Luxury train operator, Orient-Express has formed
an association with the National Gallery to launch a series of art
tours to Venice, Paris and within England. Next year will see
these two great names brought together for the first time creating
unique voyages, hosted by an expert guide from the National
Gallery.
‘The Venice of Canaletto’ is the
highlight of the new programme, giving the opportunity to
experience Venice through Canaletto’s eyes. The tour will be
limited to just 20 guests who will travel to Venice aboard the
legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) and will be
accompanied by an expert from the National Gallery to bring the
city’s dynamic culture and art history to life.
It
is a unique tour of Venice, tracing the footsteps of Canaletto
from the grand vistas to the hidden backwaters that inspired his
work. The tour begins in London, where guests will have a guided
introduction to Canaletto’s works at the National Gallery followed
by a private dinner in the Trafalgar Room before staying overnight
at The Goring Hotel. The following day, the adventure continues at
London’s Victoria Station for the journey south, through France,
the snow-capped Alps and northern Italy.
How else
to travel to Venice than aboard a train that is a work of art in
itself, with restored 1920s carriages ablaze with marquetry and
Lalique glass panels in the dining car? For anyone who loves art
and Italy, this promises to be the ultimate way to journey to
Venice and to rediscover it in a fresh and uniquely revealing way.
Over the six-days in Venice, guests will stay at Hotel
Cipriani and visit the many places that inspired Canaletto; from
the exact spot by the Grand Canal where he glimpsed the celebrated
Stonemason’s Yard to the busy square in front of the Church of San
Vidal.
“Venice is a city of light, sparkle, movement and perpetual
change. Canaletto’s paintings perfectly capture that fantasy
atmosphere” said Colin Wiggins, Head of Education at the National
Gallery.
Before flying back to London, a full day
at leisure is also included in the itinerary giving the
opportunity to explore and get lost in the city’s labyrinthine of
alleyways—and discover another aspect of what National Gallery
lecturer Richard Stemp describes as “one of the most magical
places on earth”.
This trip departs on 9 April,
8 and 22 October 2011 and costs from £4,985 per person
based on two sharing.
‘Venetian Painters’ departs
on 30 April 2011 and is a six-day tour which introduces great
masters from Giovanni Bellini and Titian to Veronese. Again Limited to
just 20 guests, they will be able to view these magnificent works
in the buildings for which they were commissioned and learn about
the special details from their expert guide.
The
Venetian Painters tour begins at the National Gallery offering a
guided introduction to selected masterpieces, matching them to
places and people which will be encountered over the next few days
and following this, a private dinner in the Trafalgar Room with
fellow travellers. The tour continues the next morning with a
flight to Venice, followed by a three night stay at Hotel Cipriani.
Guests will be taken to explore great sights such as the Doge’s
Palace, the Accademia and Ca’ Rezzonico with their expert from the
National Gallery close at hand to add depth and richness to what
they see.
The journey ends with a celebratory
flourish for the return to London aboard the VSOE. The route leads
from the vineyards of Northern Italy through the Alps and on into
France. There will be plenty of time to relax in the historic
carriages and enjoy exceptional cuisine and fine wines. The
National Gallery guide will continue to accompany guests offering
the opportunity to reflect on the artworks seen, and to discuss
them further.
The price for this itinerary is
£4,320 per person based on two sharing.
One of
three National Gallery lecturers will accompany each tour to
Venice:
Colin Wiggins, Head of Education, is an art
historian and artist who has curated many exhibitions at the
gallery.
James Heard, Adult Learning Manager, is an artist
who has travelled world-wide lecturing on Titian and has
specialist knowledge of painting techniques.
Linda Bolton
has been lecturing for the National Gallery since 1991 and has
established a reputation as one of the Gallery’s most engaging and
informative speakers. An Italian speaker, she has lived in Venice
and has a deep and extensive knowledge of the city, its art and
history. Linda has led many groups to various European venues,
including St Petersburg, Vienna and Rome. She has published several books on art and art movements including Impressionism,
Cubism and Andy Warhol.
Also part of the
association is a series of five-day tours, ‘Impressions of Paris’,
which will introduce Paris and its surrounding countryside in an
exciting new way.\
Accompanied in Paris by an expert in French
Impressionism, guests will trace Monet’s long, dynamic life, and
will learn about the drama of the birth of a new movement in
art—when painters first began painting out in the open air to
capture the effects of light.
The tour commences
with a guided visit to the National Gallery and one night at The
Goring Hotel before heading off to Paris the following morning via
the VSOE. Two of the carriages aboard the art deco train were
already carrying passengers while Claude Monet was producing his
last masterpieces. For anyone who loves art and the works of Monet
in particular, this promises to be the ultimate voyage of
discovery.
Highlights will include a visit to
Monet’s house and garden in Giverny and the churchyard where Monet
lies buried, a visit to the Musée de l'Orangerie des Tuileries,
where Monet’s famous water lily paintings are displayed, a visit
to the Musée Marmottan Monet and time at leisure.
The tour operates on: 9 April, 7 May, 25 June,
27 July, 24 August, 24 September and 22 October 2011.
The price per
person is £2,990 based on two sharing in April, July, August or
£3,180 at all other times.
There
will also be a number of art tours throughout 2011 aboard
Orient-Express’ British Pullman train.
The first
tour, ‘Collectors & Collecting’ is a steam-hauled journey to Bath
aboard the British Pullman to visit The Holburne Museum. Following
a major project of restoration and extension, the Holburne Museum
re-opens in May 2011 and its famous collection of Renaissance
Bronzes and Maiolica, Dutch golden age paintings, silver,
furniture and eighteenth-century British Paintings, will be on display once again.
The tour will start at
London’s Goring Hotel before a visit to the National Gallery for a
guided tour. The following morning, after a leisurely journey
aboard the British Pullman to Bath, there will be a guided visit
to the Holburne Museum by Museum Director, Alexander Sturgis. Following this, there will be a walking tour of ‘Beckford’s Bath’.
The tour will include the eccentric connoisseur William Beckford’s
house on Landsdown Crescent and his grounds leading up to
Beckford’s Tower. There will be a tour of Beckford’s Tower before
returning to the British Pullman for the return journey to London
and a final night at The Goring Hotel.
Departing on
28 June 2011 and priced at £1,130 per person.
The
second tour, ‘Thomas Gainsborough’, focuses on landscape paintings
by notable British and European artists including Rubens, Turner
and Constable. Highlights will include a private tour of the Holburne Museum by Alexander Sturgis with a focus on the new exhibition ‘Gainsborough’s Landscapes: Themes and Variations’.
Following this there will be a walking tour of artists’ Bath by Amina Wright, curator of paintings at the Holburne Museum.
Departing on 11 October 2011 and priced from £940 per
person.
Both tours include one night pre and post
British Pullman at The Goring Hotel and a guided visit to the
National Gallery. The journey to and from Bath will be a steam
hauled journey aboard the British Pullman, departing from and
returning to London Victoria and will include brunch on the
outward journey and a three-course supper on the return.
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