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Catherine Chartier

Destination Speaker  – Art History. Multi award winning artist

Bio

Catherine is of double French and British nationality. An award-winning portrait artist and art history lecturer licensed by the French Ministry for Culture, she divides her time between her Montparnasse studio and lecturing in some of the world’s greatest museums. She completed a Masters Degree in Art History at the University of Exeter, UK, then studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, but believes that it is her years of actually practising art that count. She has a passion to share real insider knowledge and a love of art, but always in the most entertaining way.

She has appeared on French television in her role as portrait artist to European royalty and has given talks to many and various audiences ranging from fellow art historians to primary school children.

 

Recent Cruises

Enchanted Princess  7 – 21 Oct 2023 Back Western Mediterranean

Enchanted Princess  15 April 2023  Back to Back Western Mediterranean

Regal Princess 1 Oct 2022  Back to Back Western Mediterranean

Sky Princess 3 Sep 2022 Baltic

Celebrity Apex August 2021 Eastern Mediterranean

Sky Princess 17 May 2020 cancelled pandemic

 

 

Presentations

Destination Speaking Specialist Destination Expert. – covering basic historical overview, what to see, practical information for indépendant tours, a few words in the local language and handy tips.

Port list below

MÉDITERRANÉEN PORTS

Rome,  Naples/Pompeii,  Messina,  Venice,  Istanbul,  Kusadasi (Ephesus),  Dubrovnik

Kotor,  Split,  Athens,  Heraklion/Knossos,  Santorini,  Rhodes,  Malta,  Cadiz,  Cartagena,  Barcelona

BALTIC PORTS

Stockholm, Visby, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Gdańsk/Sopot/Gdynia

Warnemunde/Berlin, Kristiansand

Sample presentations

The Secret Treasure Of The Louvre

Hidden in plain sight, this precious 15th century wooden panel is full of tiny, hidden messages. The clue to what it all means it almost invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen by the initiated. Decode the complex and fascinating secrets of the Virgin and Chancellor Rolin by Jan Van Eyck.

 

 

Decoding The Art Of Versailles

The true meaning of the art visitors often miss.

Grandiose, and breathtaking, the palace of Versailles is a monument to the glory of the most powerful king who ever reigned. The ceiling of the legendary Hall of Mirrors tells his story through dramatic allegories and symbols that could be read by the courtiers and ambassadors of the day. But today few visitors know that they were inspired by the life work of a simple Italian cook who spent his evenings searching and compiling ancient iconography. His research shaped Western art for centuries

 

The Divine Science – Leonardo Da Vinci’s Quest

 Leonardo’s strangely clairvoyant machines and scientific experiments have often overshadowed the very few works of art he created. The recent blockbuster exhibition at the Louvre Museum took us back through his artistic journey. Follow the evolution of the master as he plunges deeply into what he called the divine science….painting

 

The Beginning Of Modern Art, From The Academy To Van Gogh And Beyond

The 19th century was a time of change and upheaval. In the space of only 50 years, 5 centuries of painting tradition was turned upside down. Follow the artists journey and understand how it all happened.

 

Understanding Modern Art – Matisse To Warhol

A journey through the art of the 20th century and it’s fascinatingly diverse movements, how and why did it all happen, and what has been it’s impact on the art of today?

 

Beyond “The Scream” , The Art Of Edvard Munch

 

Everyone knows “The Scream” but not always the story of Norway’s most famous Modern Artist. His journey from Oslo, to Copenhagen, Berlin and, of course, Paris is documented in his tortured and expressive art. It is a voyage through one of the most exciting times in art history.

Introduction To The Hermitage Through 5 Major Works 

From Leonardo da Vinci, to Titian, Rembrandt, Canova and Monet, let this great museum tell the story of Western Art.

Viking Art Through 5 Extraordinary Objects 

Such a reputation for destruction and pillage, the last to relinquish paganism, but also creators of exquisite and moving art. 5 extraordinary and varied objects will tell a small part of their great story.

 

2000 Years Of Beauty

 

How the Greeks Invented Western Art

The human-cantered philosophies of Ancient Greece produced art of breathtaking beauty and set the seeds of Western aesthetics. Lost and forgotten for 1000 years, they were rediscovered in the Italian Renaissance and are at the origin of some of the greatest art humanity has ever made.

