Art and Arbitrage: Gold across the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages
- DATE:
- TIME:
- 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- SPEAKER:
- Sarah M. Guérin, Associate Professor of Medieval Art, History of Art Department, University of Pennsylvania
During the European Middle Ages, silver was more abundant for the northern shores of the Mediterranean, whereas coastal North Africa enjoyed easier access to gold via trans-Saharan trade. Each had something the other wanted, and sought to leverage the system to their own advantage. This differential led to rivalry, subterfuge and even war, with the Crusade to Tunis in 1270 being largely spurred and motivated by a thirst for gold. In addition to their use for exchange and coinage, gold and silver were artists’ materials, and their paucity or abundance profoundly shaped artistic practice. In this lecture, Guérin reveals how this valuable metal influenced both historical events and artistic production.
Advance registration for members is now full.
Tickets for all guests will be available for walkups on the day of the lecture starting at 4:00 p.m.
EVENT DETAILS
- Fee:
- Free with museum admission.
- Details:
- Doors open 30 minutes before program. Advance ticket-holders may check in at the Membership Desk between 12:00 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. to receive a sticker for their seat (seating is not assigned). Everyone must be seated no later than 4:50 p.m. Guests who are not in their seat by 4:50 p.m. may forfeit their ticket.
- Location:
- Theater