Flights of Fancy: a History of Birds in Art

Wednesday 3 June 2026 at 2.00 pm at the Lowther Pavilion. Guests may attend the lecture – £10 pp (pay on door)

Lecturer: Adrian Sumner

Lecturer to universities and higher education institutions since 1973. Director, Development of the Arts in Northwich (1984-1990). Arts Development Officer, Chester City Council (1990-2009). Arts Development Officer, Cheshire West and Chester Council (2009-). Professional painter and illustrator (1973-2001). Undertaken tours and study weekends in UK and Europe,  organised exhibitions for Chester City Council. Adrian has a website offering further information.

The Lecture:

Birds have a long history in art, as they may be used to symbolise all manner of ideas, as well as being beautiful, colourful entities in themselves (intrinsically symbolic of the variety and multiplicity of nature). From the dove of the Holy Ghost to Tweety Pie (innocence triumphing effortlessly over evil?), from Aesop to Bosch (rampant sensuality and vanity), from Sindbad’s Roc, via the Firebird and the Phoenix to Foghorn Leghorn, (not forgetting Audaubon, Lear, Tunnicliffe and other notable chroniclers and travellers) we survey the rich and teeming world of our feathered friends.

Caption: Boriszvorykin Firebird, 1930. Boris Zvorykin (Q2613777). Public domain