Monuments in Conversation: Westminster Abbey in the Eighteenth Century

On 6 May 2023, Westminster Abbey staged its 39th royal coronation, confirming its continued cultural and political significance at the ceremonial heart of Britain. The Abbey also draws significant attention through both conventional and social media, and received more than 1.5 million visitors in 2022, making it one of the top 25 UK tourist attractions (latest available figures, Association of Leading Visitor Attractions).

However, research into the monumental fabric which informs these official and public engagements is startlingly scarce. Social and religious histories are usually prioritised over the monuments, despite their art historical significance as works by several of Britain’s most renowned sculptors who, among many others, became major influences in British monumental sculpture.

Monuments in Conversation: Westminster Abbey in the Eighteenth Century aims to rectify some of this dearth of scholarship addressing Westminster Abbey’s canon.

The conference will bring together experts in the fields of eighteenth-century studies, sculptural studies, and the history of Westminster Abbey to explore intersections between monuments in this vast commemorative pantheon. Conversations between the monuments and panellists will yield insights into themes of artistry and craftsmanship, race and empire, faith and ecclesiology and question what these complex and multifaceted displays of British sculptural identities mean in an increasingly contentious twenty-first-century context.

The event consists of two parts. A preliminary study group for speakers, including a visit to Westminster Abbey, in early June 2024; and a public conference informed by these initial discussions, held at the Henry Moore Institute on Wednesday 17 July 2024. This conference will take place over the whole day and conclude with a general round table panel, inviting contributions from audience members and speakers.

Monuments in Conversation is a collaboration between the University of York Department of History of Art and the Henry Moore Institute, with support from the University of York Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies.

We invite submissions of short papers (no more than 15-20 minutes) focusing on either a single monument in various Westminster Abbey contexts or small group of monuments from across the Abbey canon.

Themes might include but are not limited to:

• Immediate surrounding architectural and sculptural fabric
• Other canonical entries by the same sculptor
• Associations between commemorated individuals
• Iconographic comparisons to other monuments within Westminster Abbey
• Relationships between sculptors at Westminster Abbey
• Curatorial reconfigurations or partial decommissions
• Materialities and conservation
• Online digital receptions on the Westminster Abbey website
• Intersections between sculpted and live environments

Applicants are kindly asked to submit:

• a proposal identifying your chosen monument(s)
• a brief abstract (no more than 250 words) of your paper
• a short biographical note

The deadline to apply is Monday 15 April 2024.

Please email your proposals to: research@henry-moore.org

Successful applicants will be notified by 30 April 2024.

Some funding to reimburse travel and accommodation expenses is available.