'Slavery, Paintings & Politics of the Commonwealth’: a talk by Holly Brewer

11-12-25 - 11-12-25,
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Admission: ££6.50 Adults, £5.00 Students/Museum Members

Location: Via Zoom

How was the issue of the growing transatlantic slave trade debated via paintings and policies before, during and after the interregnum? During this period there was an increasing fashion for depicting servants of African origin in portraits of the time of the Stuart monarchs, even one which seems to show Cromwell himself. What do these tell us about attitudes to slavery at the time?

Holly Brewer is Burke Professor of American History and Associate Professor at the University of Maryland. She is a specialist in early American history and the early British empire as well as early modern debates about justice. Her first book traced the origin and impact of "democratical" ideas across the empire by examining debates about who can consent in theory and legal practice and is currently finishing a book that examines the origins of American slavery in larger political and ideological debates: it is tentatively entitled " Slavery & Sovereignty in Early America and the British Empire,” for which she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2014.

This talk will be recorded and put on a private channel after the 'live talk' for ticket holders to view at their leisure if they miss the live talk or wish to view them again.

Please click on the links for more details and tickets for individual talks. To purchase season tickets for all talks please go to the talk season page.

We are delighted to welcome over four Thursdays:

Thursday 13 November - David Smith on 'Cromwell on Film'

Thursday 20 November - Edward Davis on 'Cromwell's Nemesis: the Earl of Manchester and the Civil War'

Thursday 4 December – Mark Turnbull on 'Prince Rupert: Commander, Creator & Companion’

Thursday 11 December – Holly Brewer on 'Slavery in Paintings and Politics of the Commonwealth’

Click on the titles for more information and individual bookings.

PLEASE NOTE: These talks will be held online via Zoom. Joining details will be sent 48 hours before the talk.

Admission: £24 Adults (for 4 talks), £18 for students/Museum Members (for 4 talks); for individual talks £6.50 Adults, £5 students/Museum Members.

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