Events at the Warwick Venice Centre

The Frances Clarke Annual Lecture was given this year by Sarah Quill on Friday the 10th of October in the Warwick Venice Centre. The title of the lecture, “The Illustrious Pilgrim, An English Prince in Venice, 1392-93”, drew interest from many members of the community who attended to listen to the engaging lecture discussing Henry IV. Many of Warwick’s History of Art undergraduates were also present as they started their term in Venice this week, and who had the opportunity to discuss further with Sarah as the refreshments which followed.

Sarah Quill, a trustee of Venice in Peril, has worked between Venice and London for many years to create a photograph archive of Venetian architecture, sculpture and daily life. Her book Ruskin’s Venice: the Stones Revisited (2000) was followed by a new edition, which has been translated into Italian. She lectures regularly, principally on Venetian subjects. An abstract of the talk and photos from the event are included below.

Abstract:

The English prince in the title of this lecture is Henry Bolingbroke (1367–1413), also known as Henry of Derby; later duke of Lancaster, and eventually King Henry IV from 1399–1413. So much emphasis has been placed on Henry Bolingbroke’s military and chivalric accomplishments in the historical accounts of his life, that his many cultural interests have tended to be overlooked. He was well-read, and built up an important library; he read and wrote fluently in Latin, French and English, and was a competent musician.

Drawing on records of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Venetian Senate, as well as the contemporary chronicles, this talk will give a brief historical background of the situation in England during his early years, and will describe the six weeks that Henry spent in Venice in late 1392 and early 1393, on either side of his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, travelling in a galley provided by the Venetian Senate. He was welcomed by the Doge, Antonio Venier, and attended Mass at San Marco. Later, a reception was given for him at Palazzo Ducale, and the Doge accompanied him to various churches, where offerings were made.

This illustrated lecture will give an overview of Venice in the late fourteenth century; and will show the works of art that Henry will have seen in the city -- all then in situ in the churches he visited – as well as illustrating the architecture and sculptures that were in place in the city at the time.

Henry’s long-lasting diplomatic relations with Venice were forged on this visit, and one of his first communications, four days after his coronation in October 1399, was a letter to Doge Michele Steno announcing his accession to the throne and promising to favour all Venetians who arrived in his dominions.