A Figurative Four From the Fifties: Freud, Bacon, Minton, Vaughan

Overview

The 1950s were a tough time for the figurative artist in Britain, with the coming of abstract expressionism from the USA and a change in mood in the modern art world. We examine four artists who endured the decade in different ways; the mentally tough Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon, the sensitive Romantic John Minton, and the naturally despondent Keith Vaughan. All created a lasting impact in the history of British art.  

This lecture is part of the 'Art in Britain: 1940 to the Present' lecture series, taking place on Tuesdays from 27 January to 3 March 2026. You can choose to register for individual lectures or may choose to register for the entire lecture series at a reduced price. 

Please note: this lecture will close to enrolments at 23:59 GMT on 5 February.

Fees

Description Costs
In-person event fee (includes tea/coffee and a pastry) £18.00
Virtual event fee £15.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit or are a full-time student in the UK you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees.

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Jan Cox

Tutor

Dr Jan Cox has been awarded a BA (Hons) by Oxford Brookes University, an MA from Bristol, and a PhD from the University of Leeds (Nordic Art). He specialises in nineteenth-century European art and British art of the early twentieth-century.

Application

Please use the 'Book' button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us to obtain an application form.

IT requirements

We will be using Zoom for the livestreaming of this lecture series, and you will be able to submit questions via the Zoom interface. Joining instructions will be sent out prior to the start date. We recommend that you join the session at least 10-15 minutes prior to the start time – just as you might arrive a bit early at our lecture theatre for an in-person event.

Please note that this course will not be recorded.