3 Study Days Colchester Decorative and Fine Arts Society

Week 1 Monday, 24 January 2012

History of Berlin and Potsdam

Schloss Charlottenburg
Charlottenburg Palace

In this first talk, the background of Berlin and Potsdam (founded in the 13th and 10th centuries respectively) will be introduced. The focus will be on their main rulers, the Hohenzollern, Elector-Princes from SW Germany (1415-1918). From simple border-town beginnings, they created a city within a city with the splendour of a European capital. The rulers themselves were elevated from princes to kings and emperors, who built splendid palaces over the centuries…nearly all faithfully reconstructed after the devastating destruction during the Second World War.

Week 2 Monday, 30 January 2012

Visit to Museum Island

Museum Island
The Bode Museum, Museum Island, Berlin

Berlin’s Museum-Island was created in the 19th and 20th centuries: Schinkel’s Altes Museum of 1830 soon became too small to show the extensive royal collection of art to the public. The New Museum of 1850 rectified this situation displaying ancient art including the famous “Nefertiti”. This was followed in 1870 by the Old National Gallery showing German and French paintings and sculpture of the 19th century. The Bode Museum for sculpture dates to 1900 while the largest of them all, the Pergamon Museum of 1909-30 boasts major buildings from Antiquity.

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Week 3 Monday, 6 February 2012

Modern Architecture after World War II

The Jewish Museum, Berlin
The Jewish Museum, Berlin by Libeskind

Altogether 92% of buildings in Berlin had been destroyed or heavily damaged during World War II. Rebuilding in the modern style took place initially in the former West Berlin, then also in the East after 1990: the Reichstag was “refashioned” by Sir Norman Foster; the New National Gallery is Mies van der Rohe’s only museum-building: together with the Old Master and Decorative Arts Museums it is one of the star-attractions of the Cultural Forum with Scharoun’s Phillarmonic nearby. The converted station Hamburger Bahnhof shows contemporary art. Libeskind Jewish Museum and Eisenman’s Holocaust Memorial are stark reminders of Germany’s horrific history. Frank Gehry’s original bank building is another highlight.

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Eveline Eaton

Eveline Eaton

Eveline Eaton was born and grew up in Berlin. She moved to London where she studied art history, first at the Study Centre for Fine and Decorative Arts (linked to the V & A where Patricia Fay had the idea of founding NADFAS) and then at the Courtauld Institute where she received a BA Hons. Degree. After a period of teaching at Surrey University Eveline was accepted as a lecturer by NADFAS in 1990. She has lectured in Britain, Continental Europe, USA, South Africa and Australia … both, as lecturer and tour-guide! Eveline is also a Freelance Lecturer in Fine Arts and Tour Guide to Berlin/Dresden/Munich/Côte d’Azur/Normandy/New York.