THE ART OF GESTURE with Sharon Leahy and Rosemary Hodgson

... for as your majesty saith, most aptly, and elegantly as the lounge speakest to the ear, so the gesture speakest to the eye" Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

In the 16th - 18th centuries priests, barristers, politicians, actors and singers have used gesture to highlight and emphasise what they were saying. Gesture was part of the social fabric of society becoming quite complex towards the end of the 18th century. Gesture is not a wild waving of arms or grossly distorted facial expressions. Rather it is a subtle, refined and stylised presentation told mostly through the hands.

In Mr Johnston's collection there are many pieces depicting gesture which will be discussed in this prop-am commencing with an illustrated lecture in The Kent Room.

Presented by Sharon Leahy, who specialises in authentic early music performance in Melbourne, her talk will be followed by a vocal interpretation of the art of Gesture accompanied by Rosemary Hodgson in the Green Drawing Room.

Please note this program does not include a full tour of the house and includes light refreshments in the Kent Room.

Michelangelo, 'The Creation of Adam, (Italian: Creazione di Adamo)' 1512, 280 x 570cm