****This event has been postponed to a date tbc****
Italian Studies, University of Edinburgh, is organising an event celebrating the historical twinning between Edinburgh and Florence: Fresh Renaissance – Florence, Edinburgh, and the Art of Phoebe Traquair.
Introducing his new book Rinascere: Storie e maestri di un’idea italiana (2019), Professor Nicola Gardini (University of Oxford) will discuss the Italian Renaissance as a historical phenomenon and, more in general, as an inspiring idea of cultural ‘rebirth’. Scholar and curator Dr Elizabeth Cumming (ECA, University of Edinburgh) will illustrate the influence of Italian Renaissance on Edinburgh-based artist Phoebe Anna Traquair (1852-1936). Finally, artist and art historian Julia Alexandra Mee (Fresco Painting Edinburgh) will present the Renaissance techniques of fresco painting and the legacy of Traquair’s work on her own mural cycle at Marchmont House, in the Scottish Borders.
The event is organised by Professor Davide Messina and Dr Carlo Pirozzi (Italian Studies, University of Edinburgh), with the kind support of the Italian Institute of Culture, Edinburgh, the Patronage of the Municipality of Florence, and in partnership with: History of Art, University of Edinburgh; Mansfield Traquair Trust, Edinburgh; Marchmont House; UNESCO Florence; British Institute of Florence; Studio Arts College International, Florence.
The event, which will take place on Thursday 19 March, 5-8pm, at the University of Edinburgh, 50 George square, Project Room (1st floor) is free and booking is not required.
You can download the poster with the full program here.
As part of the event, on Wednesday 18 March, 3-5pm, there will be special guided visits to the Mansfield Traquair Centre (15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh), known as ‘Edinburgh’s Sistine Chapel’, to admire Traquair’s mural paintings. The visit is coordinated by Dr Michelle Foot (ECA, University of Edinburgh) in collaboration with Dr Elizabeth Cumming and Julia Alexandra Mee.
Please note that the visit is open only to students of the Italian Institute of Culture (RSVP: rsvp.iicedimburgo@esteri.it) and the University of Edinburgh (RSVP: mfoot@exseed.ed.ac.uk, please specify subject 'Mansfield Traquair Centre Visit').
This is event is twinned with the forthcoming conference Art and Legacy of Phoebe Anna Traquair, to be held at the British Institute of Florence, on May 6, 2020.
