Bonhams is to present a lecture by Sir Mark Jones, FSA, entitled, “Why do we collect?” on March 19 at 580 Madison Avenue, to begin at 7:00 PM. Sir Mark was the Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (2001-2011), the Director of the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh (1992-2001) and the Curator of Medals at the British Museum (1974-1992). He is presently the Master of St Cross College, Oxford.
Sir Mark will address the complexities of collecting from a variety angles, including examining concepts such as beauty, particularity and rarity. The relationship of culture and collection will also be discussed, including the significance of philanthropic collection and the role of museums.
“Mark Jones has one of the liveliest minds, and is one of the most influential museum professionals over the last few decades,” commented the evening’s moderator, Doctor Ian Wardropper, who will lead a question and answer session after the talk.
Dr Wardropper is the current Director of The Frick Collection in New York, a position he accepted in 2011. He was previously with the Metropolitan Museum of Art as the Iris and B Gerald Cantor Chairman of the Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts.
Dr Wardropper believes in the exploration of collection, such as the research happening in the Center for the History of Collecting at the Frick Art Reference Library. According to Dr Wardropper, “Collecting is a fundamental human activity that deserves scrutiny.”
The evening will be hosted by Jonathan Stone and his wife, Professor Louise Harpman of New York University’s Gallatin School, and is by invitation only.
For more information, please visit www.bonhams.com