Timon Screech, Professor of the History of Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London - "Cargo of the New Year's Gift: The Early English East India Company and the Japan Trade"

Mar
29
2012

Timon Screech, Professor of the History of Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London - "Cargo of the New Year's Gift: The Early English East India Company and the Japan Trade"

4:30pm - 6:00pm | Stiteler B26

The New Year's Gift left London in 1614 bound for points east, hopefully as far as Japan. It had on board a most unusual cargo. Having been set up in 1600 the English East India Company was experimenting with its merchandise. Most of their exports were wool or tin, but they believed value-added items would raise more revenue. The Gift's cargo included some 100 oil paintings, commissioned in both England and France, on a variety of theme. It also seems to have had a large number of prints. These duly arrived in first India and then Japan, were some were given away as presents and some were sold.

This lecture is part of a book-length study of the cargo, the motivation for sending it, the appearance and subject-matter of the pictures, and the impact they had. The cargo of the New Year's Gift is unique in the history of all the European East India Companies.

* CEAS Humanities Colloquium

Event

Timon Screech, Professor of the History of Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London - "Cargo of the New Year's Gift: The Early English East India Company and the Japan Trade"

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