Celebrating the 400th anniversary of the birth of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, and timed to coincide with the end of the National Gallery’s exhibition of Murillo’s self-portraits, this symposium examines the legacy of one of Spain’s most celebrated painters.  Attendees also have the opportunity to examine some of Murillo’s drawings in the collections of The Courtauld Gallery, and can enjoy a wine and tapas reception after the symposium, as well as a concert of music from Golden Age Spain in Kings College London, a short walk from The Courtauld (please note that separate booking via the Instituto Cervantes London is required for the concert, which is free).

This symposium has been organised by ARTES – the Iberian and Latin American Visual Culture Group – in association with The Courtauld, the Office for Cultural and Scientific Affairs, Embassy of Spain in London, the Instituto Cervantes London and the Colnaghi Foundation.

Click here for tickets (general public £16, students £11)

Programme

13:00 – 14:30 Opportunity to visit the drawings by Murillo and other Spanish masters in the Courtauld Prints and Drawings Study Room

14:30 Welcome

14:35 – 15:05 Manuela Mena Marqués, Senior Curator of 18th Century Painting and Goya, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid

“Murillo the Draughtsman”

15:05 – 15:35 Xanthe Brooke, Curator of Continental European Art, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

“Murillo’s Virgin and Child in Glory: The Afterlife of a Great Baroque Altarpiece”

15:35 – 16:05 Benito Navarrete Prieto, Professor, History of Art at the University of Alcala and Director of the Department of History and Philosophy

“Empathy and Prestige: The Real Reasons for Collecting Murillo’s Work in the Seville of his Patrons”

16:05 – 16:35 Tea

16:35 – 17:05 Laura Alba Carcelén, Conservation Scientist, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid’

“At Murillo´s Workshop: Pictorial Materials and Procedures”

17:05 – 17:35 Mairi Macdonald, Birkbeck College, University of London

“Murillo and Depictions of Poverty”

17:35 – 17:55 Discussion and close

18:00 – 19:00 Drinks and tapas

19:30  Invitation to attend a free concert of Spanish Renaissance and Baroque music organised by the Instituto Cervantes in Kings College Chapel (next door to the Courtauld). Click here for tickets.