This is an illustrated talk about the life and work of Boris Anrep, the great British artist and mosaicist of Russian origin. The evening will include readings,  in English and Russian, of poems by Anna Akhmatova and Anrep. Boris Vassillievich Anrep was born in 1883 in St. Petersburg, his father being a distinguished physiologist and Professor of medicine. Although studying law Boris Anrep, during a trip to Italy, was so inspired by the Roman and Byzantine mosaics he saw, that he abandoned his legal studies and began to paint, to write poems, and to learn the art of assembling mosaics. He came to London in 1911, and became closely involved with leading members of the Bloomsbury Group, whose attitude to art and bohemian lifestyle he shared.  Outstanding mosaics  - of exquisite beauty - made by him can still be seen at the National Gallery and Westminster Cathedral and will be shown during the presentation. The talk will also feature the inter-connecting lives of Boris Anrep and the great Russian poet Anna Akhmatova,  a number of whose poems were inspired by Anrep. He in turn was inspired to write poems about Akhmatova.

David Brummell, a graduate of Queens' College Cambridge, is a government lawyer with particular expertise in public law and constitutional law. In 2005 he was awarded the CB. He has for many years had a deep interest in all aspects of Russian culture, in particular Russian poetry. He is a long-standing member of the Pushkin Club, a former trustee of Pushkin House (2004-2013)  and has recently been appointed Vice Chairman of The Great Britain-Russia Society.

Please note that GB Russia society website is currently out of order. This talk is NOT Sold Out. Tickets will be available to purchase on the door (please bring cash) .