts Development Officer, Chester City Council (1990-2009). Arts Development Officer, Cheshire West and Chester Council (2009-). Professional painter and illustrator (1973-2001). Undertaken tours and study weekends in UK and Europe, organised exhibitions for Chester City Council.

A Zoom meeting would have been our preference but Adrian does not do Zoom meetings so it has been decided to go ahead with the meeting.
Will those attending do a lateral flow test before they attend and wear masks and socially distance. We will ventilate the room and provide hand sanitiser.