About

See the Queen’s House and its collections in a new light with this series of free lunchtime talks exploring art, architecture, history and the contemporary culture.

The term ‘salon’ was used historically to describe social gatherings in the domestic sphere. Participation was open to a range of individuals, and women often acted as hosts. Salons were alternative spaces for learning, debate and the exchange of ideas. 

Speakers at the Salons series include artists, researchers, curators and creative practitioners. Taking inspiration from the history of the Queen’s House and its collections, their talks bring to light new insights and share different perspectives.

Programme: 

Coffee Table Reading: Pieter Goos’s ‘Water World’ (2nd April)
In the 17th century, the Dutch increasingly challenged the Spanish and Portuguese for domination over global maritime trade. Amsterdam’s map industry was central to Dutch colonial ambitions, and the fierce competition between mapmakers ushered in a Golden Age of cartography. 

In a bid to outdo one other, each ‘new and improved’ atlas was more lavish than the last. One of the most spectacular examples - Pieter Goos’s ‘Water World’, is on display in the Queen’s House. A ‘best seller’ of its day, the atlas was first published in 1666. It was available in English, Spanish, and French as well as its original Dutch. However, with its opulent gold leaf decoration and intricate hand-coloured illustrations, the atlas was never intended for everyday navigation. 

This talk by Tim May, Curator of Maps and Mobilities, will explore the atlas's hidden (and often quirky) features, as well as the colonial desires underpinning its creation. 

Crosscurrents: Miniatures from Mughal India to Jamaica (9th April)
Join art historian and V&A curator Damiët Schneeweisz to celebrate a recent acquisition at Royal Museums Greenwich, now on display at the Queen’s House.  

At 2.9 by 3.7 centimetres, Zeenat Mahal’s portrait miniature is the smallest portrait on display in the gallery. And yet the stories it holds span across oceans, from Delhi to London and the Caribbean. With Zeenat Mahal’s portrait as its guide, this talk delves into the rich and complex history of the portrait miniature in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean worlds. 

Diving into the Past: The Legacy of Pearl Diving in the Arabian Gulf through Villiers’ Lens (16th April)
Pearls have been considered a symbol of luxury and opulence across time and space: from the Tudor courts, to the shores of the Arabian Gulf, to Jacques Cartier’s Paris workshop. 

The labour-intensive practice of obtaining these valuable gemstones through diving is now largely considered obsolete. For centuries, however, it shaped the Gulf’s culture, economy, and identity. 

Join researcher Taibah Al-Fagih to explore the historical and cultural significance of pearl diving in the Arabian Gulf, with a chance to view Alan Villiers’ photographs of one of the last generations of divers, offering a rare glimpse into their daily life and communities in the early 20th century. 

By linking these images with the historical and cultural significance of pearl diving, the talk aims to provide a deeper understanding of the Gulf's maritime heritage and the enduring legacy of this once-thriving industry.