The next Arts Society, Havering talk will be at 10.30am on Tue 13 February 2024 in the New Windmill Hall, St. Mary’s Lane, Upminster RM14 2QH, with the subject being – The Art of Trickery: How magicians are seen in Paintings, Prints and cartons, by Ian Keable.

This talk is on how magicians have appeared in art throughout the centuries, whether in paintings, satirical prints or cartoons. Early artists used the magician to symbolise the mysterious and the unknown, associating them with astrology. In the 16th century, Pieter Bruegel and Hieronymus Bosch produced two of the most famous and striking pictures of the conjurer performing the Cups and Balls trick. The 18th and 19th century saw a proliferation in engravings and lithographs showing the magician both indoors and on the streets. Bringing it right up to date there are examples of how cartoonists and satirists delight in linking politicians with skulduggery with images of them featuring Sawing a Woman in Half, Vanishing illusions or pulling a Rabbit out of the Hat. Some of the tricks talked about are performed by Ian.

Ian Keable gained a First Class degree from Oxford University, qualified as a Chartered Accountant and then became a Professional Magician. He is a Member of The Inner Magic Circle. In 2014 he published Charles Dickens Magician: Conjuring in Life, Letters & Literature. He now divides his time between performing magic, giving talks and researching and writing.

This event is open to visitors for a fee of £8. Please visit tashavering.org.uk , their Facebook page , e-mail them at info@tashavering.org.uk , or phone 01708 221 903 for further details.

By Editor on 6th February 2024   /   News   /   Leave a comment