Summer School: Books and Culture

The Plantin Press and the Religious Book

Beschrijving

Intensive 5-day programme on religious books and prints produced, published and sold by the Antwerp-based Plantin Press, 1555–ca. 1700. Key aspects of this subject will be explained by international experts and demonstrated in hands-on sessions in premium Antwerp collections.

Target group: Master students, PhD students and postdocs intending to integrate book historical approaches into their reseach (history, literary history, art history, religious and church history...)

Programma

International expert speakers will explain the unique position of the world-famous Antwerp-based printing and publishing house founded by Christopher Plantin in 1555. They will discuss how it developed the production and distribution of religious books and related illustrations and prints in the following centuries.

Introductory presentations will familiarize the students with the central role of Antwerp as a printing center from the 16th century onwards, with the religious context in the Southern Netherlands, and with the role and position of the religious book therein.

Most lectures are conceived as workshops and hands-on sessions zooming in on different aspects, including: the world-famous Antwerp Polyglot Bible, the trade in religious books with Spain, illustrated religious books and catholic emblem books, and the link between manuscripts and printed books. Demonstrations will focus on the production of type, typesetting, composition, and printing.

Lecturers will use the holdings of the Ruusbroec Institute and of the library and archival records of the Museum Plantin-Moretus. Students will be invited to handle historic materials. In line with this setup, admission to the Summer School will be limited to 15 Master students, PhD students and postdocs. The presence of staff and lecturers during the course should stimulate the interaction and spark questions and discussions.

An unforgettable experience for every researcher who wants to learn more about, manuscript, books, and prints, and the role they played in Western European culture.

Opmerkingen

3 ECTS credits are awarded upon successful completion of the programme.

​Partners: Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library Antwerp, Museum Plantin-Moretus Antwerp, Consortium of European Research Libraries (CERL)