Friends of York Art Gallery

Artwork of the Month - Piazza san Martino by Bellotto
2025-11-12 11:30 - 12:00 UTC | York Art Gallery, Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EW, United Kingdom
The next Gallery talk will be given by Charles Martindale, Chair of the Friends, on Piazza san Martino, Lucca, by Bernardo Bellotto.
Charles has provided this introduction to his talk: ‘This painting, recently returned from an extended tour in Japan, is one of the highlights of the Gallery’s permanent collection. This talk will explore various matters: how was it acquired for York? Who was Bellotto, and why is he little known in Britain in comparison with his uncle Canaletto? What are the characteristics of his art? The work is a personal favourite of mine, partly because I judge it beautiful as well as well-crafted, partly for reasons to do with my life story and overall cultural preferences; these are judgements of a different kind, but both in my view have their role to play in our aesthetic response to works of art.’

Bernardo Bellotto (1722-80), The Piazza San Martino, Lucca, 1742-1746, oil on canvas, 50.8cm x 72cm. Photo credit: York Museums Trust

Normandy Tour - Monet and Giverny
2026-05-24 - 2026-05-27
This four-day coach tour of Normandy has been arranged for the Friends by Travel Editions and includes visits to sites associated with Impressionism and Monet, including Giverny, Rouen and Honfleur. Accommodation will be at the Radison Blu Hotel, Rouen. The tour starts at Ashford in Kent where we will join the coach for the journey to Dover and then take the ferry to Calais. Ashford is easily reached by frequent trains from St Pancras Station, which is a 5 minute walk from Kings Cross. The cost of travel from York to Ashford is not included.
See the Travel Editions flyer for more information and the itinerary. Please note that the mention of Eurotunnel under the heading ‘Included in the price’ is a mistake – travel is by ferry.

Click here for the Travel Editions flyer

Download a booking form

Please note that there is a £20 per person admin fee to cover our time and costs for arranging this tour.

Click to pay the admin fee

Friends tour to Sussex
2026-09-28 - 2026-10-02
This five-day coach tour to Sussex has been arranged for the Friends by Travel Editions. Departing from York Memorial Gardens on Monday 28 September, we will visit Wardown House Museum & Gallery en route. Accommodation will be at the four-star Holiday Inn on Brighton Sea Front. The tour will include Farleys House & Towner Eastbourne Museum & Gallery, Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft, Charleston in Lewes and Charleston Firle, Berwick Church & Monk’s House. We will visit the Henry Moore Studios on our way back to York on Friday 2 October.
The cost is £995 pp including accommodation, breakfasts, 2 dinners, 1 lunch and all entrance fees as per the itinerary.

Click here for the Travel Editions flyer

Download a booking form

Please note that there is a £20 per person admin fee to cover our time and costs for arranging this tour.

Click to pay the admin fee
