A Grand Tour of the Imagination

During the infrequent periods of peace in the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries, rich young people and inquisitive artists of independent means travelled throughout southern Europe. Justin takes us into the minds of the Grand Tourists and the development of their taste.

Justin Reay

Justin Reay, after officer service in the Royal Navy, Justin had a long career in business management, latterly as Director of Studies for executive colleges in Oxford and Washington DC. He was one of the earliest consultants in knowledge management and e-learning, advising the UK Government, until he retired from business in 2000.

Justin then studied the History of Art and Architecture at Oxford, and later studied Classical culture with the University of Athens. While researching for a doctorate in naval history, Justin was invited to join the Bodleian Library as a senior academic manager, advising external researchers and graduate students, editing manuscripts in the Bodleian's collections, and acting as the Bodleian’s internal consultant on maritime documents and artworks.

He is a published historian. A qualified teacher, he is a tutor in the History of Art and Architecture and Classical Studies for independent colleges at Oxford and for private graduate students. He was recently commissioned to write a university preparation course on human creativity and innovation in the age of Artificial Intelligence. A member of the Arts Society West Oxfordshire, Justin is a frequent lecturer for The Arts Society with a wide range of talks, study mornings and study days on art history, painting, sculpture, architecture and decorative arts across cultures from antiquity to the modern era.