Curating Leonardo: A Roundtable

Caroline Campbell (National Gallery), Per Rumberg (Royal Academy), Ana Debenedetti (V&A) and Catherine Yvard (National Art Library)
Chair: Ben Thomas (University of Kent Canterbury)

The 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci has brought with it an impressive array of exhibitions including Leonardo da Vinci (Louvre), Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing (Royal Collection Trust), Leonardo: Experience a Masterpiece (National Gallery), and Leonardo da Vinci: A Mind in Motion (British Library), together with shows in Florence, Milan, Budapest and New York. What have been the challenges for curators in addressing Leonardo's legacy? What have we learnt about Leonardo from the different approaches adopted? How can the complex and fragile artefacts associated with Leonardo be made accessible to today's public? How do temporary exhibitions differ from the long-term custodianship of works by this hugely significant if elusive artist? A panel of leading curators will discuss these and other issues raised by the Leonardo anniversary.

This event is kindly supported by The Italian Cultural Institute in London, the official Italian governmental body dedicated to promoting Italian language and culture in England and Wales. Part of a series of events marking the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death, organised by the Italian Cultural Institute, the Warburg Institute, the University of Kent, and the Centre for the Study of Cultural Memory at the Institute of Modern Languages Research.