The Master’s Book Club

Professor Sharon Peacock CBE FMedSci CBE in conversation with alumnus and Fellow Prof. Sir Christopher Frayling, author of: The Hollywood History of Art.

Hosted at Churchill College, Cambridge, by Professor Sharon Peacock, the Master’s Book Club series delves into some of the recent books published by members of the College. Wide-ranging discussions with the authors will shed new light on aspects of our past, present and future that connect with how we live today.

Join us to hear from Churchill College Fellow and alumnus Prof. Sir Christopher Frayling, writer, broadcaster and former Rector of the Royal College of Art, in conversation with the Master of Churchill College, Prof. Sharon Peacock, as they discuss his latest book The Hollywood History of Art.

Ever since the dawn of the sound era, Hollywood has told the story of the artist, from Charles Laughton as Rembrandt, to Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo. Dismissed by art historians as unreliable, even fanciful, these films reveal something else entirely: how art and artists have entered the cultural bloodstream of modern society.

In The Hollywood History of Art, Christopher Frayling traces this fascinating story in full for the first time, drawing on years of archive research and interviews with those who made these films. He asks what Hollywood’s screenwriters assumed audiences already knew about art history, how they chose which artists to feature and which stars to cast, and what impact these larger-than-life portrayals have had on the real art world’s exhibitions, auctions and collections.

Entry is free but this is a ticketed event and booking is essential. The event will be followed by a drinks reception at 7pm.

The Master’s Book Club: Hosted at Churchill College, Cambridge by Prof. Sharon Peacock, this In Conversation series explores recent books published by members and Fellows of the College. Wide‑ranging discussions shed new light on the ideas shaping our past, present and future, and how they connect to the world we live in today.