Travelling East via Burlington House: Orientalist painting at the Royal Academy

Please be aware this event has been postponed from 7th March until 23rd April.

The nineteenth century saw a marked increase in the number of British artists travelling to the East. They went in search of a variety of artistic experiences, some motivated by religion, others by adventure, or the chance to discover something ‘new’ to present to the viewing audience at home. The results of these sojourns were shown annually on the walls of the Royal Academy.

This lecture will explore the artists who travelled primarily across the lands of the Ottoman Empire, and the network of British Orientalist painters, that emerged through their shared exhibition venue - the Royal Academy summer show. Although not as cohesive as other artistic movements such as the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, this network functioned as an important, public facing facet of Britain’s relationship with the Middle East. By looking closely at these paintings we can better understand how artists sought to make global connections through their art.

The talk will be followed by a drinks reception. All attendees welcome.