Ecole d'automne de l'IDHN
from July 3, 2023 to July 7, 2023
Published on May 17, 2023– Updated on March 4, 2024
"At the spanish school". Research on the collections of Golden Age hispanic painting in France
Venue: Musée du Louvre - Paris, Musée des Augustins -Toulouse et Musée Goya - Castres
International conference coordinated by Cécile Vincent-Cassy, UMR HERITAGES.
In 1963 the art historian Paul Guinard used the expression of French "taste" for Spanish “things” to characterize the approach of those who had been interested in Spanish painting in France. This interest triumphed in the 19th century, in the Hispanophile vogue symbolised by Victor Hugo’s Ruy Blas and Mérimée's Carmen (1845), and after the "spoliation" of works by Velázquez, Zurbarán or Ribera by Napoleonic generals.
Our summer school will therefore be dedicated to the study of the historical role of France in this paradoxical original sin: the discovery of Spanish painting internationally linked to this napoleonic spoliations.
The collections that are the legacy of this discovery have given rise to the formation of a "Spanish school". The issue of reflection on this school takes part in the very current reconfiguration of collections in museums. Should the presentation by "national" schools be maintained? What distinguishes the Spanish school from the Italian or the Flemish schools? Its alleged violence?
There is still a lack of research on the painting of the “Golden Age”. We will study the collections of the Louvre, the churches of Paris (major but almost ignored works), and the Musée Goya in Castres during 5 days.
The international team of researchers will be entrusted with work on these collections before the summer school for them to share and discuss with the rest of the team. It will consist of approximately 15 people (from France, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, U.S.A.).
It is also necessary to make this open to registration summer school a founding moment for training master, PHD and post-PHD students at an international level: it will be offered to twenty students selected on the basis of applications.
