Events

Hercules and the Nemean lion - Studio of Andrea Mantegna (Andrea Mantegna, c.1430/1-1506)

On Coloured Ground — Drawings on coloured papers by Italian Old Masters

This exhibition will explore how artists used coloured paper surfaces to give their drawings more spatial depth: from preparing their papers with pastel-coloured chalk grounds, as described in Cennino Ceninni’s famous artists’ handbook, to the readily produced blue paper (carta azzurra), made famous by artists in Venice.

'A glut of books’ Robert Burton and seventeenth-century libraries

28 October–18 December

Upper Library, Christ Church

Exhibition

The Upper Library exhibition this term celebrates and explores some of Christ Church's seventeenth-century collections.

During a century of political and religious turmoil the Library at Christ Church changed a great deal. The Library was refounded and grew: people including John Locke and Sir Walter Raleigh presented copies of their works.

A photo by David Stumpp of people in Oxford

Book launch: The Lunchtime Portraits

20 November

Upper Library, Christ Church

Talk / Lecture

Join us in Christ Church's historic Upper Library for the launch of a book by our Rare Books Librarian David Stumpp, The Lunchtime Portraits: Oxford, 2010–2020.

David's book offers a 10-year portrait of Oxford comprised of 180 individual photographs of the daily life with which the city teems.

Five Sibyls Seated in Niches: the Babylonian, Libyan, Delphic, Cimmerian and Erythraean by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510)

Secrets of the Sibyls — Sandro Botticelli, Filippino Lippi and artistic practice in Florence

1 December–31 March

Christ Church Picture Gallery

Exhibition

The Christ Church Sibyls, two paintings each showing five sibyls (sibyl = female prophet) have intrigued scholars and visitors alike. They were created by two of the most ingenious artists of the Florentine Renaissance: Sandro Botticelli and Filippino Lippi.

Lantern-led Festive Guided Tours

3–22 December

Christ Church

Explore Christ Church after dark on a festive-themed guided tour experience. As your friendly guide leads you by lantern light through the quadrangles, cloisters and Great Hall, you will learn about the college’s fascinating history and follow our Christmas tree trail around the college.

A stained glass window from the Cathedral's chapel of Remembrance, showing jesus sitting on the throne of heaven, flanked by two six winged seraphs

Handel's Messiah

9 December

Cathedral

Concert / Performance

The internationally renowned Christ Church Cathedral Choirs are joined by a stellar cast of acclaimed soloists for this performance of Handel’s majestic oratorio, directed by Peter Holder.