Book Discussion

The Painted Kiss

By Elizabeth Hickey 

Part 1: Art History Presentation
February 5  • 1:30p

Part 2: Book Discussion
February 19 • 1:30p

Isabel Hall | Free Admission

Gustav Klimt, one of the great painters of fin de siècle Austria—and the subject of the film Woman in Gold—takes center stage in this passionate and atmospheric debut novel, which reimagines the tumultuous relationship between the Viennese painter and Emilie Flöge, the woman who posed for his masterpiece The Kiss, and whose name he uttered with his dying breath.

Vienna in 1886 was a city of elegant cafés, grand opera houses, and a thriving and adventurous artistic community. It is here where the 12-year-old Emilie meets the controversial libertine and painter. Hired by her bourgeois father for basic drawing lessons, Klimt introduces Emilie to a subculture of dissolute artists, wanton models, and decadent patrons that both terrifies and inspires her. The Painted Kiss follows Emilie as she blossoms from a naïve young girl to one of Europe’s most exclusive couturiers—and Klimt’s most beloved model and mistress. 

Books are available in the Museum Shop.

FIA book discussions focus on works of fiction and non-fiction related to art, art museums, or FIA collections. The first meeting for each book sets the stage by exploring artists and artwork related to the selected book. Two weeks later, the book is discussed. These free programs are offered on Wednesdays at 1:30p in Isabel Hall.

Past Sheppy Dog Fund Lectures

Irish Folk Tales and Halloween Legends Lecture Date: October 23, 2019 Storyteller: Mark Ó Géaráin  Irish Storyteller Mark Ó Géaráin presents the origins of Samhain (pronounced SAH-win) through shadowy, twisted stories marking the beginning of the dark half of the year.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel… 507 Years Lecture Date: April 9, 2019  Guest Lecturer: Dr. William E. Wallace  Professor Wallace, a world authority on Michelangelo, will illuminate this masterpiece and help you see it with fresh eyes.

Sublime Transmutation: The Art and Science of Alchemy Lecture Date: March 13, 2019 Guest Lecturer: Dr. Justin Sledge  Justin Sledge's presentation is grounded in the history of alchemical art and symbolism. The topic will appeal to everyone from Harry Potter fans, to those interested in the history of science, as well as people interested in the esoteric/occult mysteries of spiritual transmutation.

Unveiling Ancient Beauty: The Hidden Art of Restoration in the Vatican Museums Lecture Date: November 27, 2018 Guest Lecturer: Fr. Kevin Lixey The International Director of the Patron of the Arts in the Vatican Museums will offer an inside view to the fascinating world of art restoration that is carried out on a daily basis in the Vatican Museum’s six on-site restoration laboratories.

Piecing Together the Past: A Curatorial View of Mosaics in Israel Lecture Date: November 14 Guest Lecturer: Tracee J. Glab In Piecing Together the Past, FIA Curator Tracee Glab offers a unique perspective on mosaics she visited during a recent trip to Israel.

Rembrandt’s Representations of Biblical Scenes Lecture Date: August 8, 2018 Guest Lecturer: Dr. Shelley Perlove Dr. Shelley Perlove offers special insights into the trials, passions, temptations, and tragic losses endured by Rembrandt's biblical figures, who were heroic and bigger than life, yet also eminently human and flawed.

The Sheppy Dog Fund Lecture has been established to address the topics of art, religion, and history prior to the 19th century, and is funded by The Sheppy Dog Fund, Dr. Alan Klein, Advisor.

Past Bray Lectures

African Art Making and Use and Western Collectors Lecture Date: March 2, 2019 Guest Lecturer: Nii O. Quarcoopome, Ph.D. This illustrated lecture reflects on the complexities in African art’s creation and use, to its ultimate commodification in the West.