MEMBERS' PRIORITY BOOKING
The British Love Affair with Venice: Four Centuries of Collecting and Connoisseurship
with
James Stourton
Art Historian and former Chairman of Sotheby's UK
and
Hannah Kaye
Freelance Producer and one of the founding creators of Intelligence Squared
Monday 16 March 2026
Lecture and Drinks Reception:
6.30-8pm
Tickets £30 to include drinks reception
At The Society of Antiquaries
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London W1J 0BE
James Stourton, art historian and former Chairman of Sotheby’s UK joins Hannah Kaye for a lively conversation exploring our enduring fascination with Venice and its profound impact on English taste and culture.
From King Charles I to the present day, they will examine how British connoisseurs, collectors and architects have both shaped—and been shaped by—Venetian art. Together, they’ll uncover the themes and ideas that define this centuries-long cultural exchange.
James Stourton is the award-winning author of thirteen books including Rogues and Scholars, The British as Art Collectors and Kenneth Clark. He is a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Historical Research of London University and currently a visiting fellow at Oxford University. He started his career as an Old Master paintings specialist with Sotheby’s and rose to become UK Chairman until he stepped down in 2012. He writes regularly on art and architecture for national newspapers and has served on government heritage committees. His first visit abroad was to Venice.
Hannah Kaye is a freelance producer and one of the founding creators of Intelligence Squared, the leading forum for agenda-setting debates and discussions around the world. She is a trustee of the World Monument Fund Britain.