Members at the Goya Friend/Individual level and up are invited to an exclusive sneak peek at “The Legacy of Vesuvius: Bourbon Discoveries on the Bay of Naples” before the exhibition opens to the public. Included with the preview day are a Continental breakfast, gallery talks, and a lecture. By invitation only; to become a member, call 214.768.2765.

10:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Continental Breakfast/Coffee Service (Custard Institute)

10:30–11:30 a.m. Lecture (Bob and Jean Smith Auditorium)
(Limited tickets available)
“The Kings of Archaeology: Eighteenth-Century Naples, Vesuvius, and the Discovery of Pompeii”
Michael Thomas, Associate Provost, Director of the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History, and Professor of Arts and Humanities, University of Texas, Dallas.
The curator of “The Legacy of Vesuvius: Bourbon Discoveries on the Bay of Naples” sets the stage for the exhibit with a look at the dynamic cultural environment of eighteenth-century Naples. Enthralled by the Vesuvian landscape, Charles of Bourbon, the future king of Spain, embraced the city of Naples and sparked one of the most vibrant and influential periods in Western history. This talk takes us through the early archaeological endeavors of Charles, his son and successor, Ferdinand, and their wives, Queens Maria Amalia and Maria Carolina, that led to the discoveries of the Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae. The artistic and archaeological programs that thrived under the patronage of these sovereigns ushered in what would become known as the “Golden Age” of Naples.

11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Gallery Talk (Lady Tennyson D’Eyncourt Works on Paper Gallery)
“Exploring Medieval Architecture and Identity”
Cristina Aldrich, Center for Spain in America (CSA) Curatorial Fellow, Meadows Museum
“Unearthing the Legacy of Islamic Spain” examines Spain’s relationship to its Islamic past and its enduring political, social, and cultural implications. By looking at archaeological fragments and images of Spain’s medieval Islamic architecture, we can begin to unpack the historical complexity of the 781 years of Muslim rule on the Iberian Peninsula, which has often been misunderstood and oversimplified.

12:30–1:00 p.m. Gallery Talk (Virginia Meadows Galleries)
“Volcanic Visions: From Ancient Ashes to the Eighteenth Century”
P. Gregory Warden, Mark A. Roglán Director of the Custard Institute for Spanish Art and Culture, Meadows Museum
Agnieszka Ficek, Custard Institute Postdoctoral Fellow, Meadows Museum
What do ancient objects excavated during the eighteenth century tell us about the people who made them and the people who unearthed them? This object-focused gallery talk will examine how ancient artifacts influenced the art, decorative objects, and fashion of the period, and reflect on how the past leaves an indelible mark on the cultures that follow.