Fall Lecture Series with Christopher Fasolino
Instructor: Christopher Fasolino
Dates: Saturdays, September 26, October 3, October 10, October 17 & October 24
2:00 -3:00 pm
Cost per Lecture: Members: $20 | Nonmembers: $30
Travel through the history of art, gardens, and botanical exploration in this engaging five-part lecture series presented by art historian and author Christopher Fasolino. Each lecture explores the fascinating relationship between nature, culture, and artistic expression, bringing centuries of history to life.
Lecture Schedule
Mysteries of Botanical Art
The history of botanical art is full of detective work. What were the gardens of ancient Egypt really like, and how did they reflect the lush Nile environment? How did archaeologists reconstruct the gardens of Roman villas that were lost under the ashes of Mount Vesuvius? How did medieval manuscripts use exotic plants to illustrate fables and stories? And what mysteries of botanical art have yet to be solved? Join gardening's great detective stories at McKee Botanical Garden!
History of English Gardens
From medieval cloisters and castles to Georgian splendor to the naturalistic designs of "Capability" Brown, explore the history and the beauty of English gardens. Hampton Court, Highclere Castle, Chatsworth House, and Haddon Hall will be among the locations featured. England is a nation of historians and gardeners; join us as we explore how those pursuits are interwoven.
Botany in the Age of Exploration
Honoring the tradition of Plant Explorers at McKee Botanical Garden, learn about the adventurous natural historians of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries who joined voyages and expeditions! The plant explorers featured will include Sir Joseph Banks, who sailed to the South Seas with Captain Cook, and Ferdinand Bauer, who explored Australia. We will also learn about two brilliant characters who mostly remained at home, but who studied the discoveries that came to them: Rachel Ruysch and Linnaeus.
Flowers and Trees of the Italian Renaissance
The Mona Lisa is famous for her smile, but have you ever looked at the background of the painting? Leonardo's love for nature moved him to include an amazing landscape behind the painting itself. Plant imagery is found throughout Leonardo's work and often reflects his knowledge of botany. Discover how Italian Renaissance artists used flowers and trees in their paintings, both as a symbols and to reflect inspiration from nature.
Gardens of Impressionism
Where would Impressionist painters have been without gardens? We will discuss paintings from Monet's beloved Giverny and his philosophical depth in designing gardens that he knew would inspire him artistically. We will also explore lesser-known gardens of Impressionism, such as the Mediterranean gardens at Bordighera which Monet called "an earthly paradise." And we will discover the work of an underrated and brilliant American Impressionist-- Lilla Cabot Perry-- who painted in Giverny with Monet and in Japan on the slopes of Mount Fuji!
About the Instructor
Christopher Fasolino is an art historian, author, and educator with a passion for connecting audiences to the history of art and the natural world. He is the wine columnist for Vero Beach Magazine and has written feature articles on nature, history, and art since 2018.
He is the author of Early Nature Artists in Florida, a nonfiction work exploring the lives and adventures of three naturalist artists in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Florida, and Men of Promise, a historical seafaring adventure novel.
Christopher began teaching art history at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 2004, where he continues to teach remotely. Since 2017, he has been an instructor at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, teaching courses for the museum's education program, including lectures for special exhibitions and docent training.
Whether you're an art enthusiast, history buff, gardener, or lifelong learner, this series offers a fascinating exploration of the people, places, and plants that have shaped art throughout history.