BUYING ANTIQUITIES IN 18th CENTURY ROME AND NAPLES with Gerard Vaughan

The Townley Collection of heavily restored Roman marbles at the British Museum is today largely ignored by the millions of visitors who flock to the British Museum to view its ‘primary’ collections of Greek and Roman antiquities. 

But that was not the case in the 18th century when the Townley Collection was one of the most celebrated in Europe. This talk will throw light on Charles Townley’s activities in Rome and Naples at a key moment of classical revival in European taste and ideas.

Dr Gerard Vaughan is Director of the National Gallery of Victoria and an art historian with extensive experience within the international art and museum worlds.

Johan Zoffany, Charles Townley and his friends in the library of his house at 7 Park Street, Westminster, 1781-3, Townley Art Gallery & Museum, Burnley