Medieval Multiplied: Reproductions of Artworks and their Place in Art History

Event details

Please join us for the History of Art Research Seminar “Medieval Multiplied: Reproductions of Artworks and their Place in Art History” with Dr Tom Nickson (The Courtauld) on Wednesday, 5 March, 5-7pm in BS/005 Lecture Theatre (Bowland Auditorium).

This event will be followed by a drinks reception in the History of Art department foyer.

This paper addresses issues arising from a recent exhibition in The Courtauld Gallery, Medieval Multiplied: A Gothic Ivory and its Reproductions, co-curated by Tom Nickson and Alexandra Gerstein. I will first focus on one Gothic ivory mirror case, exploring the history of its ownership, study, display and reproduction, before and especially after its acquisition in 1855 by the Museum of Ornamental Art (now the Victoria & Albert Museum). What technologies were employed to reproduce this object, when and why? How have they shaped scholarly understanding and methods, as well as art-historical teaching? More broadly, I explore the status of historic reproductions as artworks and historiographic witnesses, especially as they face growing threats of destruction.

Image caption: Poster for Medieval Multiplied: A Gothic Ivory and its Reproductions. Credit: The Courtauld Gallery)