Lecture & in conversation
European Sculpture in the Royal Collection
18:00–19:30
Henry Moore Institute, Leeds
On 23 September 2025, a milestone of sculpture scholarship will be reached by the publication of a catalogue of 1,800 works of European Sculpture in the Royal Collection.
To mark the appearance of this major new work in four volumes, the author Jonathan Marsden (former Director of the Royal Collection) will speak about the Collection with John Chu, Senior Curator of Pictures and Sculpture for the National Trust.
Ranging in date from the late 15th to the late 20th centuries and incorporating works from Britain and continental Europe in bronze, marble and other materials, both the Royal Collection and those of the National Trust are spread across multiple sites. Formed by the tastes of numerous individuals through several centuries, in what ways can they truly be called collections? How has sculpture most impacted the royal palaces and the great houses of Great Britain and Northern Ireland at different periods?
The creation of the catalogue has taken place over 27 years involving fieldwork, scientific examination, photography, conservation and archival research, notably in the Archive of Sculptors’ Papers at Henry Moore Institute. The event will also address the challenges faced by curators and institutions in documenting and publishing collections on such a scale today, and explore the public benefits that flow from such endeavours.
Main image: Charles Cordier, Vénus Africaine 1852, bronze.
The Royal Collection © 2025 H. M. King Charles III.
Tickets
Tickets to this event are free, and can be booked online via Eventbrite.
About the speakers
Jonathan Marsden
Jonathan Marsden was Surveyor of The Queen’s Works of Art and Director of The Royal Collection from 2010 to 2017, having previously served as Deputy Surveyor since 1996. Prior to that he worked as a curator for the National Trust in North Wales and Oxfordshire.
Marsden has served as a trustee of several arts and heritage organisations including Historic Royal Palaces, English Heritage, the Art Fund, the City & Guilds of London Art School. He is a Commissioner of Historic England. His catalogue of European Sculpture in the Collection of His Majesty The King will be published in four volumes on 23 September by Modern Art Press and Royal Collection Trust.
Dr John Chu
Dr John Chu is a Senior Curator at the National Trust. He leads on public engagement, research and development across all the organisation’s historic fine art collections. These include over 6,500 sculptures, from 5th-century Greek fragments to newly commissioned contemporary works. His research background is in painting and collecting in the long eighteenth century, having completed his doctorate on the British fancy picture. More recently, he has led research into private, domestic collections of 20th-century modern art and their transition into heritage.
Accessibility
This event takes place in our seminar room on the basement floor of the building. All floors can be reached by lift.
We want to make sure this event is open to the widest possible audience. If you have any questions, or suggestions on how we can improve access, please contact us: institute@henry-moore.org
Step-free entrance
We have an accessible entrance via lift (doors 100cm wide) on Cookridge Street, bringing you onto the ground floor of the building.
Internal lift
There is an internal passenger lift (doors 72cm wide) to all floors of the building.
Induction loops
There are induction loops at the welcome desk on the ground floor, library reception and in the seminar room.
There is a portable induction loop available for visitors to use in the galleries (please ask at the welcome desk).
Toilets
Outside the seminar room on the basement level we have three gender-neutral superloos (self-contained cubicles with a toilet and sink).
Additionally, we have one gender-neutral, accessible superloo, and one superloo with baby changing facilities.
Changing Places toilet
The closest Changing Places toilet is located in Leeds City Museum (approximately 350m away from us over a mostly flat route).
Guide dogs
Guide dogs, hearing dogs and other badged assistance dogs are welcome in our galleries and at this event.
The nearest green space is Park Square.
Getting here
Henry Moore Institute
74 The Headrow
Leeds
LS1 3AH
United Kingdom
T: 01132 467 467
E: institute@henry-moore.org
