Catherine the Great: Autocrat and Patron of the Arts
Lecture on Monday 7th June 2027 at 2:15PM
Lecturer: Rev Canon Chris Newlands
Venue: Larruperz Centre
From relatively humble beginnings, Catherine rose to be one of the few European rulers to receive the title 'The Great'. Aside from her political ambitions and successes, as a patron of the arts, she created an unparalleled collection of paintings, ornaments and sculptures, many of which remain at the centre of The Hermitage Museum. This lecture summarises her rise to power, and her passion for acquiring things of beauty for her private collection.
Canon Chris Newlands is a retired Anglican priest, having ministered across England from Portsmouth to Durham, and from Essex to Lancashire. Before ordination, he worked for the British Council in Algeria, and after ordination was posted to Romania and Bulgaria as Embassy Chaplain and Envoy of the Anglican Communion to the Orthodox Churches of Eastern Europe. Chris is a guest lecturer on cruise ships where his lectures relate to the destinations in the Baltic, Black Sea, and Mediterranean regions.