British Library Seminar with Barbara Brend

Painting and Illumination in Persian and Mughal Books: An exclusive look at Manuscripts in the British Library with Dr Barbara Brend

4 June 2015, 10.00 am – 5.30 pm

Cost: £135    Number of places: 6

A one-day seminar starting with a morning session at the British Library with the curators and Barbara Brend, viewing illustrated and illuminated works from the collection. This will be followed by pigment and technical demonstrations with Anita Chowdry in her nearby studio. This seminar offers a valuable learning experience for anyone with an academic or practical interest in Persian and Mughal books.

Divan of Hafez opening Shamsah, 15th century. Image copyright of the British Library

Divan of Hafiz opening Shamsah, 15th century. Image copyright of the British Library

Dr Barbara Brend is an independent scholar who has had a long association with the British Library, and is a leading authority on Islamic manuscripts.  She has authored a number of important publications in the field.

Anita Chowdry is a practicing visual artist who has devoted many years to researching technical aspects of manuscript painting and illumination, and has run workshops and seminars at major institutions in Britain and abroad.

More Details

During the exclusive 90 minute session in the British Library Print Room participants will have the opportunity to examine a selection of  precious manuscript pages at leisure, with a fascinating commentary by Barbara Brend. This will be followed by a short general viewing and conversation in the library’s Sir John Ritblat gallery. For more information about the British Library collections of Persian and Mughal works please see the curator’s post Digital Access to Persian Manuscripts on the British Library blog.

The afternoon session will take place in Anita Chowdry’s studio, a two-minute walk from the library. Here participants will see and handle a collection of pigments, materials and tools such as were used in the production of the manuscripts. There will be demonstrations of key processes, and a practical workshop decorating paper with sprinkled gold leaf.

10.00 am – Meet at Studio (address below) – registration, tea, and introductory talk

10.55 am – Meet Barbara Brend and curators at the British Library reception desk

11.00 am – 12.30 pm – Viewing manuscripts in the Print Room with Barbara Brend and curators

12.30 pm – 1.00 pm – Looking at manuscripts on display at the library’s Sir John Ritblat gallery

1.00 pm – 2.00 pm – lunch break

2.00 pm – Meet at studio for workshop with Anita Chowdry

2.00 pm – 3.00 pm – Overview of pigments, paper, elements of illumination and some techniques

3.00 pm – 5.30 pm – Practical experience in brush-drawing and gold-sprinkled borders.

Venues

British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB

Studio 3, 1-7 Woburn Walk, London WC1H 0JJ

Contact for more information

Anita Chowdry

e-mail : anitachowdry@talktalk.net

Tel: (+44) 0 203 556 7075

Registration, terms and conditions

Online registration and payment at Eventbrite

or

Contact Anita Chowdry (details above

Please note, refunds cannot be given for cancellations made after 4th May (i.e. four weeks before the seminar)

Participants are encouraged to take notes during the day (only pencils allowed in the British Library) printed handouts will also be supplied.

Photography is permitted in the studio, but not during the viewing in the British Library Print Room.