Courtly Gifts and Cultural Diplomacy: Art, Material Culture and British-Russian Relations, 2023

Since the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2022, artistic and cultural relations between Russia and Britain have entered a difficult phase. However, when the longer historical picture is considered, there are countless examples of visual culture that can illustrate the presence of a flourishing British-Russian cultural dialogue. One fascinating aspect of this history is that of gift giving and cultural diplomacy between the Russian and British monarchies. In 2018-2019, Louise Hardiman worked with Royal Collection Trust and others to organise an academic conference accompanying the groundbreaking exhibition, “Russia, Royalty and the Romanovs” at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. Building on this important project, she decided to edit a collection of articles on the topic. In this lecture, Hardiman will discuss the book “Courtly Gifts and Cultural Diplomacy: Art, Material Culture and British-Russian Relations”, which was published by Brill Schöningh in spring 2023. Covering topics from ambassadorial portraits to gifts of exotic plants, to objects of Fabergé, the book presents a richly illustrated survey of the topic through essays from twelve experts drawn from academia, Royal Collection Trust, and the private sector.

The arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at Windsor, 7 March 1874 signed and dated 1874. NICHOLAS CHEVALIER (1828-1902). Royal Collection Trust © 2023 His Majesty King Charles III

Louise Hardiman

Louise Hardiman is an independent academic and lecturer specialising in Russian, Ukrainian, and Soviet art and the history of British-Russian cultural relations. Her publications and ongoing research focus mainly on the art and design history of late imperial Russia and the involvement of women in cross-cultural artistic exchange. Hardiman is co-editor of Modernism and the Spiritual in Russian Art (2017) and Abramtsevo and its Legacies: Neo-National Art, Craft, and Design (2019), and editor of Courtly Gifts and Cultural Diplomacy: Art, Material Culture, and British-Russian Relations (2023). She has also published two collections of folk tales by the Arts and Crafts artist Elena Polenova: Why the Bear has no Tail and other Russian Folk Tales (2014), and The Story of Synko Filipko and other Russian Folk Tales (2019). In 2023 Hardiman is teaching the course “Russian Art: Modernism to Post-Soviet” at the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education.

Followed by a drinks reception.

WHEN: Thursday, 22 June, 18:30 – 20:00

WHERE: Yusuf Hamied Theatre, Christ College, 46 King St, Cambridge CB1 1LN

LANGUAGE: English

TICKETS: £5 for CamRuSS members and concessions: students, OAPs, children and people on Universal credit, £8 – standard ticket.

Online via Zoom – free for CamRuSS members and £5 for non-members.

*Please note that £1 booking fee will be added to your ticket.

Reserve tickets here.