"Renaissance Lives" (London/online, 19 Mar-18 Jun 26) at The Warburg Institute.

Renaissance Lives is a series of biographies published by Reaktion Books, as well as a series of conversations discussing how individuals transmitted or changed the lives of traditions, ideas, and images.

Host and series editor: François Quiviger, Warburg Institute Associate Fellow

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PROGRAM

19 March 2026, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Francis I The Knight-King
Glenn Richardson (St Mary’s University Twickenham) in conversation with Penny Roberts (University of Warwick)
Francis I of France led one of the most colourful and influential courts of the sixteenth century. Known as the ‘knight–king’, he was a chivalric warrior, a strong ruler and a passionate patron of the arts and of the French nobility. While he faced setbacks and took significant risks, Francis left his successor a kingdom that was larger, better governed and more stable than before. This concise biography paints a vivid portrait of Francis, exploring his achievements, challenges and enduring legacy. It captures his role in shaping the French Renaissance, blending engaging storytelling with insights drawn from extensive primary research. Cogent and lively, this book provides a clear narrative of Francis’s reign and explains why he is celebrated as France’s great Renaissance monarch.

Registration: https://sas.sym-online.com/registrationforms/warburg-booking5894858970/

28 May 2026, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Francisco de Zurbarán and the Fabric of the World
Jeremy Robbins (University of Edinburgh) in conversation with Peter Cherry (Trinity College Dublin)
Francisco de Zurbarán, master of Spain’s Golden Age, painted with unmatched stillness and intensity. Famed for his monks, saints and martyrs, he also created mesmerizing still lifes, making fabrics shimmer and fruit glow with quiet presence. This book explores how Zurbarán’s art captures the spiritual inwardness of seventeenth-century Spain, placing him within the mystical and contemplative culture of his time. It also explores Zurbarán’s engagement with Seville’s transatlantic art market and how his devotional paintings offered visual consolation at moments of national crisis. Challenging the limits of genre, Zurbarán’s style reveals a distinctive 'still-life aesthetic' across his work – deeply meditative, hauntingly beautiful and spiritually attuned. A major reappraisal of a canonical painter, this book situates Zurbarán as one of early modern Europe’s most powerful artists.

Registration: https://sas.sym-online.com/registrationforms/warburg-booking589485897058972/

18 June 2026, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Domenico Ghirlandaio: An Elite Artisan and his World
Jean K. Cadogan (Trinity College, Hartford) in conversation with Maria DePrano (University of California at Merced)
Domenico Ghirlandaio (1448–94) was a master of Renaissance art, celebrated for his vivid frescoes and detailed portraits. Teacher to Michelangelo and admired by Lorenzo de’ Medici, Ghirlandaio’s work reflects the vibrant artistic culture of fifteenth-century Florence. This book examines Ghirlandaio’s career in the context of the craft traditions, guilds, and workshops that shaped his art. It also analyses his famous works, such as the Santa Maria Novella frescoes and the portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni, revealing the creative and technical processes behind them. By uncovering the social and cultural influences on Ghirlandaio’s art—including family ties and religious affiliations—the book offers a rich portrait of an artist whose work continues to inspire today.

Registration: https://sas.sym-online.com/registrationforms/warburg-booking58948589705897259092/

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If you have any problems with the registration, please contact the Events team on +44 (0)20 7862 8910 or send an email to warburgsas.ac.uk

Attendance is free with advance booking.

Registration: https://sas.sym-online.com/registrationforms/warburg-booking58948/