Stunned by Art - The Stendhal Syndrome | SHEPPY DOG FUND LECTURE

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025 at 06:00 pm UTC-05:00

1120 E Kearsley St, Flint, MI, United States, Michigan 48503 | Flint

Flint Institute of Arts
Publisher/HostFlint Institute of Arts
Stunned by Art - The Stendhal Syndrome | SHEPPY DOG FUND LECTURE
Advertisement
Dr. Lawrence Nichols, Guest Lecturer
In 1817 the French novelist Stendhal visited the basilica of Santa Croce in Florence. He would write in his journal, I underwent the profoundest experience of ecstasy that I ever encountered through the painter’s art. As I emerged from the porch of Santa Croce, I was seized with a fierce palpitation of the heart, the well-spring of life was dried up within me, and I walked in constant fear of falling to the ground. This lecture will delve into this phenomenon of intense emotional and physical responses to art, a condition professionally diagnosed and named “Stendhal Syndrome” in 1979, referencing personal experiences with art works by Rogier van der Weyden, Raphael, Bruegel, Caravaggio, Poussin, Rembrandt, Chardin, Goya, Ingres, and Matisse, among others.
Lawrence W. Nichols is curator emeritus at the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA), from which he retired in 2021. He joined the TMA in 1992 after serving as associate curator of the John G. Johnson Collection at the Philadelphia Museum of Art from 1986 to 1992. He received his B.A. from Dartmouth College and Ph.D. from Columbia University. A specialist in northern Baroque painting, his book The Paintings of Hendrick Goltzius, 1558-1617, A Monograph and Catalogue Raisonné was published in March 2013. He has curated numerous exhibitions at the TMA including “The Brilliance of Caravaggio: Four Paintings in Focus”, “Frans Hals Portraits, A Family Reunion”, “Manet: Portraying Life”, and “Van Gogh: Fields. Nichols continues to serve on the old master paintings vetting committee of The European Fine Arts Fair held in Maastricht each March. In addition, he serves on the Art Advisory Panel of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. He chaired the International Indemnity Program Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts from 2016 to 2020.
Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

1120 E Kearsley St, Flint, MI, United States, Michigan 48503

Tickets
Icon
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Ask AI if this event suits you:

More Events in Flint

Flint Firebirds vs. Guelph Storm
Tue, 09 Dec at 07:00 pm Flint Firebirds vs. Guelph Storm

Dort Financial Center

Steel Panther
Tue, 09 Dec at 07:00 pm Steel Panther

The Machine Shop Concert Lounge

Chick-Fil-A Dine Out to Donate Night
Wed, 10 Dec at 04:00 pm Chick-Fil-A Dine Out to Donate Night

Chick-fil-A I75 & Miller Road

Annual Wreath Event
Wed, 10 Dec at 04:00 pm Annual Wreath Event

Charter Senior Living of Stepping Stone Falls

FAFSA Workshop - December
Wed, 10 Dec at 05:30 pm FAFSA Workshop - December

2413 W Maple Ave, Flint, MI 48507-3429, United States

Monthly Community Meetup!
Wed, 10 Dec at 06:15 pm Monthly Community Meetup!

5154 Miller Rd. , Flint, MI, United States, Michigan 48507

STEEL PANTHER at The Machine Shop
Wed, 10 Dec at 07:00 pm STEEL PANTHER at The Machine Shop

3539 S Dort Hwy, Flint, MI, United States, Michigan 48507

Creed Fisher
Wed, 10 Dec at 07:00 pm Creed Fisher

The Machine Shop Concert Lounge

Guelph Storm at Flint Firebirds at Dort Financial Center
Wed, 10 Dec at 07:00 pm Guelph Storm at Flint Firebirds at Dort Financial Center

Dort Financial Center

Steel Panther at The Machine Shop - MI
Wed, 10 Dec at 08:00 pm Steel Panther at The Machine Shop - MI

The Machine Shop - MI

Parking Guelph Storm at Flint Firebirds
Thu, 11 Dec at 12:00 am Parking Guelph Storm at Flint Firebirds

Dort Financial Center

Flint is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Flint Events