An introduction to...

Join us in Supporters' House for an introductory talk on our current exhibition, 'Zurbarán'.

Art historians Tim Maddison and Martin Brown introduce the latest exhibition within the calm surroundings of the Supporters' House Salon. Each will guide you into the world of 17th-century Seville, a centre of global trade, giving you with insights into the life and works of Francisco de Zurbarán, a giant in the history of Spanish art.

This introduction is open to all Members and includes a 45-minute talk before you head into the exhibition.

For those booked onto the 9am talk, you'll be able to enter the exhibition just before opening at 10am, offering you the opportunity to be the first visitors to view it. The talk will be repeated at 2pm and 4pm.

Tim Maddison is an accredited expert guide. Maddison completed the Sotheby's Works of Art Course after university, before spending the next five years working at Sotheby's and Phillips Bond Street, surrounded by an ever-changing carousel of treasures. This embedded a love for works of art, exhibitions and galleries. Maddison then went on to work as a dealer in vintage film posters, Americana and Art Deco, before opening London's first public gallery for vintage film and music posters. In his youth his favourite painting at the National Gallery was, 'The Family of Darius before Alexander', and he never imagined that decades later he would have the privilege of sharing its delights and that of so many other favourites with visitors.

Martin Brown is a qualified art historian in History of Art and Architecture. As an award-winning Blue Badge Guide experienced in guiding in National Gallery, Tate Britain and Tate Modern, Brown is passionate about the Gallery’s collection. Before retraining as a Blue Badge Guide, Brown worked for 30 years in education. Firstly, as a teacher of French and German in London secondary schools, and for the last 10 years as Head Teacher of a large Secondary School. In addition, Brown has worked as a Secondary School Improvement Adviser for a local authority, for OFSTED as an Inspector and for the Department for Education as a National Leader of Education.