This year we are continuing with our private exhibition viewings, lectures, and encounters with gallery-owners—the ones that have already happened give you an idea of our programme, and more are planned. There will also be two guided trips to Italy, to Turin and its environs, and to Naples.

A few examples of the past events of 2019:

January
A private viewing of the Lorenzo Lotto portraits exhibition at the National Gallery, with an introduction by Emily Burns, Vivmar Curatorial Fellow.

Gaia Servadio, the biographer of Luchino Visconti and a trustee of FAI UK, introduced a showing of the film “Tosca”, by Jean Renoir, Luchino Visconti and Carlo Koch (1939), at the Italian Institute of Culture.

February
Stefano Iossa, academic and literary critic, with Gaia Servadio, introduced Ian Thomson, author of Dante’s Divine Comedy: A Journey Without End (2018). He talked about the almost romantic journey of Dante Alighieri through the past, explaining why Italy’s most famous poet has been so perennially popular. Held courtesy of Tomasso Brothers in their St James’s gallery.

March
A champagne viewing of the works of art in the March Contemporary Sale at Bonham’s auction house, with commentary by Giacomo Balsamo, director of the Post-War and Contemporary Art Department.

Every year, FAI UK organizes two exclusive journeys to Italy or to the UK for our supporters. Our tours include luncheons, dinners, and intimate cocktail parties in the homes of major figures of Italian and British society. These exclusive itineraries allow travelers the opportunity to experience places of great historic and artistic significance, many of which are rarely accessible to the public. Please contact our office if you wish to receive information about future tours.

We hope you will be able to join us on our next voyage!

UPCOMING TOURS:

23-27 May
A visit to Turin, guided by Anna Somers Cocks, founder editor of The Art Newspaper and trustee of FAI UK, to include Rossini’s “L’Italiana in Algeri” at the Teatro Regio (royal opera house), and excursions to FAI historic properties in the countryside

26-30 September
A guided visit to Naples, to include Verdi’s “La Traviata” at the San Carlo opera house and lunch at the historic Villa San Michele on Capri as guests of FAI UK chairman William Parente.