 

 Dazzling Venice 

The art of Bellini, Titian and Veronese

The Venetian Renaissance saw a remarkable boom in art of a brilliance and glamour rarely seen. Discover or rediscover the innovations of Giovanni Bellini, the long life of, probably the greatest ever portrait painter, Titian and the flamboyant irreverence of Veronese.

 

CreteS Greatest Painter – El Greco, Magnificent And Visionary

Was he mad, astigmatic, a heretic or simply a genius?

450 years on, his art seems modern” because his influence on artists like Cezanne, Picasso and Dali was so important. Discover the life and art of this unforgettable Mannerist painter and his journey from Crete to Venice and on to Spain

 

 Polo, From The Moghul Empire To The Open At Buenos Aires, A Sporting History

Hidden in plain sight, this precious 15th century wooden panel is full of tiny, hidden messages. The clue to what it all means it almost invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen by the initiated. Decode the complex and fascinating secrets of the Virgin and Chancellor Rolin by Jan Van Eyck.

Baltic Region Presentations

Preparation for the Hermitage, An Overview of Western Art

Preparation for the Hermitage, 5 star pieces

Wild Souls of the Baltic – European Symbolism (from the Orsay Museum exhibition)

Northern Light – The Danish Golden Age in Painting

Image and Power : Peter the Great, Catherine the Great

The Nude in Art, 2500 years of Beauty

The Art of the Portrait, Faces through Time

Mediterranean Region Presentations

How the Greeks Invented Western Art

Dazzling Venice

CreteS Greatest Painter – El Greco, Magnificent And Visionary

 

 

Recent Presentations

A Crash Course in Art History – Louvre Museum

But Just Why is Mona Lisa So Famous? – Louvre Museum

Leonardo da Vinci and his world – Louvre Museum

French History Through Art – Louvre Museum

The Impressionists and the Dawn of Modern Art – Paris, Orsay Museum

The Brilliance of El Greco – Grand Palais, Paris

From Montmartre to Montparnasse, The Avant-Garde in Paris – Conservative Women’s Association, London

Life, Love and Creation, Picasso Museum, Paris

Picasso and Calder – Paris

Is Contemporary Art Old Hat? Pompidou Centre, Paris

From Dubuffet to Damian Hurst – Pompidou Centre, Paris

Arch Rivals, Matisse and Picasso – Pompidou Centre, Paris

The French Answer to Pop Art – Palais de Tokyo, Paris

Contemporary Sculpture – Etienne Martin and Thomashouseago, Palais de Tokyo, Paris

The English Golden Age – Luxembourg Museum

The Secret Light of Black – Pierre Soulages, Louvre Museum

Image and Power, Napoleon seen by his Artists – Louvre Museum

Image and Power, Marie Antoinette – Conciergerie, Paris

Colour and Craft, the Nabis and Decor – Luxembourg Museum

Soutine, Modigliani and the School of Paris – Orangerie Museum, Paris

A Damned Couple, Nicki de St Phalle and Yves Tinguely, Pompidou Centre, Paris

Montmartre, a Crucible of Talent – The Montmartre Museum, Paris

 

 

Testimonials - the Louvre

Catherine is a real art expert. We learned so much about art appreciation and composition. An unexpected plus. She knows all the ins and outs of getting around the museum with effective ease and staying on point.

Her knowledge and passion for art created an exceptional experience for us. Thank you!

If you go to Paris, don’t miss the Louvre, and DON’T GO TO THE LOUVRE WITHOUT CATHERINE! As an accomplished artist herself, her enthusiasm and passion combined with her knowledge of art history shined through this highly educational tour of the most impressive collection of art in the world. Catherine was an excellent communicator, conveying a semester’s worth of art history in a captivating two and a half hours. Plus, as a highly experienced Louvre tour guide, she is unparalleled in efficiently

Awesome!! Our recent trip to Paris included a 3 1/2 tour with Catherine. She is as delightful as she is knowledge. I have had many private tour guides and can honestly say Catherine has been one of the best. ….Catherines accolades and education come through clearly in her gift of teaching.

One of the best tours we have had. Catherine is exceptionally knowledgeable and gives you a lot of information without making your eyes glaze over. We had our 11 year old granddaughter with us and she enjoyed it as well. If we spent a month at the Louvre we wouldn’t have seen or learned as much!

 

Presentation Media

Links to videos and history of Catherine’s professional work

Video clips of Art shows

Gallery

 

Videos in English and in French

Catherine Artist Guide and Instructor

TV interview - Portrait Artist (in French)

Destination Speaker Montenegro

Cruise presentation Sampler

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