After 18 months of isolation, Arts Society members were free to meet and greet each other again, in person, at an event at Northwood House.
92 people showed up for the first conference of the 2021/22 season in Cowes, to hear speaker Paul Chapman tell the story of Cirque Medrano in Montmartre Paris.
The circus, originally called Fernando after the name of the original owner, was first established in a tent on a vacant site in Montmartre in 1875, but quickly expanded into a purpose-built building which has welcomed circus artists from all over Europe.
At that time, Montmartre was already a center for artists and the owner encouraged them to enter the circus to draw and paint the performers as a clever publicity ploy as their pictures were displayed around the city.
Over the many years the circus operated, many prominent artists of the time made images in the circus, including Degas, Renoir, Toulouse Lautrec, Seurat, Cocteau and Picasso. The circus continued until 1973.
The Isle of Wight Arts Society‘s next lecture will be on Tuesday November 2 at 2pm when Bertie Pearce will talk about Charles Dickens and his Christmas ‘invention’, including readings, biographical details and conjuring tricks!
Non-members can attend a conference for £10. Visit www.theartssocietyisleofwight.org.uk for details of the society, its members and its program
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