Spotlight On: The Large Book of Ruins

Join curator Sally Foster as we take look at the Large book of ruins, a key work in our new exhibition The Grand Tour. This was the first major work to be published by Hieronymous Cock and his wife Volcxken Diericx in 1551, with the images drawn and etched by Cock himself. It is not known if Cock visited Rome, or if the ruins were based on earlier drawings made by other Netherlandish artists who had seen 'the real thing'. Regardless, Cock’s images were designed to appeal to the growing interest in ‘ruin mania’ that existed in Europe from the mid-sixteenth century. This will be an opportunity to pause and reflect on how we interpret history and its context through printed images, and discuss their enduring cultural impact.

Presented in partnership with the PGAV’s Analog Art program, Archives and Special Collections is launching its regular Spotlight Series. Selected by archivists, librarians, curators, researchers, academics and artists, every session will spotlight the wonders our collection hold, and create an informal space for engaging in critical conversations, reflective discussions, slow looking, creative workshops, talks and much more.