Johan Zoffany Conference

Zoffany and his International Contexts

14 May 2012

At the Geological Society, Piccadilly

Bookings will only be taken by the Paul Mellon Centre on 020 7580 0311 or events@paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk

Johan Zoffany, 'The Gore family with George, Third Earl Cowper', c. 1775. Oil on canvas. 78.7 x 97.8 cm. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection. The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, the Royal Academy of Arts, London, and the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, will be co-hosting a conference to accompany a major exhibition on the eighteenth-century Anglo-British artist Johan Zoffany (1733-1810).
The conference aims to address Zoffany's art in the context of four locations that were central to his practice: Germany, England, Italy, and India.

Born in Frankfurt in 1733, Johan Zoffany trained as an artist in Germany and Italy. In 1760 he moved to London, where he adapted brilliantly to the indigenous art culture and patterns of patronage, creating virtuoso portraits and subject pictures that proved to be highly desirable to a wide range of patrons. Of all the major artists working in eighteenth-century England, none explored more inventively the complexities of Georgian society and British imperial rule than Zoffany. Yet, despite achieving considerable success there, he remained in many ways an outsider, looking dispassionately at British society. Resisting complete integration into his adopted country, Zoffany travelled for extended periods in Europe and spent six years in northern India. His body of work offers unique perspectives on key British and European institutions, including the art academy, the royal court, the theatre, and the families of the aristocracy and bourgeoisie.

A full programme for the day can be downloaded here: Zoffany Conference Programme (70 KB)
For more information, please visit the Paul Mellon Centre website

Ticket Information

The full booking fee, including coffee, lunch, tea and a post conference reception is £40; Student and Senior Citizen concessions are £20.

To register for the conference please check availability with Ella Fleming at the The Paul Mellon Centre:
Email: events@paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7580 0311
Fax: 020 7636 6730
Once a place is confirmed please send a cheque made payable to the Paul Mellon Centre to 16 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3JA, including a self addressed stamped envelope.

Refund and Cancellation Policy
Refunds are only available if a week’s notice is given prior to the event.

• Royal Academy of Arts