23 May 2023

 

Seminar:  Privacy  Among  Many  -  

The  Withdrawing  Room  at  the  Stuart  Court

Julia Hamilton (University of London)

 

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Overview 

From the arrival of James VI&I to the death of Queen Anne thresholds, which defined the private realm in the royal apartments of English palaces, were continually adjusted on a sliding scale.  At the heart of the sequence lay the Withdrawing Room. This talk will map the evolution of this space which came to represent power, privacy, and privilege. Specifically, Charles II tipped the balance of power within his Household when he incorporated the Withdrawing Room into the King and Queen’s Privy Lodgings. The steps taken during the Restoration paved the way for the Drawing Room culture which grew during the late Stuart period and was magnified during the Georgian era.  

 

Chair

Dustin M. Neighbors

 

Seminar Timetable

17:00 – 17:10: Introduction (Chair)

17:10 – 17:55: Presentations

17:55 – 18:15: Q&A

 

Presenter bio

Julia Hamilton is a doctoral candidate at City, University of London. Her research focuses on the Stuarts' definition and decoration of space in the Privy Lodgings of English royal palaces. Her ten years in the Heritage sector include developing and delivering Interpretation at Ham House such as an external architecture tour of the House and an eighteenth-century portraiture tour relating to the 4th Earl of Dysart. Most recently, as part of the Royal Collection Trust, she curated the Adult Learning program at Windsor Castle and built a loyal following by offering unparalleled access to the Collection. She is a member of the Understanding Portraits Network, NPG, London, and an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.