This series of lecture are held on Fridays at 1:30 p.m. and repeated on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Brown Auditorium Theater. A reception to meet the speakers follows each lecture.

Sept. 6 and 7 - A Thing of Beauty Is a Joy Forever
Isabel Brown Wilson believed that ancient art affirmed an innate need for people to have beauty in their lives, to rise above function and to become something more. In a world of change and uncertainty, she saw ancient art as a beacon of hope. In this lecture, Frances Marzio, curator of the Glassell Collections; Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas and Antiquities shows the interrelationships of powerful cultures as well as their diversities and similarities.

Sept. 13 and 14 - Michelangelo and Mattia Preti: Italian Masters at the Head of the Class
During this richly-illustrated lecture, noted art historian and critic John T. Spike speaks about two artists who are fascinating counterpoints of Renaissance wisdom versus Baroque bravura. Hear an expert's view of the heavyweight competition between Michelangelo (1475–1564), all-time champion of disegno (drawing), and Mattia Preti (1613–1699), courageous contender for colore (color).

Sept. 20 and 21 - Delhi to Paris: The Visual World of the Ottoman Empire
The forms and influence of Ottoman architecture radiated far beyond Istanbul, the Ottoman imperial capital, as far east as Delhi, India, and as far west as Paris. During this richly-illustrated lecture, Shirine Hamadeh helps to define this style, with references including objects in the MFAH collection and objects from the celebrated al-Sabah Collection.

Sept. 27 and 28 - A Photographer's "Why?" or "Why Not?"
The exhibition Self, Model, and Self as Other provides an opportunity to reflect upon questions of artistic intent. The photographer George Krause, represented in the exhibition, is familiar with many of the photographers showing and their work. In his talk he will examine his own self-portraits and those by others to ponder why (or why not) certain choices were made.