COLLECTING & DISPLAY SEMINAR
The Afterlife of the Paston Treasure Exhibition, 6pm
Andrew Moore and Francesca Vanke in conversation
6pm on 10 June, 2019
Pollard Room, Instiute of Historical Research, Senate House, Malet St. London WC1E 7HU
Join curators Andrew Moore and Francesca Vanke in a discussion with a distinguished panel of scholars to discuss some of the issues raised by the important exhibition, The Paston Treasure: Microcosm of the Known World, held at the Yale Centre in New Haven and then last summer at the Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery focussed on this extraordinary painting. The exhibition brought together works of art illustrated in the painting along with material related to the cultural and intellectual world of Sir William Paston, first Baronet (1610-1663) and his son Robert, first Earl of Yarmouth (1631-1683). Dr. Andrew Moore, former Keeper of Art, and Senior Curator at Norwich Castle and Dr. Francesca Vanke, Chief Curator and Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art will open the session with their reflections on issues that emerged from the exhibition and questions sill remaining.
Professor John Heilbron, Professor of History and Vice-Chancellor Emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, and senior research fellow at Worcester College, Oxford will consider the question of the scientific aspects of the painting and the fascination both William and Robert Paston had in science and alchemy in the context of his forthcoming book on the scientific circles in England in the 17th century, Why is Galileo in this Painting. Dr. Simon Mills, Teaching Fellow in British and European History 1500-1800 at Newcastle University, has a specialist interest in British travellers to the Ottoman Empire and will consider the travels of William Paston to Egypt and Jerusalem in the context of British travellers of the period. The sumptuous works of art in the painting form the third topic for discussion with Dr David M. Mitchell, author of many books on silver and goldsmiths’ work, including Silversmiths in Elizabethan and Stuart London, with a focus on British collectors of silver in the 17 th century as well as trade and contacts with the Netherlands. The session will be chaired by Adriana Turpin, currently Head of Research, IESA, Paris, who will contribute on the subject of visitors to the Medici Tribuna in Florence.
The seminar is free and open to all interested participants.