Press Release: Universities Week Events

14 June 2011

14 June 2011

Starting from today (14 June) the University is getting involved in Universities Week: What’s the Big Idea?, which aims to highlight the crucial role that universities play in our society and why higher education is something for young people to aspire to.

As part of Universities Week there will be two guest lectures: the first, by Jeremy Howard, is entitled ‘A Picture for a great coup: the creation, remarkable history and eventual sale of Titian’s Rape of Europa’, will be held tonight at 18:30 at the Ian Fairbairn Lecture Hall: and the second, ‘Has Listing Gone too Far’ by Nicola Smith, will be on Thursday 16 June in the Ian Fairbairn Lecture Hall, and explores the origins and development of historic building preservation in this country.

Today and on Saturday 18 June we are also pitching our very own university market stall which will have information about the university, merchandise, and campus development.

Tonight: Public Lecture by Jeremy Howard: ‘A Picture for a great coup: the creation, remarkable history and eventual sale of Titian’s Rape of Europa’.

In this lecture Jeremy Howard, Head of Art History at Buckingham and Senior Researcher at Colnaghi, traces the story of a great masterpiece. Created for Philip II of Spain, later destined as a wedding present for Charles I, the painting passed first into the collection of the Duc d’Orleans, eventually reaching England during the time of the French Revolution. For almost a century it hung in Lord Darnley’s collection before being sold, in the 1890s, to the great millionaire collector, Isabella Stewart Gardiner. Drawing upon letters and accounts in the Colnaghi archives, Jeremy Howard unravels the complex negotiations which led up to its eventual sale and triumphant installation in Boston in 1896.

Jeremy Howard is the Programme Director and Tutor for Admissions for the MA in Decorative Arts and Historic Interiors, as well as Head of Research at the art dealers, Colnaghi. Educated at Oxford and the Courtauld Institute of Art, Jeremy spent thirteen years in the London art market, first at Christie’s and then at Colnaghi, and also worked for a number of years for a gallery specialising in architectural drawings. Jeremy joined The University of Buckingham in 2000 and set up the MA in Decorative Arts and Historic Interiors. His research interests include British eighteenth-, nineteenth- and early twentieth-century patronage and collecting, the Grand Tour and the English country house, and the history of the London art market. He has recently published a history of Colnaghi and its role in the art market to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the firm.

Thursday 16 June: Public Lecture by Dr Nicola Smith: ‘Has Listing Gone too Far’

England’s historic buildings enjoy a system of protection second to none. Some people consider that this interferes unreasonably with private property rights, but the majority of us accept it either as a necessary evil or, more often and perhaps more surprisingly, as a thoroughly good thing. This lecture will explore the origins and development of historic building preservation in this country, and consider its likely future.

Nicola Smith studied art history at the University of Manchester and began her career as a Historic Buildings Inspector for English Heritage – a brilliant introduction to English architecture and the practical challenges of conservation. She then taught art history and heritage management at Buckingham, where she discovered that she loves teaching. She is currently a Director of Art Pursuits UK, organising cultural tours, study days and short courses, and is looking forward to doing more teaching at Buckingham again. She has published books and articles on English architecture and sculpture, and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Our lectures are free and open to all.

For further information on these events, please contact the Publicity Office.