From Mexico to Mughal India: artistic exchange in the Renaissance

Art exchange played a vital role in the age of exploration and discovery across the globe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Gifts of art objects offered profound moments of inter-cultural dialogue because they were not hindered by the barriers of language. Art also provided a means by which different cultures participated in each other’s structures of power, and it was used to establish hierarchies between cultures. But the encounter with the exotic and the idea of “the other” which art exchange brought about, resulted chiefly in a re-imagining of oneself and one’s own place in the world. From Raphael’s red chalk drawing sent to Dürer and Bellini’s visit to Ottoman Turkey, to the Quetzal crown of the last Aztec king Moctezuma and the impact of European art in Mughal India, this lecture will examine the circulation of art within a world in motion during the early modern period.

Please note that this lecture will be delivered via Zoom and you will need to be familiar with this app in order to participate – we do not have the capacity to provide any back-up or advice on the use of Zoom. We recommend that you log on to Zoom 15 minutes before the start time of the event even if you are familiar with the app since the process can take some time if a lot of participants are logging on at the same time.

Lectures are free to members but require booking since places are limited. Please only book one place, unless you have joint membership and are using separate devices to join the lecture online. You will receive an email the day before the lecture with details of how to join the event.