Gallery Talk: Embroidering the Crown
Thu, 4 May, 2023
5:00pm
Cushion fragment (detail), England, 17th century. Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection T-1083. Photo by Bruce M. White Photography.
In anticipation of the coronation of Charles III of England this spring, the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center is presenting a micro exhibition featuring four 17th-century English embroideries in the collection — hidden gems connected to the Stuart dynasty. Deeply wedded to court iconography and classical mythology, these textiles reflect the familial ties, marital aspirations and court intrigues related to Charles I and his children: Charles II, Princess Mary and James II.
Join GW professor Rachel Pollack in the galleries for a lively discussion of the myths, music and court portraiture that may have influenced the making of these royal embroideries.
About Rachel Pollack
Rachel Pollack is a visiting professor of writing at the George Washington University and has taught courses for the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design and the University Honors Program. She has a Ph.D. in art history from the University of Maryland where she specialized in Northern Baroque art with a subspecialty in Greco-Roman sculpture.
About Micro Exhibitions
Visit the museum’s lower-level galleries to see a rotating selection of artworks from the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection. Inspired by contemporary culture and world events, these monthly micro exhibitions are collaborative projects with GW faculty and students.
About the Center
The Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center is home to one of the world’s most significant textile study collections. Assembled by the late Lloyd Cotsen, it consists of nearly 4,000 fragments of textiles created around the globe and dating from antiquity to the present, as well as some 100 sample books. Scholars, faculty, students and artists are invited to schedule a research visit, and the entire collection is accessible on our collections website. The center also presents rotating gallery displays and public programs inspired by the collection.
How to Participate
This program will be in a hybrid format. Join us in person at the museum or register to watch the livestream online via Zoom. When you register, you can also request to receive a reminder email one day before the program with the link included.