Inaugural Lecture by Professor Laura Moretti.

Join the School for Professor Laura Moretti's Inaugural Lecture in School 3 on May 15th at 5.15pm. It will be followed by a reception in Lower College Hall.

This lecture addresses the display history of the Betende Knabe (Praying Boy), a Greek bronze statue currently housed in the Altes Museum in Berlin, exploring the interplay between this enigmatic figure and its ever-changing role within the spaces it has inhabited over the last 500 years.

The lecture analyses how the object's presentation has evolved throughout its travels, from private collections to prestigious museums, bearing silent witness to seismic shifts in European history. It examines how these changing contexts and display practices have shaped the viewers' understanding and interpretation of the statue. Beyond the physical object itself, it delves into the ideological and power dynamics embedded in the artwork's display.

By considering the Betende Knabe as a site of artistic expression and a platform for political commentary, the lecture will offer a richer understanding of the dynamic relationships between art, display, and power structures within museum and gallery walls.