The city of Vicenza was transformed in the sixteenth century by the architect Andrea della Pietra della Gondola – or Palladio, as he is better known. Palladio’s first designs were built in Vicenza, where the cityscape of this little visited part of the Veneto remains a testament to his extraordinary vision. In this talk we will explore Palladio’s style, looking at some of the buildings that he designed for patrons in Vicenza and its surrounding countryside, and look at how Palladio’s legacy can be seen in buildings throughout the world, including close to home at Chiswick House.

Dr Lydia Goodson is an art historian and lecturer specialising in the art and material culture of Renaissance Italy. After a career in television production and raising a family Lydia returned to academia and now holds a BA in Renaissance History, an MA in History of Art and was awarded her PhD in 2020 from the Warburg Institute of the University of London, for her thesis on painting and patronage in Renaissance Perugia. This return to study as a mature student has given Lydia a passion for the benefits of life-long learning and she hugely enjoys writing and delivering lectures for audiences of all ages. She is an art history tutor for CityLit and regularly speaks to other adult learning groups. Lydia’s research interests centre on painting production in Central Italy in the Renaissance. Lydia lives in Kent and the Umbrian region of Italy.

When

‘Vincenza City of Palladio’ will take place on Thursday 8 February at 8pm.

Tickets

From £10. To book, visit theartssocietychiswick.org.uk