On Friday 20 March 2026, our course on the Golden Age of Spanish Art came to a close. Despite problems with public transport and missing speakers, we eventually managed to cover all the planned ground for the final session with contributions from the members of the u3a.

We started with Picasso, who was Spanish although lived for a time in France with his painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. On examination, several styles are apparent with references to both the cubist school and Picasso’s African period. The painting was also compared with Cezanne’s painting Les Grandes Baigneuses, and the meaning of the title was also explained..

We then had a demonstration of all the different styles Picasso had adopted from examples of his earliest work to his last wor.k, This was accompanied by his view of art, life and the world. Perhaps most poignant quote was “Art is the lie that enables us to realise the truth”.

We then had a look at a work by Joan Miro, a Catalan painter who had painted “Peacock Feathers”, which was the subject set by a school teacher for a pupil studying art. The pupil had adapted the style to a picture of a beach, but had wisely consigned the effort to a later bonfire.

We were then introduced to Francisco Goya and some of his paintings. In particular we saw The Maja, a reclining nude, and we saw the Spanish Royal Family, complete with Goya in the background, exactly as with Velazquez with Las Meninas. We were also shown some of the harder Goya paintings such as The Third of May 1808.

We were shown paintings by Rossario Weiss, who was known as the god daughter of Goya, although we were told that may not have been an accurate description of the relationship. There were many works by Weiss, especially as she had made many lithographs which are in circulation today. Of particular interest was a clothed reclining version of The Maja, and her lithographs of the Spanish Royal family. We were then on to Dali’s sofas modelled on the lips of Mae West, and the discovery that not all art was to be taken seriously!

We continued with Salvador Dali and both his paintings and his sculptures. We were shown many photos of his works including both famous and much less famous. His fascination with all things scientific and in particular ‘Time’ came across clearly, and the sculpture showing a horse saddled with a flowing watch struck a chord with many. Our last artist was Frida Kahlo, and although she was Mexican, she was the daughter of Spanish parents. We had details of her difficult life, and we were shown how these were reflected in her paintings. An exhibition of her work is due to open at Tate Modern from 25 June 2026, for about a year.

Lastly, we all thanked Jennifer for this programme on The Golden Age of Spanish Art which had inspired the contributions presented by our members. Our Art History programme will resume in October 2026.